Shooting Old Headstones in Cemetary
Aug 31, 2017 11:26:04 #
When I do this on the really old stones in my family's private cemetery, I try to shoot at other than midday. Then in post, I increase the contrast A LOT.
Aug 31, 2017 12:16:12 #
AzPicLady wrote:
When I do this on the really old stones in my family's private cemetery, I try to shoot at other than midday. Then in post, I increase the contrast A LOT.
Increasing the contrast can often help, but it also can have side effects you may not like. Something that sometimes works is to duplicate the original in a second layer, jack up the contrast, and then blend that into the more reasonably adjusted original layer using masks and blending modes.
I don't have a solution that works in all cases, so YMMV
Aug 31, 2017 20:58:22 #
I would try a reflector from the side. It would help for a better dept of the carvings.📷
Aug 31, 2017 21:09:00 #
fuminous wrote:
There are some good suggestions but, you may find your best assistance in Photoshop using channels, LAB or, in Lightroom, converting to black & white and playing with the luminance sliders. You'd be surprised at the amount of information within the image but recognizable/useable only at specific wave lengths.
I'll elaborate: I have been able to read specs on pipes, parts and such that were illegible or invisible to the naked eye by, in Lightroom, going to the HSL panel and converting the image to black and white, then working the luminance sliders to gain contrast at different color wavelengths. From that image, it's easy enough to, in Photoshop, make a layer mask(s) and overlay the color image- if color it must be. Yes, it's a pain in the patootie but, good results can be had. On the other hand... if the inscription is completely gone- and I mean gone... well, there's nothing to work with...
Of course I am presuming you wish to discover and preserve the headstone information while, in fact, your objective may be to create a fun/interesting image of a headstone with some form of text on it..
Aug 31, 2017 21:50:24 #
nupshaw
Loc: Strasburg, VA
Turp77's response is the best. Also use early/late light angles if the orientation allows. The time of year may make a difference.
Sep 1, 2017 05:10:41 #
Rab-Eye wrote:
My thought exactly.
I agree!!!
Either an off camera flash or a reflector, White, silver and/or gold.
Shooting RAW and recovering shadows in post would help also.
Sep 1, 2017 20:51:38 #
Haydon wrote:
I'm not so sure even temporarily performing this would be considered acceptable behavior. Some might see it as defacing and disrespectful. Imagine how a relative might feel if they saw you doing this. Regardless of it washing off, immediate reaction might not be what you would appreciate or for that matter them.
Hi, my apologies, my response was based on a project that was done about ten years ago and the chalk thing was what was recommended to the photographers at the time. It was my wife that was involved in this.
I checked with her when she came home and she said yes that is what they told her then but then changed as the chalk was not coming off as expected.
I was not up to date on that part, sorry for posting erroneous information
Sep 1, 2017 21:20:18 #
happy sailor wrote:
Hi, my apologies, my response was based on a project that was done about ten years ago and the chalk thing was what was recommended to the photographers at the time. It was my wife that was involved in this.
I checked with her when she came home and she said yes that is what they told her then but then changed as the chalk was not coming off as expected.
I was not up to date on that part, sorry for posting erroneous information
I checked with her when she came home and she said yes that is what they told her then but then changed as the chalk was not coming off as expected.
I was not up to date on that part, sorry for posting erroneous information
Thank you for clarifying and apology certainly accepted. I'm a little bit of a taphophile and a little sensitive on what goes on in the places of eternal rest. I have seen plenty of forgotten locations where desecration abounds and it saddens me. So I too have an apology to make on maybe being a little presumptuous of you and my abundance of sensitivity.
New England has many old burial sites and many marking are as said virtually unreadable. Just last week I sat in peace by a friend who passed too early. No one really dies until they are forgotten.
Sep 2, 2017 14:00:05 #
Maybe use artificial lighting from the side to create some shadows. edit - I see many others before me suggested the same. I have nothing more to offer.
Sep 5, 2017 00:38:02 #
Sep 5, 2017 00:58:15 #
Sep 5, 2017 01:03:21 #
Thank you, I had tried using the "Bracketing" mode on my camera, but it didn't do much. Manually changing the exposure settings might provide greater variation. Will try.
Sep 5, 2017 02:12:54 #
Thank you for your interest. After reading your post I started trying some of your suggestions (except I use Corel PaintShop Pro and Aftershot). I do shoot in RAW and Aftershot Pro 3 allows me to make adjustments on my RAW photographs. I have had some positive results based on your suggestions. Thank you
Sep 5, 2017 02:30:43 #
I agree, especially since I live in an unincorporated community and am not even sure of who to make request to for photographing headstones.
Sep 6, 2017 21:01:41 #
winterrose wrote:
Fallacy: exposing to the right just makes the image lighter, it does not provide any more "information" to work with.
You really have this wrong. It's too bad you continue to promote what you believe since it teaches other people misinformation.
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