I'm getting ready to sell a few instruments but I'm finding it difficult to get good pictures of the glossy ones. I'm getting too many reflections. Can any of y'all give me a tip or three on getting good pics?
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I'm getting ready to sell a few instruments but I'm finding it difficult to get good pictures of the glossy ones. I'm getting too many reflections. Can any of y'all give me a tip or three on getting good pics?
It's best if you use natural lighting. Is there somewhere you can take them outdoors? Then make sure the glossy area you want to photograph is not facing directly to the sun. Or take them in a shady area outside
To photograph shiny things, you don't shine light on the thing. You light the environment, which is reflected in the thing. A sheet with a light source aimed at it, placed as close to your object as possible, is a good softbox.
Ideally, your light source should be aimed at a big piece of cloth, poster board, or wall. Then, experiment with angles to get the smooth highlight you want.
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Natural light (if possible) and/or camera angles are key. When photographing indoors, avoiding harsh direct light with little tricks like covering overhead lights with a sheet or paper, or even holding a light colored umbrella overhead can go a long way in getting desired quality.
In short - be patient, experiment and don't get too crazy with minute details. All of the pictures in my Mandolin Cafe photo album were done indoors with a simple cell phone, and I like to think that they aren't half bad.
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/a...p?albumid=1982
Trevor has it sussed - http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/q21
Take your mandolins and some posterboard, cloth, or something you can make smooth and is typically all one colour, then go out in the sun, work the angles so that the sun fills the environment, and it makes even the worst mandolins look great. Pictures can be deceiving.
I use 2 light stands, one to each side of the instrument, two lights per stand, all shining on the instrument at about a 45 degree angle. The height, spacing and angle of the lights can be adjusted to minimize reflections. (Hint: a trace of reflection shows that the finish is high gloss. No reflections a all and it might as well be a mat finish.)
Diffusion lighting, like a white sheet stretched over a frame and lighting it from behind is part of movie making magic..
Polarized filter.
A circular polarizer is useful in studio/tabletop work. It can let you dial back reflections to get the color/drama you want while getting the even illumination you want.Quote:
Originally Posted by ColdBeerGoCubs
What a polarizer won't do is give you good lighting to start with. Some good suggestions above. Open shade is good, it's diffuse enough that you won't get harsh shadows, but enough sheer volume of photons that your cell phone or other small camera will work to give you a sharp image.
I tend to photograph figure in wood if at all possible in the AM and PM before too much sunlight is coming straight in. I love the just over the horizon afternoon light on a clear day.
Lights? Filters? Before you do that, just take the mandolin outside on a bright cloudy day and lean it up against a big tree.
You're selling a mandolin, not trying to gain a spot in the Smithsonian.
Daytime, and indoors. A bright, sunlit room with no lightbulbs on.
Find an angle that has fewer reflections- no part of the camera or other objects in the reflection. Patience, and 20 or more photos should do the trick.
You took the words right out of my fingers. Exactly what I do!Quote:
Originally Posted by DHopkins
bratsche
I usually photograph stuff outside in the early morning or late evening when the angle of the sun is low and the light is a little softer and warmer. Maybe place the instrument at a 45 degree angle or so from the direction of the sun. Also sunny outside photos really show the figure in wood (plus all the warts and blemishes of what I'm selling so there are not complaints). I used soft boxes inside when I was working on my vintage instrument book, but that is a lot of trouble unless you routinely sell stuff and want to set up a mini-photography studio.
Outside in the shade on a cloudy day is easiest, as it gives you lots of well-diffused light. I got tired of depending on the weather, though, so I now take photos inside, but reflections can definitely be a hassle. Like John said, some reflections are good, especially with archtop instruments, as they highlight the contours. As an example, you can compare these two examples that I took yesterday, one with a reflection and one without. To me, the reflection adds a lot of depth and life to the photo. You can also see an unwanted, un-diffused reflection on the scroll from my shop lights, compared to the big, diffused reflection from bouncing a flash off of a white sheet. My photos aren't nearly as good as Marty's or John's, but I'm trying to learn ;) A trick that Marty taught me is that you can get inexpensive wireless transmitters for your flash so you can move the flash away from the camera and easily bounce it off of other surfaces, like the ceiling, a sheet, etc. I use these little guys, which work great:
https://www.amazon.com/YONGNUO-RF-60...8652005&sr=8-3
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