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Looking closely

After the rain

Small reflections at the edge of the pavement.

A puddle is a second view of a place, but it rarely reflects everything at once. Lower the camera and a blank patch of pavement may suddenly hold a window or a tree. Move back up and it disappears.

Wait for the water to settle. A passing car can break the reflection into short strips of colour. That may be the picture you want. If it isn't, give the surface a moment instead of taking the same frame repeatedly.

Wet stone looks darker than dry stone beside it. The boundary makes a useful line in a picture, particularly when the sky is flat and there aren't many shadows.

Keep your feet on the path. A reflection isn't worth standing in traffic for, and a close photograph doesn't need to be taken from inside the puddle.