Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

jdowler · 07-20-2011, 10:33 PM

Hi guys and gals, does anybody have any suggestions on photographing glass objects such as bottles, vases etc.? That is, without blowout and glare.

JD

Adam · 07-20-2011, 10:43 PM

Thread moved to where it belons- general photo.

adpo · 07-21-2011, 12:36 AM

try using a polarizer to help with the glare. also, you can use a larger light source

SpecialK · 07-21-2011, 08:18 AM

A lighting tent setup.

**Kerrowdown** · 07-21-2011, 08:21 AM

Originally posted by SpecialK

A lighting tent setup.

+1 and the use of black reflectors.

BrianR · 07-21-2011, 11:16 AM

Don't light the shiny thing, light the environment around it. It's the reflections of the environment that you see in the bottle or vase that make it look pretty. Use lots of black cards to block unwanted reflections and use lots of big and bright white things nearby to give reflections you want.

You might want to give the book Light Science and Magic a read, it has a couple of chapters on lighting shiny stuff and one dedicated to glassware.

**BigDave** · 07-21-2011, 11:55 AM

There are two techniques and they are kind of opposite each other. The "Black Line" effect and the "White Line" effect.

Black line- surround the subject on three or four (top) sides with a white background material. For the cost and easy of use, 1/4 to 1/2 inch foam core or gator board works well. Make certain the back ground material does not touch in the corners to form, well, a corner, with about a one foot / 1/3 meter gap. These become light traps where the light will disappear. Light the White background material only (not the subject directly) making certain the corner light traps are not lit. If lit properly the main part of the glass will be white with an outline of black from the light traps.

White line effect- Make the background material Black and put white reflecting boards (more foam core) in the corners. Light the white reflectors, not the Black B/G. The effect will be a black/dark subject with a white outline.

For an example, check out the following link: Lighting Glass

Add color B/G in the black line effect for even more fun!

Regards,

Thesorus · 07-22-2011, 04:33 AM

Originally posted by BigDave

For an example, check out the following link: Lighting Glass

Nice!!!

Thanks.

07-20-2011, 10:33 PM	#1
jdowler New Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 20	Glass Hi guys and gals, does anybody have any suggestions on photographing glass objects such as bottles, vases etc.? That is, without blowout and glare. JD

07-20-2011, 10:43 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,609	Thread moved to where it belons- general photo. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
broken viewfinder/eye piece glass	docspidey	Pentax DSLR Discussion	22	01-11-2021 05:20 AM
Through the looking glass	albatross	Monthly Photo Contests	2	02-01-2010 01:43 PM
H/U FA* glass	Talisker	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	11-13-2009 04:31 PM
Glass is glass right??	Raptorman	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	15	11-11-2009 01:56 PM
Autumn colors - old glass is a good glass	andrei46	Post Your Photos!	5	10-26-2007 09:35 AM

07-21-2011, 12:36 AM	#3
adpo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 888	try using a polarizer to help with the glare. also, you can use a larger light source

07-21-2011, 08:18 AM	#4
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	A lighting tent setup.

07-21-2011, 08:21 AM	#5
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by SpecialK A lighting tent setup. +1 and the use of black reflectors.

07-21-2011, 11:16 AM	#6
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	Don't light the shiny thing, light the environment around it. It's the reflections of the environment that you see in the bottle or vase that make it look pretty. Use lots of black cards to block unwanted reflections and use lots of big and bright white things nearby to give reflections you want. You might want to give the book Light Science and Magic a read, it has a couple of chapters on lighting shiny stuff and one dedicated to glassware.

07-21-2011, 11:55 AM	#7
BigDave Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,626	There are two techniques and they are kind of opposite each other. The "Black Line" effect and the "White Line" effect. Black line- surround the subject on three or four (top) sides with a white background material. For the cost and easy of use, 1/4 to 1/2 inch foam core or gator board works well. Make certain the back ground material does not touch in the corners to form, well, a corner, with about a one foot / 1/3 meter gap. These become light traps where the light will disappear. Light the White background material only (not the subject directly) making certain the corner light traps are not lit. If lit properly the main part of the glass will be white with an outline of black from the light traps. White line effect- Make the background material Black and put white reflecting boards (more foam core) in the corners. Light the white reflectors, not the Black B/G. The effect will be a black/dark subject with a white outline. For an example, check out the following link: Lighting Glass Add color B/G in the black line effect for even more fun! Regards,

07-22-2011, 04:33 AM	#8
Thesorus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreal (Canada) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 200	Originally posted by BigDave For an example, check out the following link: Lighting Glass Nice!!! Thanks.