Cut the "shiny" off my candles!!
Mar 22, 2012 00:06:21 #
I carve candles, and have tried taking pictures of them for advertising purposes. The candles are 6" tall, and graduate from 6" round at the bottom to about 3" at the top.
When I try to take pictures of them, the glaze seems to glare back at me. I have used backdrops of different colors, light behind the candles, with flash, without flash, indoors, out-of-doors, even shooting them before they're glazed. Nothing seems to work. I still get the shiny spots that detract from the image I'm trying for.
The images themselves are not a good quality, either.
I've looked at other carved candle websites, and they don't have the shiny look.
I've never done very well with any of the display photography I've tried.
:cry:
Any ideas? Thanks.
When I try to take pictures of them, the glaze seems to glare back at me. I have used backdrops of different colors, light behind the candles, with flash, without flash, indoors, out-of-doors, even shooting them before they're glazed. Nothing seems to work. I still get the shiny spots that detract from the image I'm trying for.
The images themselves are not a good quality, either.
I've looked at other carved candle websites, and they don't have the shiny look.
I've never done very well with any of the display photography I've tried.
:cry:
Any ideas? Thanks.
Mar 22, 2012 00:13:57 #
Mar 22, 2012 00:14:29 #
Mar 22, 2012 00:21:18 #
Aambertyme wrote:
I carve candles, and have tried taking pictures of... (show quote)
Light them like a portrait , bounce light everywhere , change the angle of the lens to the light , eliminate that spot .
Stuff em in a light box , Very easy to make
Mar 22, 2012 00:58:41 #
Mar 22, 2012 01:05:54 #
not sure how to help your photography question, but your candles are awesome!
Aambertyme wrote:
Here's a sample picture.
Mar 22, 2012 01:12:51 #
Have you tried using diffused light and no flash ...
Don't shine the light directly on them bounce the light off the wall or ceiling .. or a piece of foil or something ....
I would think that outside with an umbrella to shield the direct sun would work .. or even in the shade .. tough question
Don't shine the light directly on them bounce the light off the wall or ceiling .. or a piece of foil or something ....
I would think that outside with an umbrella to shield the direct sun would work .. or even in the shade .. tough question
Mar 22, 2012 01:18:57 #
Aambertyme wrote:
I carve candles, and have tried taking pictures of... (show quote)
ONLY if you can't find a way with lighting....
OK, priorities...? Do you want the gloss on the candles at all other times, when you are NOT trying to photograph them???
If you don't mind the shine being off all the time, spray them very lightly with a clear, MATT finish spray paint. IF you then want them to shine after the photos, you can spray them again with a clear GLOSS spray paint.
Mar 22, 2012 01:23:57 #
What is your ISO setting? It appears to me that you have it set very high and are getting a grainy appearance to your photos. The focus could be sharper too, try focusing manually. (of course it could just be my aging eyes).
Mar 22, 2012 02:00:00 #
Beautiful candles.
I like the paint idea. Use clear matte spray.
You might also try shooting by available light with NO artificial light. Also, assuming you're using a tripod, stop down more for better DOF; you'll have to shoot slower, but with a tripod it shouldn't matter. Lastly, if you have an option that changes your focus point, pick one that focuses on the side or the wick, again for best DOF. Better still, focus manually and bracket both focus and aperture; (especially in advertising) it's OK to take 10 - 30 shots to get that perfect one. I once went through an entire box of 4 X 5 film to get one acceptable shot of a local historic building.
One nice thing about digital is that you are restricted only by your own imagination.
I like the paint idea. Use clear matte spray.
You might also try shooting by available light with NO artificial light. Also, assuming you're using a tripod, stop down more for better DOF; you'll have to shoot slower, but with a tripod it shouldn't matter. Lastly, if you have an option that changes your focus point, pick one that focuses on the side or the wick, again for best DOF. Better still, focus manually and bracket both focus and aperture; (especially in advertising) it's OK to take 10 - 30 shots to get that perfect one. I once went through an entire box of 4 X 5 film to get one acceptable shot of a local historic building.
One nice thing about digital is that you are restricted only by your own imagination.
Mar 22, 2012 04:15:00 #
Roger Hicks
Loc: Aquitaine
1 Try a polarizer
2 If that doesn't work, try polarizing the light source as well.
Cheers,
R.
2 If that doesn't work, try polarizing the light source as well.
Cheers,
R.
Mar 22, 2012 08:06:24 #
As others have said . . . don't directly illuminate them. Use diffused light. They appear a bit soft in focus. Use a tripod and manually focus.
Mar 22, 2012 16:31:10 #
Mar 22, 2012 17:55:42 #
Aambertyme wrote:
I carve candles, and have tried taking pictures of... (show quote)
Here is a great tutorial for still life and/or product photography that won't cost you over $10 in material to produce professional results. The tutorial is :thumbup: FREE :thumbup: :
http://phototips.libsyn.com/index.html/episode_34_product_and_still_photography_made_easy
Mar 22, 2012 18:37:26 #
Roger Hicks
Loc: Aquitaine
Horseart wrote:
Would a soft-focus filter work??? Just wondering.
It would almost certainly make things worse, unfortunately, by spreading the highlights.
Cheers,
R.
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