Reflections in photo... what to do in this situation?

I just re-setup my ECT lights (not the greatest but with a diffuser they work).
That's aside from the point but I'm open to better cheap lighting solutions!

Anyways, here's a photo I just shot. Notice on this Telecaster that you can see me and the camera in the neck pickup's reflective metal cover. What tricks do the pros use to avoid this in product photography?

thanks!!
Nick

Lastly... would better lighting liven this photo up a bit or is there something I can do in my camera's settings? The camera is a Nikon D40.

Would a polarizer work?
--
Nelson Chen
http://pbase.com/nelsonc
http://NelsonChenPhotography.com/
100% RAW shooter with Capture One Pro



2007 Colorado Renaissance Festival photo gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/nelsonc/2007_colorado_renaissance_festival&page=all

I don't know... Is that a common solution for reflections? Forgive me if that's a dumb question. I'm not too familiar with polarizers other than that they make the sky look bluer at certain angles.

Would that change the colors of my products?

bullet1 said:

Would a polarizer work?
--
Nelson Chen
http://pbase.com/nelsonc
http://NelsonChenPhotography.com/
100% RAW shooter with Capture One Pro



2007 Colorado Renaissance Festival photo gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/nelsonc/2007_colorado_renaissance_festival&page=all

Click to expand...

It looks underexposed.

White balance is off.

Either use a tripod and cable release or put on a black long sleeve T with black gloves and a black ninja hood (or ski mask).

I think the tripod is probably easier.

The composition is really odd. What's your concept?



--
peace
http://www.muskopf.org/slideshow4
http://www.myspace.com/muskopf_photos

I used Auto-Mode on the camera, I figured it'd interpret exposure and white balance correctly. I guess not. I'm not by any means a pro. But I am learning, slowly.

On composition... I normally shoot with the case in the background. I have sawdust on the background as you can see. I took a mid progress photo on a guitar last week I'm guessing by the mess. Really it'd probably help to have a black backdrop.

Anyone have any suggestions on composition?

Thanks Michael for the notes.
Nick

Michael Todd said:

It looks underexposed.

White balance is off.

Either use a tripod and cable release or put on a black long sleeve T
with black gloves and a black ninja hood (or ski mask).

I think the tripod is probably easier.

The composition is really odd. What's your concept?



--
peace
http://www.muskopf.org/slideshow4
http://www.myspace.com/muskopf_photos

Click to expand...

First off, a polirizer won't help. Not unless you polarize the lights too.

The simplest thing to do is shoot from a different angle. Although the pickup cover looks rounded so some amount of reflection may always be there.

Turning off all lights other than your ECT lights (i'm unfamiliar with these) will help unwated reflections, but you still may need to hang a black cloth and shoot through a hole in it.

--
Chefziggy
http://www.pbase.com/chefziggy/lecream

ChefZiggy said:

(i'm unfamiliar with these) will help unwated reflections, but you still may need

Click to expand...

http://www.replacementlightbulbs.com/lampect.html OP posted a qustion about a week ago asking for adivice for cheap product lighting.

Nick,

Do a google (images) search for "guitar" and you can get some great ideas for posing your product.

You mentioned in your earlier post that images help sell, I can't see how your shot could possibly do that... Please don't be offended, it is not my goal. Check with a professional photographer and see how much they would charge to take some shots of your products... you may be able to work out a trade. Your quality work deserves quality images... Not saying you can't do it yourself, but then anyone could rebuild a guitar as well (right?).

John

--

Feel free to use any of these additional letters to correct the spelling of words found in the above post: a-e-t-n-d-i-o-s-m-l-u-y-h-c

You need to polarize the strobe AND the lens to reduce glare - however, I don't think that's what you're looking for here. Sounds like you're hide the reflection which should be as simple as putting a flag (you pick the color) in the area being reflected - you can then light it to create the brightness you want to appear in the reflection).

