Flashback Problems

[TheDisKid1969]

I am a Speciallty Finishes contractor to the casinos in AC, NJ. When I take photos of my (glossy) sample boards, I am having problems getting good shots. With a flash I get flashback and without I get dark colors and the details of by artwork are lost.

Should I use a tripod and remote with no flash? If so, what would be the best settings. I am using a Canon G6 7.4 mp.

Any opinions are welcome and appreciated (with exceptions to the posted photo of my tutu at HDDDR).

 

[Dan Murphy]

The no flash would work, I presume, depending on length of exposure. As for with flash, if you take the picture with the subject not quite dead center of the camera, but with the camera just slightly to the right or left, at an angle to the subject, flashback should be eliminated. Same as taking a picture with glass or mirror behind subject.

 

[TheDisKid1969]

Dan,

Thanks I've tried that, but I'm a novice, so I'll give it another shot...no pun intended.

 

[Anewman]

Have your tried illuminating(spell check please) the subject with secondary lighting instead of the flash?

Shop light(or two) may work, you can then find an angle with the least amount of glare.

 

[manning]

Canon has what you need, assuming you have a canon speedlite (external flash). Go to this canon site to see it. You can order it from them. it is an Off-Camera Shoe Cord 2 ProductDetail=2391A001AA

http://www.canoncompanystore.com/epages/annex.storefront?ProductDetail=2391A001AA

Here is what is happening.When light hits a reflective surface it is going to bounce off of it at the exact angle it hit it. In your case it is bouncing right back at you. Let's say you are at the right of the surface at a 20 degree angle. When you trigger the flash the light is going to hit the surface at a 20 degree angle. The light will bounce off the surface to the left at a 20 degree angle.

 

[johnnyh14]

if this were my assignment i would concider each of these lighting situations. hard to say which is best without seeing the location.

taking the shot without a flash and placing the camera on a tripod using natural or spot lighting.

taking the shot with a flash or strobe on a stand or tripod but located where it will not reflect back to the camera. use of a cable to connect the camera and flash is needed. or maybe a simple bounce flash setup off a white wall or ceiling.

taking the shot with a wireless slave/master flash setup. this might provide you with the best exposure as you could fire a camera mounted flash as a fill flash triggering a hotter brighter flash off on another angle lighting the rest of the scene.

each of the above may be also fine tuned with reflectors or diffusers.

all in all you should concider using lens filters to color correct any poor effects like those from flourecent tubes.

 

[TheDisKid1969]

Thanks for the all the advice, now I have to absorb it. These are the things that I had hoped to learn about from this group, all of your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

 

[ndelaware]

If you are using a Canon Speedlite you should bounce the flash off the ceiling instead of aiming it dead on the subject. If you are using the onbard flash, turn off the flash and turn up the lights in the room.