2much2carry Loc: Monterey CA

Hi,
I have a very small studio with appropriate studio flash systems and I wish to do still life photography of small objects sitting on a highly reflective, mirror like, black surface. I've seen this technique in photographs occasionally found in books, mags, etc., but I never have figured out what material they are using for the objects to sit on. The black surface does not show any grain. Could this be some black plastic polymer? What other surfaces qualify (I can't afford to use a black piano top, nor does it reflect sufficiently). I'm more interested in a polished surface to highlight the object, rather than just to catch a reflection. Any ideas?

Thanks

cyrel Loc: Eugene

Try a piece of glass that has been painted black on one side? A black piece of Mylar?

2much2carry Loc: Monterey CA

Thanks, I'll try a thin glass pane. I haven't tried this for fear of multiple reflections. I haven't been able to find Mylar in the area I live.

cyrel Loc: Eugene

Ok It was jsut a thought. I am not sure how the glass will work but i would think the thinner the better.

cyrel Loc: Eugene

Might try a hobby shop and look for Monokote or something similar they use it for covering model airplanes.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

If you plan to shoot many low angle shots, clear glass over a black base will often produce a double reflection. A sheet of polished black acylic or plexiglass would be a much better choice. You should be able to find it in a plastics retail store such as Tap Plastics, or online.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

It is cast acrylic sheet. See:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_16?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=black+plexiglass&sprefix=black+plexiglass%2Caps%2C220

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

A black ceramic tile.

dubach

good question, ive been wanting o do that as well.

TLCarney Loc: Englewood, Florida

sometimes a polarizing filter will help. Or polarizing filter material for the light source.

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

Like Photographer Jim above correctly stated, Black Plexiglass, for a small piece get 3/16 or 1/4", 2' x 3' at least. DO NOT SCRATCH IT!! Angle a white scrim or softbox above it, or a combination of both- you need a very even bank of white light for this... the highly reflective black plexiglass will reflect the lit scrim and thus photograph pure white. Trust me on this. Items on it (placed carefully- as a scratched plexiglass will look awful) will cast a sharp but darkened reflection.

Regular glass, will return two reflections, one for each surface. Frosted on side may work... but not the dramatic look you want.

White or black glass- like used in lead stained glass sort of thing, will work, but not as well. The surface is not often perfect. but you can get a 1' square pice for $6 or so, might be worth a trip to a glass store for interesting colors or patterns, iridescent , shades of white.... funny looks I got, people watching me take out a piece and place my wedding band and watch on it in the store to see how it was working.

You can find the black plexi on-line. It isn't cheap.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

I used black spray on a highly sanded wood surface then sanded the paint, painted again and sanded again. I used the Micromesh system. I was experimenting with breaking down sunlight thru a prism and crystals - here are some example of the surface

abby Loc: Tampa, Florida

Hello Tim,

This may not be the answer you are looking for but I have used a smokey-colored piece of plexiglass from Home Depot to use for some of my "light-paintings". Because the plexiglass is semi-transparent, I usually place a piece of black poster board beneath it to darken it a bit.

I use a flashlight to "paint" the object for a few seconds ( totally dark room ) and the object then reflects onto the glass. Depending on the angle of the shot, focus and f/stop, the reflection can be blurred or in focus.

Hope you don't mind me sending a couple of examples.

Good luck.

Abby

jvo Loc: left coast of the east coast

another way to skin the cat... (ugh)
i've used black muslin background with appropriate lighting (snoot, diffuse) on subject and background for effect. the object sat on a mirror and dependent on lighting, increase or decrease reflectivity. adjusting depth of field also made a difference!

jvo

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

What about using black velvet draped on table and up for background with a mirror placed on the table. Gives good reflective quality and mirrors the black off the background. I've used this several times and had good luck with it. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Sorry no photos to show. :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: