Pics of highly reflective metals - How do you take them?

swag72

swag72

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Sara
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I am trying to take some pics of highly reflective metal. I am taking them using natural light, but I am really struggling with the reflective nature of these, reflecting back the curtains, windows, me ......... etc.

Thinking about it, not sure if this is a light question specifically, but how do you avoid the reflections in such metals? Or, how do you make it acceptable? My pics all look crap.
 
A light tent would be a good idea, either bought (plenty on Ebay in various sizes) or home made.
 
drumroll please.....

*drums roll*

CIRCULAR POLARISER!
that usually helps me, it might not get rid of 100% of the reflections, but it can definetly drastically reduce 'em.

also, alot depends on where the lights coming from and where you are positioned.

also, if you do want the reflections, remember to either focus on the reflections themselves if you want them to be in focus, or the metal if you want that in focus.

hope that helps!
 
Oh, and use a blank neutral background (black or white?) and wear a long-sleave shirt of the same color.

I would suggest black, reflections do show up more, but the camera is black, and if you wear all black (sorry, you have to look like a Mussolini/Oswald Mosley supporter here) and have a black background (and even try and cover your face?) then thats all that shows up. I have done it before. does work, especially when in use with the circular polariser.
 
Hi Sara

A long lens can help a lot and obviously you can lose your own reflection by using a remote release or the self timer. You can also conceal camera/tog/tripod behind a black/white drape with a hole for the lens. And don’t forget about sorting some or all in photoshop.

One more thought - Depending on the metal and how you want it to look you could try dulling spray, which you can get from film/tv production suppliers. Alternately some hair sprays can knock back the reflections sufficiently on a number of reflective surfaces.

Happy shooting.
Sam-D
 
AleksanderLoesch said:
drumroll please.....

*drums roll*

CIRCULAR POLARISER!
that usually helps me, it might not get rid of 100% of the reflections, but it can definetly drastically reduce 'em.

also, alot depends on where the lights coming from and where you are positioned.

also, if you do want the reflections, remember to either focus on the reflections themselves if you want them to be in focus, or the metal if you want that in focus.

hope that helps!
Click to expand...

Sorry, but that's a premature drum roll. Polarisers don't have any effect on upainted metals.

It's a lighting problem, easily solved using studio lighting (not by using light tents).
 
Garry Edwards said:
Sorry, but that's a premature drum roll. Polarisers don't have any effect on upainted metals.

It's a lighting problem, easily solved using studio lighting (not by using light tents).
Click to expand...

I have had an effect. it was definetly un-painted/un-coated metal. It didn't get rid of all of the reflection, but it did heavily reduce it. -it was reflecting direct bright sunlight, that might have been the reason:shrug:
 
AleksanderLoesch said:
I have had an effect. it was definetly un-painted/un-coated metal. It didn't get rid of all of the reflection, but it did heavily reduce it. -it was reflecting direct bright sunlight, that might have been the reason:shrug:
Click to expand...
Sunlight is itself polarised to some extent, in that the light is coming from multiple directions, so there is some effect on the light contained within the reflections from the bare metal, but the polariser can't have any direct effect on the bright metal itself.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Garry Edwards View Post
easily solved using studio lighting
No doubt, but even so.....
Click to expand...
You can't avoid reflections, the trick is to control them. This involves using large, diffused light sources that create diffused specular highlights (reflections of the light source) that you can see through to the subject beneath, rather than the small, harsh ones that distract.

This thead shows how it's done using studio lighting. If you're limited to sunlight then either shoot on a dull, overcast day so that the whole sky becomes the light source, or place a diffuser between the light source and the subject. Or both.
 
Garry Edwards said:
Sunlight is itself polarised to some extent, in that the light is coming from multiple directions, so there is some effect on the light contained within the reflections from the bare metal, but the polariser can't have any direct effect on the bright metal itself.
Click to expand...

Well in my experience it has.

It was steal and copper (uncoated/un-treated sheets) that I had ordered. I had to get shots of them for a DT project during A-Levels. The only way i could do this was with bright glaring sun behind me, and so my only choice was to use a circ pol. to reduce it.

I will have to try and find the photos. it was 2 years ago though, and the pics were of no artistic merit.... will have a snoop around.
 
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