How would you take this photo? Description inside...

[themaddhatter]

I am trying to take a picture of a surface, and it is being difficult

Here is the situation:

- Indoor shot
- Picture of a test floor measuring ~ 2' square (can be positioned as needed)
- The surface of the test floor has been "abraded" - basically, it was tested to simulate wear and tear on the floor.
- When you visually "look" at the test floor, you can see a very visible darker "wear ring" on the surface.
- When you try to photograph the surface, the "wear ring" becomes very faint.
- What recommendations would you make to try and document the surface? I was using a 10MP Sony P&S, but will be going back at it with my wife's canon EOS 10D DSLR next week.
-With the sony P&S camera, used flash/no flash, tried angles of deck (front on, side, etc) but didn't really get the ring to "pop" like it does with the human eye
- Looking for anything related to lighting, lenses, settings, speeds, etc (more information the better) with a DSLR.

Thanks in advance

Shane

 

[Josh66]

...tried angles of deck (front on, side, etc) but didn't really get the ring to "pop" like it does with the human eye
- Looking for anything related to lighting, lenses, settings, speeds, etc (more information the better) with a DSLR.

You're on the right track, but instead of changing the angle of the camera - you need to change the angle of the light.

This can be a window, desk lamp, pretty much anything as long as you have a tripod (if the light is not very bright) and software to correct the white balance (or custom WB in camera).

Try lighting it from the side so that the shadows from the wear will become more apparent.

You need contrast between the worn areas and the non-worn areas - straight on lighting is not going to give you that.

 

[Big Mike]

There are two main ways to show texture, which sounds like what you are trying to do.

One way is to side light the surface, so get a light off to the side and probably at a low angle. That will cause any ridges to cast shadows, giving you definition between highlights and shadows.

The other way is to see if the surface has any properties of 'direct reflection'...and if it does, you can try placing a light source within the family of angles, so that the light source is visible on the surface. In other words, put a light on the opposite side of the floor (if it's laying flat), so that the light is reflected on the surface (from the camera's point of view). That reflection is likely to show texture (the wear) on the surface.