Re: [PRODIG] Photographing Paintings behind glass

[Bob Croxford]

My technique has always been very different to the suggestions here. 
Very few painters paint with two strobe lights placed at 45 degree 
angles. I know of none who paint using pola filters. My view is that 
you are on a hiding to nothing if you try and show texture in a 
painting using harsh lighting and pola filters. I use a single large 
softbox or diffuser usually at the top left hand side of the painting. 
This is angled a bit above the painting and balanced by a large 
polystyrene reflector. Both are low enough to avoid specular 
reflections. Everything is then blacked out and masked from the glass. 
When I say large I mean at least double the size of the painting.

Looking straight on to the glass a pola filter will not work. At least 
it didn't when I last did theory.

Bob Croxford

On 18 Aug 2004, at 11:09, Richard Kenward wrote:
The only thing is with textured oil paintings it can kill the surface
texture so you lose that 3D effect. Just back off the lens polarizer 
a bit.
Dear Frank
The above needs to be tempered with considerable caution because very 
likely you will find any highlights and bright areas will take on a 
strong purple colour....not good!

You often see this in photographs of oil paintings where the 
photographer has failed to totally cross polarise the lighting.

===============================================================
GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE