Setting up and acquiring the right eq for shooting paintings

[wownflutter]

Hi Folks could really use your insight!


I hobby as a mixed media painter.


Recently, I had a pro photographer come by and shoot 15 pieces of my art (on canvas and wood panel). He set up the art on my easle and set up two lights just aiming to the sides of the artwork, picking up the texture on my somewhat accentuate the surface without picking up too much reflection.


I would like to buy a similar lighting setup and use my digital camera to do the shooting. But, Ive googled the equipment and cannot find what he was talking about.


"Open pan "ACME" lights, 2 stands,
and about $20 worth of daylight bulbs"


Can you make sense of this and/or provide some links where I can buy these two lights and stands?


Or, do you have a better way to recommend shooting paintings that have considerable gloss and texture?


Thanks!!


C

 

[Derrel]

You will want to polarize the light sources, and use a polarizer over the lens as well. Experimentation will be key to get the right "look" to the art's surface...

 

[KmH]

What the photographer didn't tell you about was all the knowledge and skills he used to make the images.

It takes more than lights and a camera to do well.

Light Science and Magic, Fourth Edition: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting

The book discusses the basic concepts, and chapters 3 & 4 speek directly to lighting issues and techniques related to reflections and texture .

 

[wownflutter]

While I appreciate the replies... what I am missing is what is being talked about:

""Open pan "ACME" lights, 2 stands, and about $20 worth of daylight bulbs"

Ive google Open pan ACME lights and came up with nothing.

What are these and where can I get them online? Any help appreciated.

(And, yes, I am a photoshop pro so it is the lighting that I am short on experience)

Big thanks!

 

[cgipson1]

The "ACME" is typically an acronym meant to represent "Generic". He meant that any lights could be used.. if he mentioned Daylight bulbs, then he meant either Flourescent or Incansdescent daylight balanced bulbs to fit what ever continous lights you buy. Did he use any type of diffusers on the lights?

probably something like these...

Amazon.com: daylight balanced photography lights with stands

Warning: You can buy lights.. but you can't buy the photographers knowledge that took years to accumulate! You will need a LOT of practice, and trial and error.... and searching and reading, to be able to produce good images!

 

[wownflutter]

Yes, he used the black "non-umbrell" diffusers. One on each side of the painting, just directing the lights to "glance" the surface and highlight the texture.