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01-03-2020, 07:41 PM   #1
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Flash position
Lens: D-FA 28-105mm Camera: Pentax K-70 ISO: 100 Shutter Speed: 1/200s Aperture: F4.5 

I am wondering if I should one flash directed from above the bowl or from the front to give better color definition to the raspberries.
I seem to get a reflection on the outside of the bowl if a front flash is used.
For this shot, the flash is above the bowl and pointing downward on a 45 degree angle.
I have a rear flash to illuminate the background.

Are my positions wrong? Do I need to adjust the light strength? Do I need to re compose the shot? etc etc..
Any and all advice is welcomed.

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01-03-2020, 08:50 PM - 2 Likes   #2
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To get better color on the berries, you need light from the front. To reduce reflections on the glass, use polarizing filter on the lens AND on the flash. If you do not have a polarizing filter for the flash, find a computer monitor privacy screen (the gray filter to keep people from viewing the monitor at off angles), they are polarizing screens!
01-03-2020, 09:25 PM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by BigDave Quote
To get better color on the berries, you need light from the front. To reduce reflections on the glass, use polarizing filter on the lens AND on the flash. If you do not have a polarizing filter for the flash, find a computer monitor privacy screen (the gray filter to keep people from viewing the monitor at off angles), they are polarizing screens!
Fascinating to use the privacy screen. I can imagine the effect on the raspberries but with a single light won't you get the shadows on both sides of the glass? (Now to find a polarizing screen...)
01-03-2020, 10:05 PM   #4
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Thank you. I will do what you suggest.
Now to find a privacy screen :-)

01-04-2020, 09:42 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by Jim P Quote
but with a single light won't you get the shadows on both sides of the glass?
You still need to balance the lights, but the berries will be brighter if they have light that reflects BACK to the camera.
01-06-2020, 06:55 AM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by BigDave Quote
If you do not have a polarizing filter for the flash, find a computer monitor privacy screen (the gray filter to keep people from viewing the monitor at off angles), they are polarizing screens!
I now have more stuff to buy and play with.
01-06-2020, 07:35 AM   #7
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If oyu are lucky, and work for a company that has a "bone yard" for older computers and monitors, you maybe able to re-purpose a few of these privacy screens for your needs, at little to know cost!

01-08-2020, 02:01 AM   #8
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Have you tried lighting from below? this sometimes works with glassware.
01-08-2020, 07:55 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by Kerrowdown Quote
Have you tried lighting from below? this sometimes works with glassware.
Another good option. Keep the light from below closer to the camera so the light illuminates the front of the berries. Less chances of reflections too.
01-08-2020, 11:04 AM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by VILLAINofOZ Quote
I am wondering if I should one flash directed from above the bowl or from the front to give better color definition to the raspberries.
I seem to get a reflection on the outside of the bowl if a front flash is used.
For this shot, the flash is above the bowl and pointing downward on a 45 degree angle.
I have a rear flash to illuminate the background.

Are my positions wrong? Do I need to adjust the light strength? Do I need to re compose the shot? etc etc..
Any and all advice is welcomed.
i'm not a lighting expert, but i will offer my comments anyway - i like most of this image. I would prefer if the top droplet wasn't clipped. Otherwise, i like the lighting for 95% of the image, as I feel it gives good contrast in the droplets on the surface. I would like more backlighting to increase the brightness of the dropped raspberry.


I really like the crispness you captured in this image.
01-08-2020, 02:47 PM - 1 Like   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by SpottyReputation Quote
I would like more backlighting to increase the brightness of the dropped raspberry.
Back lighting would not increase the brightness of the dropped berry. Light has to hit the subject and reflect BACK to the camera for it to be seen/effective. More back lighting would most like just make the berries go silhouette.
01-08-2020, 04:11 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by BigDave Quote
Back lighting would not increase the brightness of the dropped berry. Light has to hit the subject and reflect BACK to the camera for it to be seen/effective. More back lighting would most like just make the berries go silhouette.
as soon as you say it, it makes perfect sense...

at least i had the disclaimer i didn't know what I was talking about
01-08-2020, 09:28 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by Kerrowdown Quote
Have you tried lighting from below? this sometimes works with glassware.
God this was what I was gonna post, damn.
01-09-2020, 08:20 AM - 3 Likes   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by SpottyReputation Quote
at least i had the disclaimer i didn't know what I was talking about
the first step of recovery, knowing you have a problem!

But seriously, understanding lighting can be simple if you have something to relate it to. Light hitting a solid object is like a cue ball bouncing off a bumper. If the ball comes in at 45 degrees, it will leave the bumper at a 45 degree angle. In lighting terms this is "angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection". Now things get more dicey for curved objects, glass/clear, highly reflective subjects, etc., but that is the first piece to start to understand the movement of light.

Regards,
01-11-2020, 11:53 PM   #15
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My latest attempt/update

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