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04/30/2003 09:29:55 AM · #1 |
Glass seems to be about one of the hardest subjects to photograph well.
Anyone got good tips they'd like to share ?
So far I've found that it is best to light the glass from behind,
to avoid reflections that are directed towards the camera
Cover everything on the 'camera side' with black/ no lights etc to remove reflections.
make sure the glass is clean! |
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04/30/2003 09:55:58 AM · #2 |
I just went through a course where we devoted an entire class on techniques for photographing glass.
Everything Gordon said is applicable. Sometimes you don't need to go through the lengths of covering up the camera side. Check your reflections before going through the extra effort.
Your background also plays a roll. If you shoot glass against a white background, you can direct the light at the background itself as well and the glass will glow (providing the white background does a decent job of throwing that light back on the subject). Putting the subject on a glass shelf and shooting underneath (or putting the light directly above) works great also.
If your background is dark, I found it was better to shoot with the light at a 90 degree angle to the camera, and on to one side of the glass. (directed towards an edge)... Or better yet two lights on either side of the subject, tracing the outline of the object against the black background. You have to get the lights at such an angle that they hit the subject right on the edge, so you don't see hotspots on the glass itself...
Whatever lighting chosen, diffusing the light will make a BIG difference in the result. Use any type of transluscent material between the light and the glass. Keeping a good distance between the light and the diffusion material not only makes the effect better, but reduces the chance of the diffusion material catching fire (with the hotter lights).
That's about alls I know... Good luck to everyone...
Message edited by author 2003-04-30 13:05:50.
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04/30/2003 12:18:53 PM · #3 |
| yup. I know from experience that burning your material is not only a bad idea, but it creates smoke and smells bad. |
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05/01/2003 08:28:06 PM · #4 |
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05/01/2003 09:48:04 PM · #5 |
My primary subject idea will be hard to do under studio conditions? Does a polarizing filter help cut the reflections?
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05/01/2003 10:11:52 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by indigo997:
yup. I know from experience that burning your material is not only a bad idea, but it creates smoke and smells bad. |
Yes, but sometimes it can be so rewarding :) |
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05/01/2003 10:54:24 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by DennisF:
My primary subject idea will be hard to do under studio conditions? Does a polarizing filter help cut the reflections? |
A good thing I forgot to mention... use a polarizer to cut the reflections... I just did a glass shot a few moments ago, and the filter took out practically all surface reflections and made the glass look great! (the photo, although I think its beautiful, I wont enter it because looks too much like a particurly famous entry :)
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05/02/2003 12:28:10 PM · #8 |
Thanks Gordon and sylandrix for your tips.
One of the shots i may submit has a lot of glass but is not the main subject. Is that a problem with 'meeting the challenge'? In the past, i have gotten so many comments about that, that it has scared the bejeesus out of me, so now i ask when in doubt. |
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05/03/2003 08:19:54 AM · #9 |
| The two most important concerns with glass photography are surface treatment and transmitted light. You might try lighting the glass with light from an uncurtained window for the intersting reflections on the surface. A background of art board in the same color as the glass but graduated from light to dark could play up the colors in the glass. Two objects of different size present a more interesting composition and three or more introduce many possibilities in shape, form and relationships. As in many art classics, a story can be told by adding complimentary objects (an apple with a bite out, a slice of cheese, etc.) |
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05/04/2003 10:30:46 PM · #10 |
Also you can apply a matt finish on the olass object where the reflections will be, this is what they do professionally. Such finish can be bought at photography stores.
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