Photography Challenge: Reflections Around You

PHCH. 01 - This is not a lesson — it’s a challenge. The goal is to step outside, practice, and push your own storytelling skills through photography.

In this challenge, you’ll work with reflections — in windows, puddles, glass, or natural surfaces — to create layered images where reality and its mirrored version blend together. It’s about exploration, observation, and turning everyday surroundings into unexpected visual stories.

You won’t find step-by-step instructions here. Instead, you get inspiration, technical tips, and reflective questions to guide your process. At the end, you’ll also see two sample images with commentary, showing how different photographers approached the same challenge — proof that there’s no single “right” solution, only your creative interpretation.

Every completed challenge becomes part of your growing portfolio — track your progress with the included Photography Progress Tracker (printable PDF file) and see how your eye for storytelling develops over time.

Inside the booklet, you’ll also find pro tips, a glossary, and useful links that can help you complete the challenge successfully. Remember — you can submit your photos to us, and the best works will be published in our magazine THE.REPORTAGE.

FAQ

What is “Photography Challenge 01: Reflections Around You”?

This challenge is a creativity-focused photography exercise designed to train your eye to notice reflections in everyday environments—such as windows, puddles, glass surfaces, mirrors, and natural reflective textures. The goal is to create layered images where reality and its mirrored version blend together into a more story-driven visual composition.

What will I learn by completing this challenge?

You will learn how to observe reflections as a storytelling tool and how to use them to build depth, mood, and visual complexity in a single frame. The challenge strengthens visual discipline and encourages you to explore your surroundings with a more investigative mindset—turning ordinary scenes into unexpected photographic narratives.

Do I need special equipment to complete this challenge?

No special equipment is required. You can complete the challenge using a smartphone or any camera, because the focus is on observation and creativity rather than technical gear. The exercise is designed to be flexible, realistic, and easy to practice anywhere you live or travel.