bz268

Hi,

I am trying to take some pictures of my postal stamps. My stamps are put inside some protective plastic film. When the flash is fire, it can't take the picture because the light is reflected back to the lens.

So, I use a portable fluorescent light to light up my stamps. But I cannot point the light on my stamps. I need to put the light next to the stamps otherwise, the light will again just reflected back to my camera.

Is it how you take this kind of picture? Is there any tips and trick?

thanks!

EuRTSX

What camera are you using.

If you have a P&S, shoot a light up at the ceiling to disperse the light in the surrounding areas to light up your stamp, and turn off your camera flash.

bz268

thanks for the tips.

I am thinking to build myself a cardboard box and tape some white printer paper inside... and then put my stamps inside.... hmmm... I *D-O-N-T* know...

EuRTSX

You need a well lit area to not use the flash and get a proper exposure of the shot.

So really find a decently small area, aim bright lights at the ceiling and take a picture without the flash firing.

That's really all the advice I really have. If that doesn't work, then I don't know. I'm not a pro. I just read everyone elses Canon comments on here.

wndrlst

You punk.

srika

ha

Osamu

http://www.skymall.com/shopping/deta...d=102215550&c=?




sorry, i was bored on a plane for 5 hours yesterday

EuRTSX

Did I say something offensive?

Dan Martin

Reflective objects are hard to shoot, but there are a few tricks and some gear that can make it a lot easier. A polarizer will help cut reflections, and an off-camera flash would let you control where the light is coming from. Check out this link for some good tips on how to control specular highlights: http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/07...iscussion.html

Dan Martin

Here are a couple other really good posts on the subject: http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/07...ght-watch.html (there's some beautiful work in that link)

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/07...highlight.html

bz268

Thanks Dan. That is a pretty good site.

So... I should use 2 lights pointing each other and I put my stamps in the middle. correct? The point is not to have the light shine directly 90 degree on the surface of my stamps.

So for this picture, it is better to have 2 lights; one on the left and one on the right. (I have only one light pointing parallel to my stamps on the right.)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9741441@N08/2115100283/" title="DSC_0051 by bzDaCat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2265/2115100283_43587efe01.jpg" width="500" height="268" alt="DSC_0051" /></a>