The influence of subject reflectivity on the exposure

In the photo of a reflective subject, other parts tend to be under-exposed

Note that the exposure will change depending on the way in which the surface of your subject reflects light. If you are photographing glass, a mirror, metal, water, or other highly reflective subject, the portion reflecting the most light will be bleached out, and the other parts will be underexposed. To achieve a balance, you need to find an angle that minimizes the reflections. Subjects that reflect light abundantly will always tend to have high contrast, so you should plan on photographing them at a time of day that offers the most advantageous lighting conditions.

When the material of the subject absorbs light, the result appears natural