posted on July 25, 2001 07:14:12 AM
Just read the thread about how to do clear glass. Thanks for all the tips there.
Now my biggest challenge is taking pix of damask tablecloths so that the pattern shows up. So far I end up with either no pattern or a picture so dark as to make a white cloth look slate blue.
posted on July 25, 2001 07:50:04 AM
There are several things I would try.
Most cameras, including digital, assume that the exposure is at an average of 38% grey (as I recall) This means when photographing white items without compensating backgrounds that they will be underexposed so it is good to open the aperture a couple of stops beyond what is called for, or increase the exposure time. If you have a um, cheap camera, you can't do this of course. So some possible workarounds.
First, I would see if my scanner could pick up the pattern, and adjust the color in photoshop.
Second, since you are just trying to show the pattern, I would fold the item and place it on a darker background, and take the picture with the item not in the middle, but to the side so the meter (usually center weighted) is fooled into exposing it correctly.
As to really picking up the pattern, all damask is due to the way the threads are loomed, and if you take a strong light and move it around, there will be one spot that shows it best. If you are using a flash, try disabling it, and shooting the photo outside, circling the damask to see which angle of the sun works best. And do not do it at high noon, but early am or late pm.
I hope this helps and doesn't sound too impossible. You may end up teaching yourself a lot about seeing light and taking pictures which will help with family photos, too. (I love backlit portraits where the hair is almost like a halo, lit from the back by the sun. But this kind of picture creates the same difficulties of exposure where the camera assumes the sun is 38% grey.)
posted on July 25, 2001 07:58:37 AM
Thanks litlux. I have a sony FD90--not really cheap but some adjustments are limited. I am going to try moving a strong light around as I know the angle makes a big difference.
Most of my tablecloths have a different pattern in the border than in the center so getting a shot of a big area adds to the difficulty.
Until digital, I hated all things related to cameras and have already learned a lot--but there is so much to learn! No wonder pro photos are so expensive!
posted on July 25, 2001 08:24:24 AM
I have the same camera and have shot a couple of damask tablecloths with great success just using the flash. The patterns come up very clearly.
