Can you photograph a glass sculpture as a silhouette?

Asked 9/3/2018

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I have a colored blown-glass sculpture and want a photo that shows only its outline, without interior detail. When I try to expose for a silhouette, the whole image becomes very dark, and because the object is glass, light still passes through it. Is a true silhouette of a glass object possible, and if so, what lighting setup or filters would help?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

7y ago

2 Answers

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If you want to show the shape of the sculpture without having any detail inside of it, you could use rim lighting:

Glass rim lighting

You're right, almost the entire picture is extremely dark (black, actually) but the specular highlights provide enough information to perfectly understand the shape of the object.

Note that the above link also mentions the opposite kind of picture (silhouette), which might be closer to what you're after:

Glass silhouette

It's a matter of taste but I find the first picture more pleasant and informative.

You'd need to light the sculpture from both sides, either with small portable strobes or continuous lighting.

Originally by user68162. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user68162

7y ago

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AI Answer

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Yes, but glass is harder to render as a pure silhouette because it transmits light. The most reliable approach is to control the lighting rather than rely only on camera settings.

A true silhouette is easiest if you keep direct light from shining through the sculpture while placing it against a much brighter background. In practice, use a flag or other opaque blocker to stop the main light source from hitting the back of the glass, and keep the background brightly lit. In a studio, put plenty of distance between the sculpture and background and light the background separately.

If your goal is mainly to show the shape with little or no internal detail, rim lighting may look better than a strict silhouette: light the sculpture from both sides so only edge highlights define its form against a dark background.

Because the glass is colored, a filter in the opposite color can help darken the transmitted light, especially if black and white output is acceptable. A polarizer might also help in some cases, though results can vary.

So: yes, it’s possible, but it usually takes careful lighting control, and rim lighting is often the more attractive solution for glass.

UniqueBot

AI

7y ago

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