Museum Pictures behind Glass

Gilly B

Gilly B

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Gillian
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I have been asked to photograph 8 pieces of artwork that are framed behind glass and screwed to the wall. I am meeting up with the curator on Tuesday to check out the room etc. Have any of you had a similar job and how did you manage without reflections?

My thoughts are to take all six light stands and poles and plenty of Black material/Gaffa tape/clips. Try and make a tent around the picture. Get as far back as I can from the picture and use a long lens zoomed up and aimed at the centre of the picture. Hang black material immediately in front of the camera and Cut a hole/flap in so just the lens end pokes through. Take the photograph using a tripod, and a longish shutter speed.

Am I going along the right lines? Your thoughts and ideas would be very welcome.

Thanks Gillian
 
I am not sure you will need to make a tent around the picture as you will want light to get in, using your own lights will be no different.

However, shooting through (or between 2 pieces) of black material will cut down any reflection from the glass. It also depends on the colour of the artwork as reflection will be more of an issue if they are dark. I'd suggest taking your camera to the meeting and taking a few test shots without anything and see of that helps.

Not sure if a polarising filter would help??
 
Thanks Guys for responding.

johnb - It will not be an option to put the lens very near to or on the glass as they are large paintings that have been mounted and framed. Don't know what available light there is until the meeting on Tuesday. The Curator said it was a dark area of the gallery.

Harvey nikon - I was going to take the camera with me on Tuesday anyway. Only issue with my polarising filter is that it is 58mm and will not fit my zoom lenses. Only fit 85mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.4 - but as you say, it probably won't make that much of a difference.

With regard to lighting it - I was thinking of putting softboxes either side at 30-45 degrees pointing at the painting. Hmmm, hadn't thought that one through - how would I get the softboxes inside the tent without ruining the Black-out effect I was aiming for? Duh! I can be so blonde at times.

Watch this space - thanks again.
 
I'd just ask them to turn off the lights in the room, so it can be lit solely with your own flashes, this will reduce ambient light and risk of reflection. It's much less hassle than trying to construct a tent. If there's daylight flooding in through big windows, then that could be a problem, but you could consider taping up the windows with black bin liners (I've needed to do that before).

Position your lights at the side, evenly matched on each side in position and power (softboxes will work well as it'll help to reduce harshness on shadows from the frame). Google for "Angle of Incidence" to give you some positioning ideas.

I use similar techniques when shooting portraits of people wearing glasses.

Then just flag the lights off so that they don't send light back to where you are (causing a reflection of yourself or your camera in the glass).
 
It's worth checking with the curator whether the use of flash is permitted.
Some museums are concerned with the cumulative effect of the UV emitted by flash photography in bleaching the pigments.
 
Kaouthia said:
I'd just ask them to turn off the lights in the room, so it can be lit solely with your own flashes, this will reduce ambient light and risk of reflection. It's much less hassle than trying to construct a tent. If there's daylight flooding in through big windows, then that could be a problem, but you could consider taping up the windows with black bin liners (I've needed to do that before).

Position your lights at the side, evenly matched on each side in position and power (softboxes will work well as it'll help to reduce harshness on shadows from the frame). Google for "Angle of Incidence" to give you some positioning ideas.

I use similar techniques when shooting portraits of people wearing glasses.

Then just flag the lights off so that they don't send light back to where you are (causing a reflection of yourself or your camera in the glass).
Click to expand...

That is sound advice about taping up the windows - much easier than my tent construction. I will ask at the meeting if flash is allowed. Thanks.
 
Stratman said:
It's worth checking with the curator whether the use of flash is permitted.
Some museums are concerned with the cumulative effect of the UV emitted by flash photography in bleaching the pigments.
Click to expand...

I will check it out on Tuesday. Thanks
 
get yourself a copy of light science and magic. This very scenario is mentioned in detail.
 
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