[interested_observer]

Photographer Erik Espinosa was tired of fighting with his own reflection when it came to shooting shiny products and decided there had to be a better way. Fresh off an approved patent, his new domed box concept calls “Entero” removes that problem entirely.

Espinosa tells PetaPixel that he came up with the idea while working at a restaurant supply company. He was tasked with photographing utensils, refrigerators, ovens, and all manner of objects, many of them highly reflective.

• Photographer Invents Clever Reflection-Blocking Box for Shiny Products | PetaPixel

[luftfluss]

Seems pretty neat.

[brewmaster15]

I really love the creative process in action. Saw a problem and developed a way to deal with it... very cool!
AL

[Paul the Sunman]

A very nice idea, well executed.

[SimplyCreativePhotography]

Necessity is the mother of invention.

[DWS1]

Very creative.

[swanlefitte]

I will post what I posted on reddit.
Cue the naysayers was a poke at review sites that was lost on reddit photogs. The last sentence wasn't even read apparently.

He just shoots thru a 2 way mirror? Cue the comments about losing stops and added abberations and reduced sharpness from putting more glass between the subject and sensor.
If you had to shoot multiple items it would save alot of time. Otherwise it is a giant bounce flash bomb making it hard to create dramatic lighting. Virtually no fall off, either dark or light. It works great with smooth surfaces but is terrible with texture, look at the spoon handles and how flat that watch handle is. If I was shooting an antique spoon there is no way I would use it. If I was shooting multiple manufatured items, I would happily use it to manufacture images of them.

[Digitalis]

I will point out this isn't anything new, but due to the optical shortcomings introduced by putting a thick sheet of metal sputtered glass between the lens and the subject - I rarely use this technique.

If you had to shoot multiple items it would save a lot of time.

With stock photography this is often the case where a photographer has to get things done very quickly - time is money, clients pay peanuts for this kind of work. I can't exactly blame them for cutting a few corners.

Cue the comments about losing stops and added abberations and reduced sharpness from putting more glass between the subject and sensor.

Two stops is easily compensated for in the studio, I've covered for bigger light losses than that!. As for the increased optical aberrations - those won't be visible at low resolution compressed images.

It works great with smooth surfaces but is terrible with texture

This is a valid concern with fine art metalware and historical objects where the patina of age and a life lived is important.

[swanlefitte]

This is a valid concern with fine art metalware and historical objects where the patina of age and a life lived is important.

This was my main point and the rest was my dis on critics. The rest is about pragmatism.
Thanks for addressing the points.

[pentaxus]

As Digitalis said, not a new concept. In the mid 70's I learned something similar from a photographer who used it in the early 60's.

[wkadruje]

As Digitalis said, not a new concept. In the mid 70's I learned something similar from a photographer who used it in the early 60's.

I've never wanted to make this kind (product) of shots and I guess never will, but this method must have been popular because even I heard about it. Actually what is the golden standard these days for dealing with reflections?

[steephill]

Cross polarisation is another method for dealing with specular reflections. Not sure how it compares to this method though.