Photographying WHITE Objects???

It does look a bit underexposed (dark) by maybe 1/2 stop but now it is starting to look more shiny, more like a glossy door.

<p>There is a gloss finish on the door.</p>

I know. Your next step is trying to capture that glossy finish. You have it somewhat on that last photo. Having too broad of a light source to very evenly light the door will make it look flat not glossy. Having the lights closer so they highlight toward the middle or upper middle may help with that. Now you just have to play with the lights position trying to get a bit of glare but not too much.

<p>Well, I don't really need to show the glossy finish. What I'm more concerned about is having an fairly even amount of shadowing that will show most of the different routes on the door.</p>

<p>What do you think of this one?<br>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wpYbm-WQ1UucajVZCkCEbQ?feat=directlink">http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wpYbm-WQ1UucajVZCkCEbQ?feat=directlink</a></p>

Not bad. Perhaps lighten it up a bit in editing and convert it to grayscale. Since it is white, converting to grayscale will remove any color cast. You may have to move the lights back a bit to evenly illuminate the door. That will make it look like a flatter finish but you said you would be okay with that.<P><center>

<img src="http://www.geocities.com/dainisjg/door_cab1.jpg"</center>

<p><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Pb6BpgUYiEKRkRd-I5u4Rw?feat=directlink">http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Pb6BpgUYiEKRkRd-I5u4Rw?feat=directlink</a><br>

That what I got. I may need to do some contrasting, what do you think? I cant really move the lights back and hit the door with the same angle due to the room size I'm shooting in. Any other suggestions. Thanks again for all your help.</p>

<p>Here is one that I played with the fill light and shadowing on. What do you think?<br>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/90DuF06ZfNvD_zsFULOclg?feat=directlink">http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/90DuF06ZfNvD_zsFULOclg?feat=directlink</a></p>

<p>This is a different door, but how is this?<br>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aVKOb6_a8eqyFW-CdRQ2rQ?feat=directlink">http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aVKOb6_a8eqyFW-CdRQ2rQ?feat=directlink</a></p>

<p>I see what you mean about switching to grayscale and the door becoming more flat. Not only the finish seems flat but the door seems more flat, meaning not showing the depth of the raised panels as much. Is there anything I can do by keeping this grayscale and still showing some depth?</p>

The only thing you can do is play with the lights to try to get more shadowing in the recessed areas.

<p>Try elevating the door, and adding an accent light close and underneath. It'll act kind of like a flashlight under your chin, turned up towards your face; it'll bring out shadows that would normally go unnoticed because light rarely comes from beneath. Any kind of light that glances across the surface at a shallow angle will enhance surface details. </p>

<p>For an example, take a dollar bill out of your pocket, and lay it on the table. Turn on a flashlight and lay it on the bill. See how the glancing light brings out the surface texture? You'll see all the wrinkles and folds and bumps on the rumpled dollar bill. A light doing that will help to bring out some of the shadows in the recesses of the moulding. </p>

<p>A light glancing from below will probably be the strongest way to bring out a shadow line on that top curve of the top pieces of panel moulding. You'll still need other lights on the door, probably; but, if you play with the light close to the door (in angle), it'll help to bring out texture in the surface. </p>

<p>Glad to see you're still keepin' at it. J.</p>

<p>Here is the latest with a light about 20" right above and below and the same lighting on each side just above the halfway point of the door. f/5.6 1/25 sec and then turned into a black and white image with a littl bit of adjusting to the fill light to whiten it a bit more so it didn't appear as gray. What do you think?<br>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/O-cnXqDERymiDMjNMsVaEA?feat=directlink">http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/O-cnXqDERymiDMjNMsVaEA?feat=directlink</a></p>

<p>What do you think of this one? <br>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/v4Oiu2SC0Xb339Jrjb3R7w?feat=directlink">http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/v4Oiu2SC0Xb339Jrjb3R7w?feat=directlink</a></p>

You are creating an optical illusion. Notice how the routing on the bottom of the door seems to be raised off the door surface. If you turn the image upside down (or look at it upside down on your computer screen) the result is the same, what is now on the bottom of the door appears to be raised out.<P>

 

People are used to having light come from above and off to the side. Having a light shining up from the bottom creates that optical illusion in people's minds. The highlights are not where they would be if the light was shining down.<P>

<center><img src="http://www.geocities.com/dainisjg/door_cab3.jpg"></center><P>

Go with two lights on either side slightly above the mid point. Try more of a sideways angle to create more shadows.

<p>Ok, this is what I have. Now I think I have shadows on both the top and bottom of the raised panel and in some ways the top route appears raised. I was able to fix the sides a bit to make the shadowing more even because some of my pictures were showing alot of shadow on the left and no shadowing on the right making it hare to see the raised panel edge. Here is my latest with just 2 lights on each side shot at f/5.6 1/20sec. If I don't hear from you guys before the end of the day have a good weekend.</p>

<p><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5hGAcewjj5xY10AFQKrVEA?feat=directlink">http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5hGAcewjj5xY10AFQKrVEA?feat=directlink</a><br>

here is the link.</p>

<p>This is pic was shot by just changing the angles of the lights. I moved both lights closer to the door, making a sharper angle. With this there it makes the top and bottom routes that we've been talking about look uneven.<br>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GAD4IaP4Ia4EnkthV8SXog?feat=directlink">http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GAD4IaP4Ia4EnkthV8SXog?feat=directlink</a></p>

<p>This picture I shot the same as my 3:12 pm 4/9 post except I added a light above to give highlights to the top of the door.<br>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iat8bStGDb2dSHP9XjgD_Q?feat=directlink">http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iat8bStGDb2dSHP9XjgD_Q?feat=directlink</a></p>

They are starting to look pretty good although still a bit gray. A slight light gray would be okay as then you could have white highlights standing out. White highlights on an equally white door don't show up. Try f/5.6 @1/10 sec.

 

The last one looks pretty good but that top light does a bit more shadow in the top rout. Keep playing with the lights. Squint your eyes almost closed when adjusting the lights. That helps you to better see the shadows and highlights as the camera sees them.

<p>Here it is at f/5.6 1/10sec. I am nearing the end of the road and need to get these pictures turned over. Any last ditch efforts I can do to these pictures. I hope I can get them done by the end of the week. Thanks again for all your time and help with this.<br>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/McdlEU4YfI8o52h6XFTB3A?feat=directlink">http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/McdlEU4YfI8o52h6XFTB3A?feat=directlink</a></p>