Joe

nicksorenson said:

Would that change the colors of my products?

bullet1 said:

Would a polarizer work?
--
Nelson Chen
http://pbase.com/nelsonc
http://NelsonChenPhotography.com/
100% RAW shooter with Capture One Pro



2007 Colorado Renaissance Festival photo gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/nelsonc/2007_colorado_renaissance_festival&page=all

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Hey No offense. And true, a guy can't be good at everything. But photography is an art. Playing guitar is an art, building a good guitar is an art. I think art is naturally God given but also learned. My first guitars stunk. My first pictures may stink... So no offense taken at all there. But at the same time there are a few reasons I truly want to learn.

1. My guitars are all different. I live in a rural area and there's no way I can get to a photographer to take pics of each one. Even if I did live in town, I don't have the time. It's very nice to shoot pics right on site.

2. If I'm going to continue as a business person, product photography is an invaluable asset.

3. I took a class in H.S., learned a lot (not much about product photo) and really enjoyed it. I'd like to learn. I enjoy taking pictures.

So... if I need to get a good book, buy some lighting, whatever. I am wanting to learn. If I didn't want to learn and improve, I wouldn't be here.

balloonchasers wrote:
... Please don't be offended, it

balloonchasers said:

is not my goal. Check with a professional photographer and see how
much they would charge to take some shots of your products... you may
be able to work out a trade. Your quality work deserves quality
images... Not saying you can't do it yourself, but then anyone could
rebuild a guitar as well (right?).

John

--
Feel free to use any of these additional letters to correct the
spelling of words found in the above post: a-e-t-n-d-i-o-s-m-l-u-y-h-c

Click to expand...

Also, just to redeem myself a little, from the first photo I put up a little while ago with my reflection photo I originally posted my question with...

Here's an actual customer photo (taken today)... It's not 100% terrible is it?

Some Ideas:

• I would build a large light tent to surround your scene. You can use some white nylon cloth you can get at JoAnn or another fabric store. The idea is to get a large soft light source without hot spots.
• Use some external lights such as desk lamps or whatever you have. I would not mix types of light. When you get it set up, set a custom white balance on your camera.
• Shoot RAW so that you can adjust the white balance in post processing.
• Shoot on a tripod.
• Pick up this book "Light - Science & Magic" by Fuqua. It has many examples of how to shoot wood and metal and how to get the effect you are looking for.

--
Neil McKenzie
http://www.neilmckenziephotography.com

nicksorenson said:

nicksorenson wrote:

Click to expand...

.......It's not 100% terrible is it?

No, it is not.... but the background wrinkles do not add to the shot, the lighting doesn't provide any depth to the image (shadows add just as much as light to an image), the pose does not inspire.

Apparently there is a market for rebuilt guitars and I would think that part of the mystic of purchasing one would be the feeling of by-gone years... I suggested a professional not just for their ability to take the picture but for their ability to visualize a setting that would accent your product. Not only that but you could watch while they take the shots and get an idaea of what is involved.

You could refinish these guitars to where they look brand new...but part of their allure must be the "used" look. Imagine a wooden floor with a rustic band stage and bar stool. Your guitar leaning against the bar stool and lit with just the right light to make you feel like you want to reach out and pick it up start playing... (not great but better than the image on your website where you can see the grass from your lawn in the background). With a couple strobes & light modifiers you could get this shot. Build yourself a small background in your shop and away you go.

Again not trying to be hard... but you have a product that someone can't just go down to the corner store and pick up... the images should reflect (no pun to your original question!) that.

John
--

Feel free to use any of these additional letters to correct the spelling of words found in the above post: a-e-t-n-d-i-o-s-m-l-u-y-h-c

In the first photo the reflection on the rounded pick-up looks great. Defines the shape, material and condition of the metal plate. I would not have noticed seeing the camera or tripod without being told. I was looking at the guitar. Lots of times we use the equipment reflection to define something. It's not necessarily a bad thing.

