Using a Polarizer Lense

[Enzie Shahmiri]

I have had nothing but trouble getting decent photos of my paintings and have been reading and rereading the post until I finally got a photo of my painting that does not need adjustments in Photoshop and looks exactly as the painting does.

I had to share the difference with you, because seeing is believing.

Image 1 (the one that has skin tones the color of a ghost)
is shot without a polarizer this morning around 10am.

Image 2 which has colors exactly as the painting was shot under direct sunlight, using a Canon Rebel EOS Digital Camera with a circular polarizer.

[Debra Norton]

An amazing difference Enzie! Thanks for sharing that.

[Enzie Shahmiri]

You are welcome Debra!

[Michele Rushworth]

The improvement in color in the second photo is probably due to having the correct white balance setting for the lighting situation you were in. Polarizers only remove glare and don't correct for color.

The first photo looks like you had an incorrect white balance setting. Blue skintones like that can occur if your white balance is set for sunlight but you're outdoors in the shade, for example. Keeping the white balance setting the same but moving the painting into full sun might be what gave you the warmer colors in the second shot.

[Enzie Shahmiri]

Hi Michelle,

Than can definitely be it as well. The white balance setting was not changed, but the amount of sun on the 2nd painting was definitely more. I am just happy that the photo of the painting actually looks like the real image, without tons of back and forth in photoshop.

I found a link that explains the two main functions of polarizer lenses with examples of before and after pictures at Cord Camera

[Jeff Morrow]

Here's how I shoot my paintings. This may sound rather involved, but if you have the equipment, it works beautifully. I photograph with studio strobe lights wich give me accurate daylight color balance and give out a nice strong light. I polarize both the lights and the camera. I have attached a low tech overhead view illustration of my set-up. On the next post I will attach photos of an unfinished painting showing with and without polarization.

1. Set up your camera on a tripod so that the lens is as high as the center of the canvas and square with the canvas.

2. Set up lights so they are as high as the center of the canvas and aimed at the canvas at less than a 45% angle.

3. Keep lights back far enough so that the canvas receives even illumination.

4. Place a sheet each of polarizing material over both lights. See photo of light with polarizing material hanging in front of it. Make sure the sheets are hanging in the same direction (polarizing the light the same way). I bought my sheets of polarizers online at B&H Photo in NY. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...0_Filter_.html

5. Check with a light meter that illumination of canvas is even corner to corner. Use the incident setting on your light meter. That is, the setting that measures the light that is falling on the canvas

[Jeff Morrow]

Here's photos of an unfinished portrait with and without the light polarized. Sorry I could not get my photo of the lens filter to upload for the previous post.

[Enzie Shahmiri]

Thank you so much for posting these, Jeff. I am going to try your set up indoors and compare it with the results thus far. Thanks again for the images!

[Tom Edgerton]

A polarizing filter is definitely the way to go. My photographer and I could never get decent shadow detail until we started using it. If it contributes any contrast to the result, I can compensate in Photoshop.