Photo Analysis: London Reflection
- The Magazine For Photographers
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read

Photo by @kam_visions
Let’s Analyse this Image:
Composition
What works well:
The main building is perfectly centred, it’s symmetrical and dramatic.
The puddle reflection is what makes this shot. It turns this regular street into something special.
The leading lines from the buildings and road all converge straight to the subject. There’s no confusion about what you’re supposed to look at.
The vertical orientation works really well too, it stretches the frame just enough to let you soak in both the building and its reflection without crowding either one too much.
What could be better:
The red-and-white barricades at the base of the building are slightly distracting. They add some colour pop, sure, but strictly visually they break the otherwise clean lines. However in my opinion they also add some character.
The reflection is quite ‘‘cut off’’ - meaning it doesn’t properly connect reality and reflection in a fluent line (the pinnacle of reflection shots). Repositioning yourself/putting the camera even lower to the puddle could have helped with that.
Lighting
What works well:
The lighting here is soft and diffused. There are no harsh shadows, no blown-out highlights. It gives the architecture a very elegant, polished look.
The slight glow in the sky adds a nice little cinematic backlight to the scene, making the buildings pop without looking too ‘‘unnatural’’.
The lighting inside the reflection is also gorgeous. Balanced, clear and moody. It’s quite rare to see this level of clarity in a street puddle shot.
What could be better:
Some of the shadows on the right and left side of the frame feel a little heavy. Lifting them just a bit could reveal more texture in those buildings. However some would say that this is what helps the main building pop. So depends on your preference and philosophy.
The lighting is safe—and that’s not bad—but experimenting with a slightly more blue-toned grade could’ve added even more personality and uniqueness to the scene.
Framing & Perspective
What works well:
The low-angle perspective is everything here. It puts the viewer right on the street, straight at the scene.
Including the street markings and traffic light gives context without clutter. It feels urban, but not chaotic.
What could be better:
The traffic light on the right is slightly cut off, which makes it feel a bit awkward. Either include it fully or crop it out more deliberately.
A tiny rotation could make those vertical lines even cleaner. Right now they’re close to straight, but not quite, and with this level of symmetry, it really shows when you look at it.
Storytelling
What works well:
This shot feels like a moment of stillness in the middle of a normally buzzing and loud city.
You get a nice contrast between the old-school architecture and the glassy, modern skyscrapers. It is a nice detail once you notice it.
What could be better:
Right now it’s very aesthetic-focused. If you wanted to push the narrative a bit more, throwing in a human element like a person walking, or even just their feet stepping through the frame could open up a ton of storytelling possibilities.
The scene is so crisp and quiet that it almost feels sterile. Some slight imperfection, like a stray leaf, a ripple in the puddle, might’ve added a little more soul. This is actually where the barricades/roadworks come in handy. Also: this is quite a popular photo location - so the temporary roadworks definitely add uniqueness.
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