| Author | Message | ||
     Bill Lowe Lesser Egret Username: bill_lowe Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: cpc2-nmal10-0-0-cust1207.croy.cable.virginmedia.com |
Dear All I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to taking photos so I wondered if someone could kindly explain how the wonderful reflection of objects in a black background you see in auction catalogues is achieved? I've got a feeling you need a very professional setup to get this result but I thought it worth asking as the result is stunning and shows off a piece in the best possible way Thanks for your help Regards Bill | ||
| Deanne Cordero Lesser Egret Username: pirannah Post Number: 21 Registered: 06-2011 Posted From: ppp-71-139-247-65.dsl.chi2ca.pacbell.net |
Bill, sorry nobody got back to you on this, but since my background is more so in photography than collecting (just recently started being serious about it), I thought I would give you a little hint on taking great pictures. I use a light tent, with the camera setting on NO FLASH. That is usually signified by a lightening bolt with a circle around it. Here is a brief, but excellent tutorial for making a light tent. I hope you and others reading this will find this very useful. It is exactly what I use when there is an absence of sunlight. http://www.eyefetch.com/tutorial-light-tent-101.aspx My best recommendation is outdoor photos with full sunlight. There is nothing better than sunlight to show the true color of things. Good luck - Deanne | ||
| Bill Lowe Lesser Egret Username: bill_lowe Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: cpc11-nmal18-2-0-cust988.croy.cable.virginmedia.com |
Dear Deanne Thank you very much for your reply.I have seen information about this type of light tent before but really I wanted to understand how to obtain that amazing effect you see in auction catalogues. Best Wishes Bill | ||
| Garrett McCormack Peacock Username: g_mccormack Post Number: 429 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: fl-67-235-192-2.dhcp.embarqhsd.net |
Bill, it takes a lot of fooling with to get the look you want. Mostly, items are placed in front of a big sweep and the light is directed only onto the front of the object, taking care not to illuminate the background sweep. I think this is what you are talking about. Try to figure out what the light source is, where it is, etc. Look at the shadows and reflections.  There are quite a few ways to do it, the above is just one. Frankly I think this photo of mine could be improved by getting rid of the two big reflections on the surface of the piece. You see one is the overhead light, and the softer one is the reflection of the grey vinyl sweep material. | ||
| Bill Lowe Lesser Egret Username: bill_lowe Post Number: 12 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: cpc11-nmal18-2-0-cust988.croy.cable.virginmedia.com |
Hi Garrett Thanks for your explanation. That's a great photo you've taken and I think I now better understand how that effect is achieved in the sales catalogues. Regards Bill | ||
| Garrett McCormack Peacock Username: g_mccormack Post Number: 433 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: fl-67-235-203-4.dhcp.embarqhsd.net |
My pleasure Bill. Once you really start looking critically at the auction house photos, you start to notice quickly how the photos were made, how many lights, how diffuse, where they are, etc all the details for setting up the shot. Some houses used to (still do?) spray reflective vases with a removable spray (I don't know what, rubber cement or something? that rubs off?) to create a matte finish just for the photos. |
