Delicate texture

[BexJarratt]

Hi,

I was wondering if some-one could give me some advice about how to capture the exquisite detail and texture of an old peeling painted shop sign. The sign is in situ on a florists shop in my local town. The shop has recently closed down and I would love to capture this antiquity before it is destroyed by another poundland or whatever shop takes its place. The signage is a good 8 foot off the ground, and the shop is on a slope with a road across the front and down the side, so I'll have to be shooting from some distance below it and the other side of the road I would imagine. The colours of the sign are soft pastel due to the passage of time.

So, what lighting conditions would be best for shooting this? Would it be better try and get some artificial light or work with natural? What aperture would be best to capture the colour, not washing it out and showing the paint texture.

Really, any help would be gratefully appreciated. I'm working with a Samsung NX5 with a 18-55mm kit lens or 50-200mm zoom. I have one off camera speedlight. And if anyone lives near here and wants to shoot it with me, that would be awesome!

[Doug Sundseth]

To increase the visibility of textures, you usually want to rake like across fairly close to parallel to the surface. To do this with natural light, you'll need to consider the direction the sign faces and the time of day when the light is coming from the right direction. In the northern hemisphere, if the sign faces north, this is the probably the wrong time of year.

Depending on how parallel the light is, you might also need to fill with artificial light so that the shadows don't become too strong.

Alternatively, you might be able to use artificial light for detail and ambient for fill (same idea, but reverse the roles of the lights).

HTH

[BexJarratt]

Thanks for those tips, I shall see what I can come up with, and maybe post a example if I'm struggling.