Shooting into a mirror

James Emory · October 12th, 2004, 09:36 PM

Okay. Let's say that you are 5 feet from a mirror shooting into it. Your subject whose reflection your shooting is 7 feet away from the mirror. What distance is the camera focusing on, the mirror's surface at 5 feet or the subject's image at 7 feet?

Jeff Donald · October 12th, 2004, 10:00 PM

The subjects distance at 7 feet is what the camera focuses on.

James Emory · October 12th, 2004, 10:04 PM

So, if you're standing behind the subject, it's possible to rack from the back of a person's head to their face in the reflection in the mirror. Also if you are 5 feet from the mirror and if it's focusing on the reflected subject 7 feet from the mirror, then it is truly focusing at 12 feet, right?

Jeff Donald · October 12th, 2004, 10:10 PM

Yes, the total distance is the sum of the camera to mirror and mirror to subject.

Rob Henegar · October 13th, 2004, 08:09 AM

Right. To the camera, there's no difference between a mirror and a window. You'll be focusing on a point 12 feet away.

Cosmin Rotaru · October 13th, 2004, 10:34 AM

"To the camera, there's no difference between a mirror and a window."
Neither to your eye... You'll be looking 12 feet away.

Rob Henegar · October 13th, 2004, 10:46 AM

Good point. :)

James Emory · October 13th, 2004, 10:07 PM

How is that if the image is in fact on the mirror surface at 5 feet away? It seems as though that the only thing the camera or your eyes would see is that the image is smaller or larger in scale, depending on the distance from the mirror, in the frame or field of vision respectively.

Jesse Bekas · October 13th, 2004, 10:38 PM

I believe you're thinking of the mirror as if it is "capturing" the light from the subject and then projecting that image to you, in which case your eye and the camera would be focusing on the mirror itself. That is not the case. An image from a mirror is different than an image being projected onto a screen. Your eye and the camera are actually seeing the original light being emitted by the subject which has been relayed by the mirror. The light has actually traveled the distance from the subject to the mirror and then the mirror to you.

Jeff Donald · October 13th, 2004, 10:40 PM

It's the difference between projection and reflection.

Charles Papert · October 14th, 2004, 11:46 AM

If this helps, a mirror shot in a feature is measured by the camera assistant by pulling their tape measure to the surface of the mirror, holding it there and having the second assistant continue to pull the tape to the subject, like a bank shot in pool.

James Emory · October 14th, 2004, 12:02 PM

I am aware that this is the case from actually doing it but didn't exactly know why. Now I do. Thanks for all the info.

October 12th, 2004, 09:36 PM	#1
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Shooting into a mirror - the real focal point? Okay. Let's say that you are 5 feet from a mirror shooting into it. Your subject whose reflection your shooting is 7 feet away from the mirror. What distance is the camera focusing on, the mirror's surface at 5 feet or the subject's image at 7 feet?

October 12th, 2004, 10:00 PM	#2
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	The subjects distance at 7 feet is what the camera focuses on. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 12th, 2004, 10:04 PM	#3
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Mind Bender So, if you're standing behind the subject, it's possible to rack from the back of a person's head to their face in the reflection in the mirror. Also if you are 5 feet from the mirror and if it's focusing on the reflected subject 7 feet from the mirror, then it is truly focusing at 12 feet, right?

October 12th, 2004, 10:10 PM	#4
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Yes, the total distance is the sum of the camera to mirror and mirror to subject. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 13th, 2004, 10:34 AM	#6
Cosmin Rotaru Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Romania, Timisoara Posts: 453	"To the camera, there's no difference between a mirror and a window." Neither to your eye... You'll be looking 12 feet away. __________________ Cosmin Rotaru

October 13th, 2004, 08:09 AM	#5
Rob Henegar Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 33	Right. To the camera, there's no difference between a mirror and a window. You'll be focusing on a point 12 feet away.

October 13th, 2004, 10:46 AM	#7
Rob Henegar Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 33	Good point. :)

October 13th, 2004, 10:07 PM	#8
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	How is that if the image is in fact on the mirror surface at 5 feet away? It seems as though that the only thing the camera or your eyes would see is that the image is smaller or larger in scale, depending on the distance from the mirror, in the frame or field of vision respectively.

October 13th, 2004, 10:38 PM	#9
Jesse Bekas Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, USA Posts: 572	I believe you're thinking of the mirror as if it is "capturing" the light from the subject and then projecting that image to you, in which case your eye and the camera would be focusing on the mirror itself. That is not the case. An image from a mirror is different than an image being projected onto a screen. Your eye and the camera are actually seeing the original light being emitted by the subject which has been relayed by the mirror. The light has actually traveled the distance from the subject to the mirror and then the mirror to you.

October 13th, 2004, 10:40 PM	#10
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	It's the difference between projection and reflection. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 14th, 2004, 11:46 AM	#11
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	If this helps, a mirror shot in a feature is measured by the camera assistant by pulling their tape measure to the surface of the mirror, holding it there and having the second assistant continue to pull the tape to the subject, like a bank shot in pool. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

October 14th, 2004, 12:02 PM	#12
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	I am aware that this is the case from actually doing it but didn't exactly know why. Now I do. Thanks for all the info.