Men in the mirror

This is a simple exercise in the power of reflection. By a large window in London’s Golden Lane on a long city walk, I take a photograph of Dermot and I.

Dermot’s frame is elongated by the break in the window, and his face looks very different to usual. When I first saw it, I thought he looked more like me. My favourite part of the entire shot is how one of his legs appears to have absorbed an illuminated light bulb from the empty office space on the floor below.

And of course I don’t escape capture. I’m there towards the back of the photograph, but the presence of the camera isn’t entirely clear.

With a high contrast monochrome treatment, there is something ethereal and ghostly about this picture. Turning the camera on the window hides the fact that this was a very sunny day with a carefree mood. It’s an act to be recommended.

See other posts from our walk:

Inner city art
London City concrete
Elegant canopy
Lady Justice
Underpass

Tags: abstract, art, ghostly photograph, Golden Lane, lightbulb, London, mirror, monochrome, photography, reflective shot

12 thoughts on “Men in the mirror”

jdtphotography.co.uk on May 10, 2013 at 15:35 said:

This makes for a really interesting shot Mike as you have to look several times at the detail within each part of the reflection.

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 11, 2013 at 22:35 said:
  
  Thanks very much, James. I keep finding something new on every look!
  
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ckponderings on May 10, 2013 at 13:40 said:

Beautiful abstract, Mike! The reflection works really well! :D

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 10, 2013 at 13:44 said:
  
  Thanks Richard. And it stars both Dermot and I – quite a feat when we’re on our own!
  
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lena de almeida on May 6, 2013 at 18:41 said:

This looks realy great, Mike. It looks like there are several pictures layered over each other.

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 6, 2013 at 18:43 said:
  
  Thank you Lena. Yes, we’re both featured in there. It was a good move to turn my lens on this big, bright window.
  
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katrien steenssens on May 2, 2013 at 09:18 said:

reflections and the surreal they surprise us with – a treat, as in this picture

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 2, 2013 at 18:54 said:
  
  Yes, the reflections hold all the power – you never quite know how it’s going to turn out. Thanks for stopping to comment, Katrien.
  
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Noeline Smith on May 2, 2013 at 08:42 said:

Makes for a fascinating shot!

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 2, 2013 at 18:54 said:
  
  Thank you Noeline, yes, it requires more than a glance. Dermot has made it his Facebook profile picture!
  
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SeniSilat on May 1, 2013 at 19:47 said:

Great…

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 1, 2013 at 19:47 said:
  
  Thank you :-)
  
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