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Avoiding Glare in Pics

PostPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:30 pm
by elbowmacaroni
Hey there...

A handy trick to reduce glare of metal objects when taking pics is to place a piece of white paper such as a business card over the flash when taking the picture. It spreads the light out and makes it more diffused so that you don't get that hot spot of the flash reflecting. You should hold the paper just a little off the flash though maybe 1/4"-1/2" to get good diffusion.

-Elbow :akimbo:

Re: Avoiding Glare in Pics

PostPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 11:26 pm
by happykill
I did this with my canon xs. I glued tin foil to the index card and attached it on an angle so that it would deflect to the ceiling, worked perfectly. I got some really good shots like this in poorly lit area's of the house.

Re: Avoiding Glare in Pics

PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 3:12 am
by loki
As suggested by the previous authors of posts, "ceiling bounce " works
fairly well. If one has a fairly powerfull flash, its' head can be tilted upwards at about 45-60 degrees so reflected light illuminates the subject.-
very simular to what was described, but without foil or card.

Alternatively you can use a bit of Krylon Dulling Spray.
The chemicals in the Krylon spray are probably not good for you-especially
your DNA- so, please be carefull.

Re: Avoiding Glare in Pics

PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 4:11 am
by elbowmacaroni
Well, you both raise good points and suggestions, However, the point of my post was more aimed at people with point and shoot cameras with fixed on camera flashes. The flashes on most p&s cameras are too weak to bounce and still get a good exposure, not unless the camera has a manual mode OR can meter lock off a sample flash.

If you have a shoe mount flash DON'T EVER point it at your subject! (Unless you have an off camera bracket for it) Always bounce or use a diffuser cap. And really for taking pics of locks and stuff, you're likely to being doing close up shots, so if you have a flash where you need to bounce, you also likely have an SLR. In which case get a ring flash. Seriously... the emobltiz is super cheap and works very well for closeup and macro work and comes with a full compliment of adapter rings.

Re: Avoiding Glare in Pics

PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:42 am
by Solomon
Personally I don't use flash at all, but this is a good trick. Elbow knows his shit, he is a photography wiseman.

Re: Avoiding Glare in Pics

PostPosted: Tue May 25, 2010 11:15 pm
by Tygart
A piece of tissue works really good too, there are a lot of really good DIY light box articles too, which is perfect for any reflective items. and last for metal you can buy some "Dulling Spray" that you can get from an art supply store, that will take the shine down.