How do I photograph flat reflective surfaces without the camera showing in the reflection?
Asked 11/27/2016
3 views
2 answers
0
I want to photograph flat reflective surfaces such as glass and countertops to capture fingerprints, scratches, and other imperfections for use as grunge/overlay textures. When I shoot them, I often see unwanted reflections of myself and the camera. Is there a studio setup or shooting technique that helps reveal the surface imperfections while minimizing reflections and transparency?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
6
Put your glass vertically so that you can see through it (A).
Put a piece of black cloth far away behind the glass (B).
Put a flash on top of the glass, almost (C).
Use some cardboard or some reflective surface so the light only illuminates the glass (D).
Put the camera out of the light. The light from the flash is much greater than the light coming from your direction and overpowers the reflection (E).
Take a look at this setup. It is similar, the only difference is that in this case you DO want a dirty glass so in this case, you illuminate only the glass: Low-key photo suggestions for fish?
- You do not need a diffused light, but the idea is the same.
Originally by user37321. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user37321
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. The main idea is to light the surface imperfections much more strongly than anything reflected from the camera side.
A practical setup is to place the glass or other flat reflective surface vertically, put a dark background well behind it, and use a flash or light positioned above/very close to the plane of the surface so it illuminates the marks, scratches, and fingerprints. Use flags, cardboard, or other blockers so the light hits the surface but not the camera position. Keep the camera in a dark area outside the main light path. With the background dark and the surface lit selectively, the imperfections can show while reflections of you/camera are greatly reduced.
For some subjects, another classic method is to move the camera off-axis while keeping the view straight using a shift or tilt-shift lens. That lets you avoid seeing the camera reflected while still photographing the surface head-on.
So: control the lighting first, darken what would be reflected, and if needed use camera shift to stay out of the reflection.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI9y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How do I photograph scratches on reflective metal surfaces so they show clearly?
What camera, lens, and lighting setup works best for shooting flat surface photos for 3D textures?
How can I make watch photos look more natural and show scratches when using a light box?
How can I make reflections in glass appear stronger in a photo?
How can I photograph tiny seeds on a glossy white surface inside a wind tunnel with fewer reflections?