We made this photo with just a rain puddle!
When we think of reflection photography, we imagine tranquil lakes, calm bays, or glassy oceans. But what if we could use a simple puddle?
In this shoot, Kim and I set out to do exactly that, and it worked better than we expected. With just a small rain puddle and a wide-angle lens, we created a light-painting image that feels much bigger than it really is.
The Reference Shot: Nothing Special at First Glance
This entire concept began with a message from our friend Yohann, who sent us a phone photo of a puddle that caught his eye. At first glance, it looked pretty plain: just a small patch of water in a nondescript spot. But I knew right away it could become something spectacular. I could already see the final composition in my mind: Kim standing right at the edge of the puddle, framed dead center, with the trees glowing all around us thanks to the light-painting. And with a wide-angle lens, I knew I could pull the entire scene together into a clean, symmetrical image with strong visual impact.
Reference image, taking a few days prior to our shooting night
Getting prepared
Once we chose our spot, we prepped for our night shoot. The conditions were just right: calm, dark, and no wind disturbing the water’s surface. We set up our light-painting tubes, got the camera angle just right, and began shooting.
Technique & Gear
Getting low to the ground was key here. Shooting from a low angle with a wide lens makes the puddle appear much larger than it really is. The reflection pulls you in, creating the illusion of depth and scale. We love using reflections in our light-painting images, but sometimes you have to work with what’s available, and sometimes, that’s just a bit of rain on the ground.
Here’s a breakdown of what we used:
Camera: Canon R5
Lens: 7artisans 10mm (very soft, not recommanded - but can be recovered using Topaz upscaler)
Light: Sugar light-painting tube & Klarus XT2CR Pro
Tripod & Remote Trigger: lightpainting.art/gear
Manual Focus + Manual mode (not bulb!)
Exifs: iso1250, f2.8, 10mm, 4sec
The Final Image
The final image (3:2 original ratio, no crop)
SOOC version
We’re always drawn to moments like these: when we can take something simple and make it feel magical. The puddle didn’t need to be grand. The light didn’t need to be complicated. But together, they just worked.
Watch the Full Video
What about using a 35mm lens?
We also shot one version with a 35mm lens to show what’s possible without a super wide angle. You don’t need fancy gear to create something beautiful: a longer focal length can still capture plenty of magic.
iso125, f1.4, 35mm, 4sec