Use a Mirror Prism To Create Abstract Images In Camera

Fashion photographer Lindsay Adler is at it again, creating amazing images and sharing her secrets with the industry. Over the last year, since first hearing about Adler, I have been impressed with her willingness to constantly share tips and tricks openly in an effort to make all of us better at our craft. This morning I watched another one of her videos that really caught me eye and while it's not something I would use very often, it did open my mind to thinking more creatively on shoots.

Adler credits a student in one of her classes for creating the mirror prism and sharing the technique with her. It looks to be a pretty simple DIY project (taping three mirrors together and shooting through it) but the results it creates are some very interesting abstract images all done in camera. Adler explains that for the shoot she noticed with each lens she used she got entirely different effects and just by shifting the mirror prism a bit she would get an entirely new look altogether. As a wedding photographer I can't really see myself using this technique too often (though I got to admit I will give it a go at least once or twice) but I could see this effectively used while shooting for different genres such as bands, conceptual or even an editorial spread for the right kind of publication. The images are eye catching and as you study each of them you begin to find new things about them you like. If nothing else, I hope you watched the video and it got you to think outside the proverbial box in how you can push your creativity on your next shoot. Thanks Lindsay for sharing.

Here are some of the shots Lindsay Adler was able to get while playing with the mirror prism on a fashion shoot. See more on her blog.

Fstoppers-Lindsay-Adler-Prismatic-1

Fstoppers-Lindsay-Adler-Prismatic-3

Fstoppers-Lindsay-Adler-Prismatic-4

Fstoppers-Lindsay-Adler-Prismatic-5

To see more of Lindsay Adler's work visit her at:
Website - www.lindsayadlerphotography.com
Blog - http://blog.lindsayadlerphotography.com
Facebook Page - Lindsay Adler Fashion Photography

[Via Lindsay Adler Blog]

Trevor Dayley's picture

Trevor Dayley (www.trevordayley.com) was named as one of the Top 100 Wedding Photographers in the US in 2014 by Brandsmash. His award-winning wedding photos have been published in numerous places including Grace Ormonde. He and his wife have been married for 15 years and together they have six kids.

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7 Comments

reminds me of the 80s

was thinking the VERY SAME THING.

looks like a caleidoscope in some shots

Sam Hurd did this first. http://samhurdphotography.com

Yeah, it's not the exact same technique but I know what you mean. Solid glass triangle prism (the ones used in science) vs 3 flat mirrors triangle "prism trap".

Actually Alvin Langdon Coburn invented this back in 1916. It's called a Vortoscope - the resulting images are called "Vortographs."

Alvin Langdon Coburn invented this back in 1916. Just look up "Vortographs." That was his term for these types of images. I'm disappointed that all these professional photographers don't know basic history of photography.