How to photograph a painting

[grinnen30]

Does anyone have any tips on how to photograph painting so that they picture reflects the painting? I always take 6 or 7 of the same picture trying to get the best one, but it never works well at all (IMO)...I have tripods and a really nice camera...

[shovelhead]

I sell alot of stuff on ebay ,and I photo evrything with plenty of light and no flash.It also helps to have the camera in clsoeup mode.Usually there is a little flower that shows on the screen. Anyway,I have always had good luck doing that. Hope this helps.

[aixguy]

Ok here is the list:
1. Read the owners manual that came with your camera and under stand what all the setting do.
2. Never use a flash
3. Never photograph in direct sun (high noon)
4. Use a tripod.
5. Use nutral color settings if you have that option.
6. Zoom or move the camera so your art work fills the frame.
6a. never use digital zoom OPTICAL only!
7. Also take some shots that are not zoomed in, sometimes the exposure and color is better this way and all you do is crop before posting.
8. take lots of pictures playing with the white balance, exposure and camera distance to figure out what works.
9. Get some full spectrum fluoresent tubes 5700K color temp
10. Add 100watt Hallogen floods on a 45 degree angle to your painting along with the full spectrum lighting from above.
11. If you camera has the abbility to be set to center spot exposure, use it.
12. Make sure (this should not be and issue if you did #1) you have focused the picture before you take it.
13. Use no more that iso 200, 100 would be better so make sure you have suffician light (#1 should explain iso)
14. If the camera is having problems focusing and you are in a possition where the painting fills the frame, point the camera to the left or right so the edge of the painting is in the center of the frame, focuse then move the camera back to the starting possition and take the photo without releaseing the shutter once locked. (#1 will help here)
15. Set the image resolution to max in the camera,you can resize once you have the photo on your computer.

[grinnen30]

Thanks Aixguy...its my wife's camera, so I have been stealing it to take photos...I will dig up the stuff...maybe she can help me navigate the camera quicker...

[airraid]

Thanks for the info guys, Very Helpfull

[yardartnut]

I have a major problem in this area also, but mine is due to my media being Coroplast [corrogated plastic] even with no flash I get reflection.
Aixguy ya have any tips for this? I thank ya if ya do.
here is one ..outdoors in a shade spot...no flash, but the downside the colors are not vivid.....if I get any shots that show great color I get reflect

[aixguy]

If you have a shop light in your painting area, get some full spectrum tubes
http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com...lbs_33_ctg.htm

Place your subject on a table or something that can be moved. Place your tripod in front at the same level and angle as the subject. If you are still seeing glare move the subject up or down forward and back till the light is not reflecting on the surface.
The full spectrum lights bring out the blue in the painting so you can add a hallogen on a 45 degree angle to the painting. Have a helper hold the allogen if you don't have a way to mount it. Those $2 green plastic outdoor christmas spotlight holders works good for this. I made an holder out of a piece of wood that I mount to and extra tripod.
Taking photos outdoors is really hard to get reflection free.
Hope that helps a little...

[yardartnut]

thanks for the tips... I will work on that....