roadsmith
|
posted on July 24, 2001 10:01:37 PM new
Hi all--I have a clear glass juicer. Any hints on how to photograph it? Thanks in advance. ~Adele
|
RichieRich
|
posted on July 24, 2001 11:06:46 PM new
I have only sold a few clear glass items. I either use a dark background ( black towel works great) or I put navy blue tissue paper in it. If I use the tissue paper I always put a note on the photo to explain that it is clear and has tissue paper in it for the photo.
Hope that helps you.
|
jt-2007
|
posted on July 25, 2001 12:09:47 AM new
Yes, dark background and good lighting. I find that a dark grey counter top works well.
T
|
sugar2912
|
posted on July 25, 2001 04:05:38 AM new
There were some tips offered before somewhere on this board, this is what I got out of them:
The dark background does seem to work the best, I have a black and a light blue that I work with, experiment and see which is best.
LIGHTING! It is all in the lighting! Top light shining directly down, or if you can, bottom lighting shining directly up makes the thing glow, and enhances any designs in the glass.
If I have a fine pattern that just won't show, I stuff a folded black sock or slip a piece of paper in there. Then I do the top lighting. Works like a charm.
I'm sure there are others, I just can't remember them right now. Good luck! And work with the lighting!
|
cdnbooks
|
posted on July 25, 2001 04:48:06 AM new
Unless you are really good at lighting, take your item and your background outside in the shade.
Bill
|
llama_lady
|
posted on July 25, 2001 05:51:42 AM new
I use material. I use black and dark burgundy (I have a velvet piece). I drape it over a book or stand to make sure only the burgundy shows in the background. It makes my clear glass pieces jump right out. I think it makes them look more elegant too. 
|
roadsmith
|
posted on July 25, 2001 06:43:52 AM new
Thanks, everyone, as always! You are a great help. ~Adele
|
RichieRich
|
posted on July 25, 2001 11:09:49 AM new
If you take it outside still use a cloth of some kind for your background. The reflections in the glass make it hard to see it. I love when someone puts clear glass on the porch rail takes the picture and I am suppose to see the item with the neighbors laundry hanging in the background the grass and trees in the glass item ....click I am gone.
|
mballai
|
posted on July 25, 2001 01:15:36 PM new
Pros use something called tent lighting. Essentially you softly light from front, back, sides, top and bottom. This is a bit much for many amateurs. The easiest way to do it is put the item on a light background, and get a large translucent diffuser (try a white bedsheet that you can suspend around the item. Put a few lights around it and poke your camera through an opening cut into it so you can photograph the glass.
|
jeffj318
|
posted on July 25, 2001 07:57:06 PM new
Hi
I would try a nice colored sheet as background. Just drape it over a box and crinkle it a little bit for that dramatic look.
Light from top and side should work just fine.
JJ
|
getalife
|
posted on July 25, 2001 09:25:33 PM new
For me the best way to get the tent lighting mballai mentioned is to go outside on an overcast day. The whole sky is your tent. You'll have to create a background or select a good natural one. It's also great for people photography as there are no harsh shadows.
When photographing clear glass I definitely prefer a light surface for the object. Dark colors seem to give it a flat two dimensional quality. Light goes through the glass and is reflected back off the light background.
Go to eBay or a catalogue and look for pictures you like. Then try to figure out how they lit it. Often you can actually see the reflections of the lights that were used in the glass itself. Large lights shined at an object will create shadows with fuzzy or indistinct shadows. Small lights will create hard shadows.
Once you figure out the lighting techniques there isn't much left.
|
mcneilscollectibledeals
|
posted on August 14, 2002 08:08:35 PM new
Photograph outside on a cloudy day; all colors come out true and no flash will result producing no glare (glare steals image from your subject). If flash decides to go off anyway, forget that photo & force flash to stay off.
|
sparkz
|
posted on August 14, 2002 09:18:40 PM new
Getalife is absolutely correct. There have been several occasions when on an unexpected overcast day I would drop everything else and take advantage of the opportunity to take pictures. Pyrex coffee pots and double boilers are especially difficult for me to photograph, so I just bide my time and wait for the clouds.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
|
Roadsmith
|
posted on August 15, 2002 09:51:59 AM new
This is funny! I posted the original question a year ago July (2001) and it's showed up again! When I got a message in my e-mail I thought I must be losing my mind, to have posted a question and not even remember. Then I looked at the date.
All the above advice still holds, though, and is good.
|
