Reflections are the rays of light that strike a surface and bounce back. They play a crucial role in how we perceive brightness, texture, and form in photography. There are two main types of reflection: specular reflection, which occurs on smooth, polished surfaces and produces clear, mirror-like images, and diffuse reflection, which happens on rough or uneven surfaces, scattering light in many directions.
Understanding reflections is essential in studio, product, and architectural photography, as controlling them with angles, polarizing filters, or diffusers can enhance image quality, reduce glare, and highlight textures effectively.