Photographing a painting

[Bernard LPG]

I'm a complete novice with a camera and would appreciate some tips on how to take a photo' of an oil painting that is mounted behind glass, as I get reflections etc. I don't want to demount it as it is all rather fragile.

[pmessling]

the only way i can think of is to take it at an angle to avoid the reflections, not easy to do, although someone may tell you different as not 100% sure

Peter

[briantilley]

Depending on the lighting, a polarising filter (on the camera lens, not on the painting...!) may help reduce reflections. Other than that, don't use flash, set a slower shutter speed and support the camera with a tripod if necessary.

[BMC123]

I took one with my camera, I just turned off the flash and shot on auto using the VR zoom lens at a distance of about 10 feet, I don't think you would get a good enough picture with a compact though

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...-employees.jpg

it was a copy behind glass of a really old picture, and after a little cropping came out ok I think

[Simon]

Get some good lighting from all directions but ensure none of the light-sources are within a 45-degree angle of the glass else you will get reflections back into the camera (you may have to take several photos with different lighting positions to acheive the best non-relfective shot).

As said above, if possible use a tripod or stabalize the camera on something and shoot with no digital zoom and if you are used to using the manual settings on your camera choose a higher f-number and (if necessary) choose a slower shutter speed to compensate for the decreased light (as a result of the higher f-number).

The key really is the lighting. Try and get lighting of all the same type (ie all natural or all filament-bulb or all flourecent lighting) as mixing light sources will have an unwelcomed colour-casting effect on your end photo.

[Bernard LPG]

My word, Simon W, that looks good! By co-incidence, my painting also features a stained glass window in a chapel. Just got to go and find some huge lights now. Thanks to all for comments and suggestions. I'll post up my photo if I can get a good result.

[lightpainter]

That’s all right Simon, but you’ve got light leakage coming through the left hand windows! Lol.

[Bernard LPG]

Simon, I know that church, I'm not far from S-on-A. But I've just looked again at the painting (rather than the technique, if you see what I mean). Is the artist one of the Rayner family by any chance? Possibly Margaret?
I'll try to take a 'photo of our painting in the next week or so.

[Bernard LPG]

Originally Posted by Bernard LPG

Simon, I know that church, I'm not far from S-on-A. But I've just looked again at the painting (rather than the technique, if you see what I mean). Is the artist one of the Rayner family by any chance? Possibly Margaret?
I'll try to take a 'photo of our painting in the next week or so.

I have, at long last, got around to this.
The painting is of The Baron's Chapel at Haddon Hall. It hasn't come out too badly, all things considered. Thanks for your help, I wouldn't have worked it out for myself!

[Bernard LPG]

Originally Posted by Simon W

Glad to hear you cracked it. The colours in the Haddon painting look a bit Arthur Rackham-ish.

Yes, but he was born some 30 years later. It is a very gloomy "gothic" painting and I didn't like it at first, finding it a bit depressing. However, my wife had admired it for many years and eventually inherited it. I've grown to like it since we have had it on the wall and it looks better in our dark and gloomy old cottage than in it's previous environment.

Shame it's not painted by the artist's sister, her's have fetched £20K and I certainly would not like it that much!