Reflections and background colour

[AMac]

Hi,

I am trying to take a photo of a patterned vase, it is the pattern I am trying to capture.

In the first one I could not get rid of the reflection, I tried moving the flash further away and higher.
I tried to use some black cardboard to block some of the flash, but could not get rid of it.

http://amacimages.com/still-life/1202_vase001.jpg.php

So with the 2nd one I framed it so the reflection could not been seen, in the hope that the pattern could been seen and the blurred vase in the background would give it the context.

http://amacimages.com/still-life/1202_vase002.jpg.php

But then the black background paper went blue.

Any tips or help would be great,
Cheers Alex

 

[Garry Edwards]

You've used a small, hard light source in the wrong place. This has created flat lighting that has destroyed the texture and which has also created unwanted hotspots.
The correct lighting technique is shown here, on the Lencarta lighting blog.

I don't know why the background is showing as blue but I'm guessing that you have the camera set to auto white balance, which is wrong. If so, then the colour of the vase will also be wrong.

 

[AMac]

Hi Gary,
Thanks for taking the time to comment, as you can see I am still learning!.
If I have read your tutorial correctly, I should have the light right above the vase and much closer.
I will give that a go, but will it work with the vase as it is more upright, and I am using a 24"shoot through umbrella is that big enough?
Well I will give it a go and see how it turns out.
Thanks again for your advice.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Well, you need to 'interpret' that tutorial a bit. With something like a vase, it needs to be at the side rather than above. An umbrella is sort of usable but the lighting is very uncontrolled compared to a softbox, so a softbox is the tool of choice. In fact I would have one each side. You will need to experiment with position but your starting point should be at the side and a little behind, this will produce soft overall light with hard local lighting, which which emphasise the texture.

24" will be OK - just, you only need a really large light modifier if the subject is shiny.