Flash glare

Again I haven't a clue how the magic works but I'm sure there must be a way.

Can the this photo be fixed?

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Not after the fact.

 

I presume you are copying the photo.

 

Reshoot; turn OFF the flash on your camera, and use a desk lamp or similar to illuminate the photo from the side.

Edited February 16, 2017 by Gary Naka

By the side, I meant at about 45 degrees angle (reference the camera), to minimize reflection of the light back into the camera.

Thank you Gary for your help. This is a photo sent me and not wanting to go back and say that it was no good I was hoping it could be rescued. I shall write them again with your suggestions and maybe get a better photo

In the previous photo, you were apparently using a cell phone, since it appears in the reflection. In this there is the flash, also a phone? You can take perfectly good photos of old pictures in open shade or under a desk lamp, at least with cameras. It is just a question of (ex flash) what you see is what you get. I have no expertise or interest in phoneography, so will not comment there. Simply, try to get the lens plane parallel to the plane of the subject, light so there are no hot spots and shoot till you get what you want. I would consider a polarizing filter if you are using a camera and have an image that is under glass. You might see if you have a friend who is into photography and engage that person to help. Best of luck!

BTW, when I was a kid, I had similar problems when I took pix of things in glass cases at the museum. The glass case reflected the flash back to the camera, and I had a white blot in the middle. This is a common problem when shooting a flash straight into glass.

 

As Sandy said, if they are using a cell phone, have them put the photo under better light, so that the the cell phone flash won't go off.

Again watch out for reflections of stuff in the background.

I'm 100% sure this was taken with my brother-in-law's famous Samsung phone..... he thinks it's the best invention since bubble gum :)

I sent him your suggestions and wait patiently for his reply. So far a snub!:(

Thanks all for replying.

Interesting you mention "magic" as Fuqua's book Lighting, Science and Magic addresses this question. On a polished surface, the reflection will come off at the same angle it came in, ie angle of incidence equals angle of reflection. Your camera sees the leading edge of the object from one angle with a corresponding equal angle of reflection. The far edge is seen at a different camera angle and different angle of reflection. If you place the light within the 2 angles of reflection, you will see the specular highlight from the light. To eliminate the specular reflection off a smooth, reflective surface like glass or water, you need to position the light outside those two angles, ie outside the family of angles. Do that and magic happens.