taking/lighting highly reflective subjects?

On Apr 6, 5:38 am, bugbear wrote:
> Over the weekend I need to take a photograph
> of the makers details, etched into a vintage (wood cutting) hand saw.
>
> This went "OK", but was trickly since the saw
> is (after a clean up) a fairly reflective piece of metal.
>
> I eventually lift up a white sheet (AKA diffuse reflector),
> and then angled the saw-blade so I was imaging a reflection
> (in the blade) of the diffuser.
>
> Since the saw was at an angle to the camera, I got an unwanted
> perspective shift in the resulting image. Happily,
> with a flat subject, it is trivial to use software (I used Gimp)
> to correct the perspective shift, leaving a nicely
> lit (nearly...) geometrically correct result.
>
> But how would one photograph (e.g.) a simple
> silver snuff box, with some writing engraved
> in?
>
>    BugBear

It depends on what you are trying to do. There are a variety of
techniques but all depend on one thing -- you need to create a world
of light and no-light.

Generally, a well-diffused lighting source, like a light tent works
well and you can control the light. That's the easiest. Position the
box, position the camera, then position the light so it lights up
everything but doesn't cause any glare on the box. Move the light
around until you are satisfied.

A second basic technique is to take a big piece of black board/
cardboard and poke a hole in it to put your lens through -- flat black
to avoid any reflections. Then position 2 or 3 non-diffused lights on
the item -- again being careful to avoid glare (or use a polarizing
filter). Other than the lights, you need COMPLETE darkness. Use a
black tent or a large, open space. This is harder but creates a more
dynamic result. It also works better with glass. If you can get the
lighting just right, sometimes a star filter (instead of a polarizing
filter) will add some nice kick.
 >> Stay informed about: taking/lighting highly reflective subjects? 

Pat wrote:
>
> A second basic technique is to take a big piece of black board/
> cardboard and poke a hole in it to put your lens through -- flat black
> to avoid any reflections. Then position 2 or 3 non-diffused lights on
> the item -- again being careful to avoid glare (or use a polarizing
> filter). Other than the lights, you need COMPLETE darkness. Use a
> black tent or a large, open space. This is harder but creates a more
> dynamic result. It also works better with glass. If you can get the
> lighting just right, sometimes a star filter (instead of a polarizing
> filter) will add some nice kick.

That's interesting. Can you or someone post an example of a 'dark tent'
photo of a reflective subject?

--
Paul Furman
www.edgehill.net
www.baynatives.com

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 >> Stay informed about: taking/lighting highly reflective subjects? 

bugbear wrote:

> But how would one photograph (e.g.) a simple
> silver snuff box, with some writing engraved
> in?

e.g.

http://silver.fehlr.com/collection/silver_cigarette_box/assets/silver_...arette_

BugBear
 >> Stay informed about: taking/lighting highly reflective subjects? 

Paul Furman wrote:
> Pat wrote:
>>
>> A second basic technique is to take a big piece of black board/
>> cardboard and poke a hole in it to put your lens through -- flat black
>> to avoid any reflections. Then position 2 or 3 non-diffused lights on
>> the item -- again being careful to avoid glare (or use a polarizing
>> filter). Other than the lights, you need COMPLETE darkness. Use a
>> black tent or a large, open space. This is harder but creates a more
>> dynamic result. It also works better with glass. If you can get the
>> lighting just right, sometimes a star filter (instead of a polarizing
>> filter) will add some nice kick.
>
> That's interesting. Can you or someone post an example of a 'dark tent'
> photo of a reflective subject?
>

The mention of "glass" leads to this kind of thing:

http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/glass_photography.htm
http://www.lowel.com/edu/lesson_lighting_glass.html

http://www.spectrumglass.com/stained-glass/archives/photographing-glas...or-text

BugBear
 >> Stay informed about: taking/lighting highly reflective subjects? 

is coooool ..thanks .is good for me
 >> Stay informed about: taking/lighting highly reflective subjects?