Can you photography experts help please?

[Gill]

I'm trying to take pics of snowglobes. I've tried with and without flash but all pics are still coming up with flashback and/or look yuck.

I'm shaking the globe to get the snow effect and have them on black backgrounds - and before you say don't shake them while taking the pic I'm not! I've tried lights above and at the side and neither seems to help. Any suggestions please?

[Gill]

Sorry, forgot to say I have a Kodak C633.

[Spyder1942]

Dim the flash with a cloth in front or tissue paper.

[bykimbo]

I'm not any sort of photography expert, but I would have thought that with something like a snowglobe you'd need a pretty big depth of focus, so you're going to need lots of light, and a very steady hand... do you have a tripod? I'd definitely say no flash, because it's going to bounce off both the glass and the snow. Can you rig indirect light from side and rear to illuminate gently?

[Gill]

Dim the flash with a cloth in front or tissue paper.

Thanks Spyder I'll give your suggestion a try.

[Gill]

I'm not any sort of photography expert, but I would have thought that with something like a snowglobe you'd need a pretty big depth of focus, so you're going to need lots of light, and a very steady hand... do you have a tripod? I'd definitely say no flash, because it's going to bounce off both the glass and the snow. Can you rig indirect light from side and rear to illuminate gently?

No tripod kimbo but I'll try your indirect light from side and rear in daylight tomorrow.

[WorleGirl]

Here's my penny's worth having studied photography and a video production graduate:
I would say you definitely would need a tripod.

Mark the the position of the globes on the table/platform (whatever) with a pencil (or straight small sticker strips/something you won't really see in the photo) where the back edge/corners of your globes sit. When marking out, make sure your focus is set up. When you shake, you know exactly where to re-place the globe and the focus will always be correct!

You are most likely going to have to use a fast shutter speed to capture the 'flakes' without causing movement/blur. This means you will need to have enough light coming through the aperture. If it's a digital camera, then set it up to the fast rate (usually represented by a runner, else a really sunny day!)

If you do have strong reflections bouncing off the globe, then you can actually buy softeners/gauze to put over your lights (they are less flammable than tissue!). Prob can buy this from specialist photography/video shops. Just peg them on over the light source. Otherwise, bounce your light source off a wall or ceiling...play about with this.

The last other option, should it be about refelctions, is applying a matting spray. Again prob a specialist thing...Used in film making on mirrors/glasses, it dullens the reflections without the material looking like it's been matted.

Ultimate last resort, (which I'm sure I've seen in mags!) Graphically 'add' in the flakes!! Takes some knowledge of graphic design, but it's to give the impression. I would have thought that customers would be happy knowing the type & colour of 'flake' and can imagine it shook! I would have thought the detail and content within the globe was more important.....

Hope this helps. Interested to see what others think....

[Gill]

Thank you for everyone's imput. After about the 7th attempt I'm finally happy with the pics I've taken, albeit they may not be perfect for experts.

[bykimbo]

Can you tell us what you did, for future reference?

[Gill]

Can you tell us what you did, for future reference?

Backlit with natural daylight. I put my black base and backing card on the window cill and then took a close-up shot. The natural light came in from the sides.