What type of lighting should I be using for photographing paintings?

Tags:, , , , ,

3

I need to make use of my Nikon D70s digital slr to sketch oil paintings as well as alternative functions of art. we do not know most about lighting so we need a little benefit as well as citation in anticipating a right sort of lights as well as bulbs which would be suitable for receiving peculiarity digital images of paintings.

Thanks so most for your answers!

Visual Arts Photography search:

Related visual arts:

  1. What type of lighting should I be using for photographing paintings? I need to make use of my Nikon D70s digital slr to sketch oil...
  2. How to photograph paintings? I need to sketch a lot of paintings. Most have been oil paintings which equates...
  3. What are the paintings with embedded lights in them called? I’ve seen a couple of paintings out there, together with a boat as well as...
  4. What type of paintings make it to a museum? I know the lot of people who combined overwhelming print picturesque paintings by palm though...
  5. Why do oil paintings sell for more than acrylic paintings? I have been portrayal epitome art for years. we not long ago motionless it competence...

Comments (3)

Jim M said on 19-03-2010

I shoot a lot of paintings for a lot of artists.

Here’s my favorite setup.

Tripod (obviously)

Cable release (or 2 sec. self-timer)

Eliminate stray light from any lamp, window, etc. that’s behind you and the camera.

Cross light the piece (45 degrees usually works, but sometimes you may need to go even more extreme – to 15 or 20 degrees) with two equally powered blue photoflood bulbs. I use both 250 and 500 watt bulbs and can usually get away with the 250s. These bulbs produce a LOT of heat. I have mine in $10 reflectors from the hardware store.

Try Auto White Balance, but with these particular bulbs you’re more likely to have success with either the Sunlight or Cloudy settings.

I shoot these with a D80 or a D100, usually with my trusty 28-105 lens.

Also, to avoid vignetting, be sure that your camera and lens are in exactly 90 degree angle from the surface of the painting.
bigonegrande said on 19-03-2010

USE A 45ยบ ANGLE LIGHTING, NEVER USE THE FLASH ON YOUR CAMERA FOR OIL PAINTINGS OR YOU WILL GET A HOT SPOT IN THE PAINTING; ALSO REMBER TO SET YOUR CAMERA FOR THE TYPE OF LIGHT YOU WILL BE USING (FLASH OR TUNGSTEN).
Pooky said on 19-03-2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/little_pooky/2311907894/sizes/o/

The Getty allows photography – but no flash. These are all hand-held (no tripod allowed). I did set the ISO to 3,200. It came out grainy, but these were good enough for me.

You need a good macro lens though–a true macro lens will result in flat photograph (of a flat painting).

I’d use a tripod if I were you and set the ISO to 100 so it should be very clear. Adjust the focus manually. And a cable release or the self-timer would keep the movement to minimum.

I don’t have another to show you but I took a photo of a painting for a friend–we used natural light (not direct sunlight). It came out fine.

Post a comment