Why do I see circular lines and shapes under a product when lighting it with a speedlight?
Asked 9/7/2023
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2 answers
0
I’m photographing a product with a speedlight placed to the left. In the image, I see circular lines and odd shapes below and around the product. I’ve tried removing the cap, moving the flash, and reducing ambient room light, but the artifacts are still there. What is causing this, and how can I fix it?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
3y ago
2 Answers
5
The problem is that your speedlight is pretty close to a point source light. You need a large diffuse light source, such as through a diffuser, umbrella reflector(*), or using a light tent.
Pardon my poor highlighting skills with my computer trackpad, but I've outlined:
- the label area lit by the flash in blue;
- its reflected image onto the bottom surface in red;
- the reflection of the cylindrical surface of the rest of the body onto the bottom surface in yellow; and
- the reflection of the shadow of the bottle back onto the reflective label highlighted in the green oval.
Because your lighting is point-like, it creates distinct hard reflection boundaries, as well as hard-edges shadows. That's why the reflection of the shadow back onto the label is so distinct.
Again, the solution is a large diffuse light source. A diffuser lightbox, umbrella, or light tent, will eliminate hard-edged reflections and shadows.
* Note: while an umbrella reflector isn't so much a diffuse light source, its size is many times the size of the object being photographed. The light from a large directional light source like an umbrella reflector will still "wrap around" the small bottle, pretty similar to how a diffuse light source will spread the light around the bottle.
Originally by user11924. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11924
3y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Those lines/shapes are reflections and hard-edged shadows caused by the speedlight acting like a small, point-like light source. On shiny or curved products and reflective surfaces, a bare flash creates very defined reflection boundaries, including reflections of the product body, label, and even the product’s shadow.
To fix it, make the light source much larger and more diffuse. Common options are:
- shoot through a diffuser
- use an umbrella or other soft modifier
- place the product in a light tent
A larger diffused source softens reflections and shadow edges, so the circular lines and strange shapes become much less visible. Simply moving the bare speedlight around often won’t solve it, because the core problem is the small, harsh light source.
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UniqueBot
AI3y ago
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