Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/09/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The secret to photographing reflective objects is to light what they reflect not the object. You don't shine light on a mirror you light what is in the mirror. Mike D - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Martin Howard" <howard.390@osu.edu> To: "Leica Users Group" <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2000 2:08 PM Subject: [Leica] More flash questions! > > I need to take pictures of a few things to put up on eBay. I'm using two > flash units for this: relatively small, hot-shoe mounted thingies. Both are > on stands, one is connected to the camera via a PC-sync cord, the other is > on a slave-trigger shoe on another stand. > > I use a separate lightmeter to measure the aperture I need to expose > properly. So far, so good. I get correctly exposed pictures, with > correctly balanced light (I have one provide one f-stop less light than the > other: key light and fill-in). > > But, the problem I have is that there is too much 'glare' on chrome surfaces > and in highlights. One way around this is, I guess, to move the lights > further away, but I have a whole bunch of different objects, some shot from > 15cm, some from 70cm (all with a macro lens), so how do I calculate how far > away the lights should be? > > I have a Photo Techniques article about macro flash, but it doesn't offer > any useful advice on light-to-subject distance. However, they have pictures > in the article of highly reflective metal objects with beautiful detailing, > correct exposure, and no 'glare' in the highlights. > > Any advice? > > M. > > -- > Martin Howard | "I am Pentium of Borg. Division is > Visiting Scholar, CSEL, OSU | futile. You will be approximated." > email: howard.390@osu.edu | -- Unknown > www: http://mvhoward.i.am/ +--------------------------------------- > > >