Honolulu Hawaii

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 August 2023

 Photos taken by Alex Yu

Photographing distorted reflections on the glass panels of tall buildings is very common. One may wonder why I still did it. While different photographers may produce similar or even the same pictures of certain famous landmarks and landscapes (e.g., Eiffel Tower, Grand Canyon…etc.), this type of distorted reflections provide a unique perspective of the surroundings. Specifically, the extent and nature of distortion depend on factors such as the curvature of the glass, the angle of incidence of light, the standpoint of the photographer, the focal length of the lenses, and a few other factors. Some photographers may deliberately manipulate these variables to achieve specific artistic effects. Depending on the level of distortion and the composition, these reflections can evoke various emotions. They might create a dreamy, whimsical, or even disorienting mood within the image.