Simple, yet effective, reflections can give a beautiful, surreal or abstract dimension to your photography.

Many reflective surfaces have the potential to be used in your photos; from windows to puddles, mirrors to phones and sunglasses. They all have the ability to completely transform the image.

Last month we opened it up as the topic of our monthly photography competition. Inviting you to share your creative use of reflections.

The resulting submissions were four very different reflections photos:

1.

Our first submission was a bright, reflective portrait from Steve Butler. Using the reflection of a window and the glow of internal light, and the pairing of red top and lips against the dark framing, to give an interesting twist to a conventional portrait.

2.

This abstract image of Plaza Nuevo-Bilbao was submitted into the competition by Cath Dupuy, who used the reflection of rain on a paved walkway to create this distorted view of the surrounding buildings. Both beautiful and confusing, the image creates an Alice in Wonderland perspective of an upside down world.

The next two competition submissions came from Aleksandra Dziewa.

3.

This beautiful image of flamingos in a dusk light, uses the water’s surface to reflect the birds in such a way that they look like musical notes dancing across a page. Only on closer inspection, do the details of the legs, beaks and landscape, truly reveal themselves.

4.

Last but by no means least, this picnic, shot in the middle of nowhere uses the water’s surface to transform an everyday meal into something bleak and really quite special.

Picked as the winning reflections image for its surrealness and simplicity, this photo demonstrates perfectly why it’s good to reflect in photography!