Shooting thru glass... help!

leadbelly · 01-18-2008, 02:03 AM

I want to shoot parts of a painting...however, it is framed as such that the glass is about 2 inches from the canvas... how can I shoot "semi-macro" shots with a flash without the light reflecting? Thanks!

PDL · 01-18-2008, 02:24 AM

Make sure that the flash is 45 degrees to the glass - so the light will not bounce back into the lens. Also make sure that the glass on over the painting does not have a matt like coating on it. I used to take images of things under glass - pre-Columbian fabrics - old photos etc. Just go out and look at the configurations of copy stands, the lights/flashes are mounted at 45 degrees to the axis of the lens.

An example - first good picture I could find on the web. Very expensive - but you get the basic idea.
90030 Bencher Copymate II Quartz Halogen Tabletop Copystand

Here is another one using 4 lights:
FF1190 Bogen Mini Repro Copy Stand, #1700.

The Elitist - formerly known as PDL

leadbelly · 01-18-2008, 03:08 AM

45 degrees toward the glass... I thought it was 45 degrees away, to avoid reflections... thanks for the link... I'll probably set up my two desk lamps in a similar manner... I'll be using a bellows rig as well, hope things turn out well

So I won't be needing my flashes then...

Tom M · 01-18-2008, 07:02 AM

Use a polarizer as well.

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01-18-2008, 02:03 AM	#1
leadbelly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 597	Shooting thru glass... help! I want to shoot parts of a painting...however, it is framed as such that the glass is about 2 inches from the canvas... how can I shoot "semi-macro" shots with a flash without the light reflecting? Thanks!

01-18-2008, 02:24 AM	#2
PDL Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: PNW USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,128	Make sure that the flash is 45 degrees to the glass - so the light will not bounce back into the lens. Also make sure that the glass on over the painting does not have a matt like coating on it. I used to take images of things under glass - pre-Columbian fabrics - old photos etc. Just go out and look at the configurations of copy stands, the lights/flashes are mounted at 45 degrees to the axis of the lens. An example - first good picture I could find on the web. Very expensive - but you get the basic idea. 90030 Bencher Copymate II Quartz Halogen Tabletop Copystand Here is another one using 4 lights: FF1190 Bogen Mini Repro Copy Stand, #1700. The Elitist - formerly known as PDL

01-18-2008, 03:08 AM	#3
leadbelly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 597 Original Poster	45 degrees toward the glass... I thought it was 45 degrees away, to avoid reflections... thanks for the link... I'll probably set up my two desk lamps in a similar manner... I'll be using a bellows rig as well, hope things turn out well So I won't be needing my flashes then...

01-18-2008, 07:02 AM	#4
Tom M Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lincoln Park, NJ Photos: Gallery Posts: 780	Use a polarizer as well.