photography oil paintings

[fceexp1]

My wife is a painter. She works with oil painting on canvas. When I take photos in order to record for her portfolio as well as to make canvas prints, I routinely encounter two problems. First, oil has a natural sheen so I have to fight the glare that is often caused from directional/ window light. I've tried putting sheets over the window but them I'm fighting exposure problems. The second issue is if I get enough light, there are places where because of design choices, the paint is not super thick and some aspects of the canvas peek through, catching the light and creating some specular highlights.

I would love some solutions. I do muddle through eventually but the process involves a lot of brute force. Any and all advice will be much appreciated.

[autofocus]

I've tried this a few times, and I know how difficult this can be...so I can commiserate with you. Unfortunately, I personaly, don't have any solutions for you and love to see what kind of help comments you will get. Obviously, a tripod along with some soft, difused indirect lighting would help..also shoot RAW so you can address any white balance issues.

[OsmosisStudios]

A circular polarizer and a tripod. The polarizer will allow you to adjust the reflections and the tripod will be necessary because the filter will block 2 stops of light. Using the tripod will also make sure you're set up properly (exactly 90 degrees from the portrait plane, centered both left and right and up and down, etc)

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

A circular polarizer and a tripod. The polarizer will allow you to adjust the reflections and the tripod will be necessary because the filter will block 2 stops of light. Using the tripod will also make sure you're set up properly (exactly 90 degrees from the portrait plane, centered both left and right and up and down, etc)

..an Ahaa moment, good call Os!

[fceexp1]

hi...thanks for all the good suggestions. I regularly shoot with a tripod, mirror up or cable release so that the images are tack sharp. A CP does help too. I was thinking about setting up those work lights (a pair at 45 degree angles and use white sheets to diffuse the lights and see if that would allow me to keep the vibrant colors (My Art Journeys) and get the kind of even lighting I need. It will be pain to set up, but beats the heck out of re-shooting. I did find one trick that worked for the smaller paintings. I put them on the floor, use the tripod with a wide angle lens, putting the "top" of the painting in the direction of the light coming in from the windows, then using a shoot through umbrella, popped open in the direction of the painting and that works pretty good. Its the larger ones that I have to shoot while they are hanging from the wall that are a real grind...