Photographing Painting

[marcotrov]

Just some quick advice if you please. Have to photograph a painting in gloss acrylic done on a sheet of raw paper bark treebark for an RM williams Outback magazine entry for a friend. Because of it's raised relief, almost like facets, there is glare from the image even when i use a subdued PJ 11 diffuser. The only possible way I can think of is to use twin flash set up at 45 degrees either side or maybe no flash in a diffused environment under his pergola. Thinking out aloud here. Any ideas the painting is perhaps .75 metres x 1metre
cheers
marco

[gstark]

Diffused lighting would be the way to go, but you also might want to consider the use of a CPL to reduce any flare that still might be inclined to creep in.

[marcotrov]

Thanks Gary. I had no idea what the painting was but when i saw it and did a couple of quick flash lit shots in different positions even bounced directly off the white ceiling the texture of the surface just reflected the light back no matter how i set it. I think you may be right I'll go out and try to shoot it under the pergola diffused light sans flash
While I got you gary can I use the built in flash on the D70 to command my 2 SB's without the built in flash firing?
cheers
marco

[gstark]

Without the built-in firing? No, I don't think so.

But you can dial its power way way down, and then partially cover it, to minimise any impact it may have on the image you're making.

If you're using the pergola, be wary of any colour casts that it might be throwing into the image. If, for instance, it's a cream colour, that will have an effect on what you're shooting, and you'll need to compensate for it.

And of course, you won't ordinarily notice this while you're actually in the shooting situation.

Might be a good time to grab a pringles lid and learn about preset WB.

[wendellt]

yeah

me and leigh used to photograph paitnings at roslyn oxley 9 gallery

most glare was avoided by just anglign the paintign the right way

either usign a black scrim to cover most of the reflective background with a hole cut out of it for the lens

but as gary said the CPL works best

and we also used no flash just camera on a tripod with a longer exposure

[Yi-P]

can I use the built in flash on the D70 to command my 2 SB's without the built in flash firing?
cheers
marco

Marco,

The D70's built in flash does not contribute to the exposure, it fires to command the SB's with its infrared flash light signals... well, it uses light to 'talk' to the flashes on how/when they gonna fire, but itself will not fire off for exposure.

[marcotrov]

Thank you gentleman. The CPL is the way to go with diffused light. Yeah, Gary the WB forgot about that too
No black scrim but will have a play Wendell. The number of 'facets' in the bark will mean i'll have to play quite a bit with angling the painting but that's another good point i should have considered Thanks Yi-p I might even fire a few off to test the commander capabilities of the D70.
You've been a great help fellas "m off to do the deed
cheers
marco

[gstark]

The D70's built in flash does not contribute to the exposure, it fires to command the SB's with its infrared flash light signals... well, it uses light to 'talk' to the flashes on how/when they gonna fire, but itself will not fire off for exposure.

Actually, it fires off every time when it's popped up, and depending upon the settings in use and the distances involved, it will usually contribute towards the exposure.

And it uses both IR and the flash to communicate with subordinate flash units.

Here's your challenge: pop up the built-in flash on your D70, and try to make an image with that built-in flash unit not firing.

[wendellt]

Thank you gentleman. The CPL is the way to go with diffused light. Yeah, Gary the WB forgot about that too
No black scrim but will have a play Wendell. The number of 'facets' in the bark will mean i'll have to play quite a bit with angling the painting but that's another good point i should have considered Thanks Yi-p I might even fire a few off to test the commander capabilities of the D70.
You've been a great help fellas "m off to do the deed
cheers
marco

marco all you need for a black sdcrim is a black blanket
one you can cut a hole into

you can either make stands or just get two tall people or 2 short people standing on chairs to hold it up
then you just poke the camera through

this can eliminate heaps of reflective elements especially if the paiting is behind glass

[shakey]

you can either make stands or just get two tall people or 2 short people standing on chairs to hold it up
then you just poke the camera through

or even one tall person and one short person on a chair, if you're one chair short , or one tall person short (so to speak)

[marcotrov]

Thanks Wendell. Sounds like Wendell cunning to me Have to try it one day
Initially tried ambient light under the pergola but as Gary had mentioned WB was shot with colour cast of the roofing material in pergola. So...

I took the shot using 2 speedlite wireless set up with commander on an SC-17 cord. Both with diffusers set on -.3 and at 45 degrees to the canvas and camera and pointing straight up at the white ceiling in doors using CPL and my 35-70 F/2.8. A little, not much, trial and error work to avoid the harsh hot spots created by the uneven surface and gloss paint and I'm happy with results. Thanks for the help

cheers
marco

[Matt. K]

marcotrov
Good Job! But that was an easy one. Wait until you get a 2Metre x 3 Metre painting behind glass!

[gstark]

MArco,

Seems to me as if you were well up to the challenge. Well done; there's nothing wrong with that.

[marcotrov]

Thanks for the help Gary the CPL worked a treat Matt I don't even want to think about that challenge
Actually the guy I took it for bulit the first hut/museum with RM Williams and he has his handprint alongside RM's and a third guy that helped construct the first hall of fame that is still standing.
cheers
marco

[beetleboy]

Good stuff Marco!

As a little note RE the D70 firing remote SB's - Gary is correct. In the past I have used a piece of tape to direct the onboard flash towards the remote one and block it from contributing to the shot. I first discovered this technique in a shopping centre when I had to shoot into a fish tank - kept getting a bright spot smack bang where the flash was!

[marcotrov]

Thanks Beetleboy. Nifty little trick
cheers
marco