{"id":24721,"date":"2016-08-29T10:16:39","date_gmt":"2016-08-29T14:16:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=24721"},"modified":"2016-08-31T19:45:21","modified_gmt":"2016-08-31T23:45:21","slug":"4-creative-ways-use-plexiglas-next-photo-shoot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/4-creative-ways-use-plexiglas-next-photo-shoot\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Creative Ways to Use Plexiglas on Your Next Photo Shoot"},"content":{"rendered":"

* All images are courtesy of Dawn M. Wayand Photography unless otherwise noted.<\/em><\/p>\n

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As photographers, we are always looking for new and interesting ways to get inspired to create creative images during our shoots. One of our students brought a piece of Plexiglas to one of our workshops that I sat as a subject for and used it like a table for me to rest my arms on and it yielded me and a cool reflection of me in the image. It got me thinking. What other ways can Plexiglas be used to create exciting images? Read on to find out some of the things I have tried with Plexiglas to make more creative images.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"01-Intro\"<\/p>\n

Shooting Through Plexiglas.<\/em><\/p>\n

Image courtesy of Yann Bizeul.<\/em><\/p>\n

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What is Plexiglas?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

First of all, what the heck is Plexiglas? Plexiglas is the brand name for a piece of acrylic, which is made of polymethyl methacrylate and is basically a shatter resistant alternative to glass. The unfortunate problem with Plexiglas is that is can scratch easily so you have to be careful when using it. It\u2019s dual-purpose reflective and see-through qualities, however, can work wonders in photography.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"02-What-Is-Plexiglas\"<\/p>\n

Plexiglas.<\/em><\/p>\n

Image courtesy of Google Images.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Traditional Uses<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The clean reflective qualities of Plexiglas has offered photographers a creative way to shoot products, beauty and portraits.<\/span>
\nProduct Photography<\/b><\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s white or black Plexiglas being used, you\u2019ve seen images before like the one below – the mirroring effect of a product created using a piece of Plexiglas on top of a white or black surface. Since Plexiglas is clear, it can also really be placed on any surface color. In addition, Plexiglas provides the ability to light products from underneath the product.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"03-Product-Photography\"<\/p>\n

Plexiglas used in product ads.<\/em><\/p>\n

Image courtesy of Google Images.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Beauty Photography<\/b><\/p>\n

In beauty photography, Plexiglas allows for many different types of substances to be applied on it to create embellishing overlays to faces with amazing makeup work, as you will see later in this article. In addition, you sometimes may see a commercial or even an ad with a clean beauty look and the female model is hovered over a piece of Plexiglas allowing her reflection to double the impact of her look.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Portraits (Floor Prop)<\/b><\/p>\n

Studio portrait photographers sometimes place Plexiglas on the floor for their models or subjects to lay on, utilizing that much desired reflective property.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Female
Female kick-boxer laying down on black plexiglass fitness studio. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com\/CandyBox Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Some of My Creative Uses for Plexiglas<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

I have been working with Plexiglas over the last year creating a lot of fun and unique images that goes beyond the reflective qualities that Plexiglas typically offers.<\/span>
\nFor all uses below, you will need the following:<\/span><\/p>\n