I was trying to see if I could take a picture of a piece of glass without having it be full of blownout highlights. I was able to do that by putting a Westcott Apollo light box on a Speedlite and putting it close to this glass figure.

However now the glass seems to have sucked up the color of the wood that it is on. How can I prevent this?

The Apollo was next to the camera and about 3 feet from the glass with it's lower edge higher than the glass by about a foot, and it was pointed at the glass.

TIA for any hints.

Black velvet tablecloth, perhaps? Or even a white tablecloth, but I favor black.

I wanted the wood to show... sorry I didn't mention that.

But I'll give that a try, thanks.

Originally Posted by pathfinder Black velvet tablecloth, perhaps? Or even a white tablecloth, but I favor black.

Are you using PSCS? Put Glass on own layer and desaturate the color you don't want in just the glass???

Don

Yes, I have PSCS but want to see if there is a lighting only solution so I can stick to just LR.

Some parts of the glass have little light rainbows in them, and if I desat I will loose those.

Thanks though, I'll give that a try too.

Originally Posted by DonRicklin Are you using PSCS? Put Glass on own layer and desaturate the color you don't want in just the glass??? Don

Originally Posted by Dan7312 Yes, I have PSCS but want to see if there is a lighting only solution so I can stick to just LR. Some parts of the glass have little light rainbows in them, and if I desat I will loose those. Thanks though, I'll give that a try too.

That's what painting on the Mask is for!

IF you get your for incamera lighting situation worked out fine. That's a plus!

Meanwhile you have a fall back Plan B!

Don

Try lighting the glass from below the table. Maybe softbox from above? I'd go with as little direct light as possible.

Thanks! I didn't think of that. I'll give it a try.

And I should add that controlling the light with black gobos camera left/right would be a good idea as well.

Are gobo's male swans?

You mean like some sheer black material?

Originally Posted by Dan7312 Are gobo's male swans? You mean like some sheer black material?

Gobo is a "Goes Between" device. It can be anything but is usually something like a dark panel that prevents light from going through it. Sometimes you use them to prevent stray light from hitting the camera and sometimes to prevent light from getting to your subject.

In your case, you have a light wall that you'll use to reflect the light and the two darker gobo's will be to prevent any other light from making it to the table. In other words, you are controlling light going to your subject.

Since the glass piece is ctruved and irregular in shape, I don't think there is going to be any external light solution for you. The glass is always going to pick up color from the table.

Originally Posted by Qarik Since the glass piece is ctruved and irregular in shape, I don't think there is going to be any external light solution for you. The glass is always going to pick up color from the table.

If you mitigate the reflections, then you'll have better results. The OP is using a softbox which spreads light everywhere (including the table top). If he still wants some of the table visible, then shooting the flash from under the table will give you the light and minimize what the table reflects back to the object.

You might try cutting out a piece of black material to just fit the ground flat base of the sculpture. I believe that will help. You should also get a copy of "Light - Science and Magic" by Hunter, Biver & Fuqua. It is a fantastic book.

Thanks, I'm going to give try that... and that book looks pretty good too.

Originally Posted by Icebear You might try cutting out a piece of black material to just fit the ground flat base of the sculpture. I believe that will help. You should also get a copy of "Light - Science and Magic" by Hunter, Biver & Fuqua. It is a fantastic book.

Originally Posted by Dan7312 Thanks, I'm going to give try that... and that book looks pretty good too.

Here is something to look at, too:

http://www.mazenabusrour.com/?p=103

my idea , for what its worth

make 2 shots

one with table / wood properly lit
one with glass properly lit
cut out the glass and paste on the other one with the wood