The background in both looks the same with the color balance in the second better. The reflections and shadows on the guitar give it definition and character. I would stick with the color balance in the second version as it seems more accurate.

And finally, what's the problem again? Are you selling photographs or guitars? If it's guitars, the forumula on two seems just fine. I assume you can shoot full of the guitar as well. I would like to see the oveall image of two as it's quite intriguing. That's some mileage on that guitar. It's has seen some days and nights and good and bad times.

To stop the reflections from shinny objects what you need is a black card that hides you from what the camera sees. look through the viewfinder if you can see you so can the camera then increase the size of the black card,

A polarizer wouldn't work because it only knocks out polarized reflections, those that come in from a low angle, like skipping rocks on a pond.

Try tilting the guitar so that the chrome is reflecting something else.

Put a lot of light on the guitar, but stand in deep shadow so that anything being reflected is so dark and underexposed you can't see it.

I suppose you could also try getting a few feet of black broadcloth from a fabric store, cutting a hole in it for your lens, hanging it as a curtain and shooting from behind it.

Also, remember that Ebay taught us the importance of wearing clothes when you take a picture of something reflective, either that, or get a really cute girl to take the picture.

Others have described workable solutions, such as peeping the camera through a curtain or board. Or you could just fix it in post.



I don't think this reflection is a problem for this sort of product shot. Do you think serious guitar pickers care? A better place to concentrate is getting the exposure right. This shot is underexposed. And maybe a black velvet backdrop instead of paper with sawdust on it?

On another note, is that shot in your other post really Stevie Ray's guitar? Sure looks like it.



--
~ Peano
http://www.radiantpics.com

nicksorenson said:

Here's an actual customer photo (taken today)... It's not 100%
terrible is it?

Click to expand...

No, it isn't, But "not 100% terrible" isn't a rave review. Experiment with different backgrounds. Think about colors that would go with the product color. Play with lighting modifiers. The backdrop and the case are decorations at best (a black case might work better behind this one). The guitar is the star. Put it in the spotlight.

I'm mainly talking concept, but of course it takes technique to express a concept effectively. See the resident gear heads for that.



--
~ Peano
http://www.radiantpics.com

nicksorenson said:

On composition... I normally shoot with the case in the background. I
have sawdust on the background as you can see. I took a mid progress
photo on a guitar last week I'm guessing by the mess. Really it'd
probably help to have a black backdrop.

Anyone have any suggestions on composition?

Click to expand...

I am not an expert, but my toughts-

If you had placed guitar against the case slightly inclined towards the case, not verticle and take a picture at an angle, it would give and idea of third dimensions. At present every thinng is flat.
--
Bakul Vyas
http://www.pbase.com/bakul_vyas

I can see a lot of posters here have never shot anything commercially.

Chrome or steel always looks a lot nicer when it appears lighter or white. Black makes it look like a hole and really ugly.

So a real simple thing to do is go get a large white poster board and place it so, from camera angle. it reflects the white into the chrome pickups. Now it may also reflect in the body of the guitar so make sure you may want to get a board that will reflect into the entire face of the body.

Mike
--
'Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change.'

Thanks for the tips!

How'd you do that to the pickup cover's reflection? I'd also like to ask about how you did the white balance. I've got picasa and PhotoShop Elements on a PC at my disposal and that's about it.

Thanks for the compliments that you thought my guitar looked like the real thing. It's still a work in progress.

Nick

Peano said:

Others have described workable solutions, such as peeping the camera
through a curtain or board. Or you could just fix it in post.



I don't think this reflection is a problem for this sort of product
shot. Do you think serious guitar pickers care? A better place to
concentrate is getting the exposure right. This shot is underexposed.
And maybe a black velvet backdrop instead of paper with sawdust on it?

On another note, is that shot in your other post really Stevie Ray's
guitar? Sure looks like it.



--
~ Peano
http://www.radiantpics.com

Click to expand...