Photographing your painting

[Mike McCarty]

Jean:

That's a fine looking painting, and a fine looking cat.

Make sure you fill your frame with nothing but the painting, and black, from border to border. I think this will get the best results.

When I tested the difference between auto WB and the results using the precise reflected light, or "preset" WB of the gray card, the difference seemed more pronounced in the rendition of the reds. They appeared to be more true to the painting. At least thats what stuck out to me.

[Jean Kelly]

Thanks Mike. I guess it's time to use the grey card, accurate reds are the hardest for me to photograph. Even though I have the capability on my camera to do it, I never have. I've decided to hold off for a while on my D50 purchase, it will happen, just a little bit later than I hoped. I love the shot with the ice cream cone.

So you are using clear gesso, I like that look also.

Jean

[Mike McCarty]

So you are using clear gesso, I like that look also.

Yep, Liquitex brand.

[Terri Ficenec]

Hey Mike -- good to see you posting again! This topic couldn't have come up at a better time! I've been struggling to get a decent picture of a recent painting. . . So far the best I've got is taken with artificial 'daylight' bulbs and some of the colors just look off even though I've custom set the white balance. . . I'm wanting to retry with natural light :-) I'm wondering in the picture of your set-up it looks like the windows are off to the left and the work is angled so that it's back is slightly toward the window? If I'm interpreting this right is this is to avoid glare?

[Mike McCarty]

If I'm interpreting this right is this is to avoid glare?

Yes, that's right. If you set your painting directly facing the window you will see glare. The problem is that when you do as I have done above you get the light passing across the canvas and can get one side lighter than the other. You have to play with it to get the best situation. I suppose you could reflect some light back onto the painting the way you would your model. As long as you take your preset WB after you get yourself situated you should be OK.

Good luck Terri

[Richard Monro]

Mike,
I finally got the Nikon d70s. Thanks for the help in the decision process. In reading the manual they suggest using a white card for WB. Do you feel a grey card is better?

[Mike McCarty]

In reading the manual they suggest using a white card for WB. Do you feel a grey card is better?

Richard:

My manual, on page 52 for preset WB, indicates: "Neutral gray or white object is placed under lighting that will be used in final photograph and white balance is measured by camera."

So, I suppose either would do the trick. The question in my mind is: which white? I've not tried using a white for the preset measurement, maybe the camera is smart enough to figure what it needs from any white, but to me it seems reasonable to eliminate as many variables as possible.