Manipulating reflections off of water for creative effects

Water can provide a beautiful backdrop for all types of images. Still water seems to convey a sense of serenity and calmness that most everyone responds to.  The look of water in a photograph can vary greatly depending on the way light hits it.  It may appear like a mirror, as in those landscape photos of snow capped mountains reflected in high alpine lakes.  Or it can look transparent, as when we photograph a swimming pool from a high angle. In today's post, I discuss how to harness a little knowledge about the way light interacts with water to control how water appears in your photographs.