Photographing texture

[David Darom]

Highlighting the surface texture of objects large or small in a
photograph is very simple.

Texture will show up dramatically when illuminated from a low angle.
Outdoors such illumination is created when the sun is low in the sky.

Indoors, a suitable lighting can be a simple setup using two light
sources, situated at a very low angle on both sides of the object.

The effect is more natural looking when one of the light sources is
stronger than the other. When two similar lamps are used, placing
one of them farther away will achieve the same result.

Here is such a photograph of an amazing fossilized fish, illuminated as
suggested above.
The 8" (203 mm) fish is millions of years old, that it was found in the mountains
near Jerusalem at an elevation of about 2400 feet above sea level...

This photograph was also used to create a postage stamp several years ago.

I had a similar and very simple setup to shoot about 1000 sea shells
sized between 60 mm and 3 mm long.... The results were very dramatic!
Many of these pictures were used in my guides on the marine life of
the Red Sea and of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

[Kevin Jones]

Great tips David.
The photo really demonstrates your points.

[David Darom]

Here is a sheetlet of the three postage stamps on Geology
in Israel that were created around three of my photographs,
one of them being the fossilized fish shown above.

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

[David Darom]

Hi guys,

I think it is also okay if you ask me any kind of questions
related to a Thread or anything else on photography,
right here on the CKCA Forum.....
AND you can still email me personally whenever you feel like it...

As requested by two members, here are some of the
sea shell pictures illuminated to show texture,
as I mentioned above in the opening post.

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

[David Darom]

Here is an example of using relatively low-angle lighting
to enhance the deep fluted filework on on the handle of
Joe Kious' all Damascus folder from 1995.

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From The Joe Kious section in my book "... Custom Folding knives" (2003)

[David Darom]

Low angle lighting for TEXTURE...

This is part of the blade of a Dellana folder
shot at the 2001 AKI Show in San Diego.

I photographed it lying on her table by the window
with low angle morning light streaming in from
the outside.

The low angle of the light enhances the texture of
the deeply etched blade....

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

[Chuck Ward]

Good tip David..........Thanks for posting. The photos you posted are great examples.

Chuck

[Jim Cooper]

I've enjoyed watching this thread. Good examples, all.

My son collects coins, and this is an area of photography that this type of illumination is so critical. The textures on coins are subtle and they share the reflective value of polished metal, as knives have.

I learned a good deal on this, too. Check out the dramatic difference in displays with this fellows tips.

Here is GOOD normal low level lighting:


Here is a technique called Axial lighting:


Here is how he shot with axial lighting (before switching to black background):


Read the full article here.

He claims this technique is used often in the forensics industry. I can see why.

__________________________________________________ __

I remember this shot below on being VERY critical and difficult for me. I employed much of the technique DDD suggested. I had to change things up quite a bit from my 'normal' setup, and you can see why.



These learning instances are good for the toolkit.

Coop

[David Darom]

Josef Rusnák's folder is a great example of low-angle
light shooting, Coop!

As for Axial lighting I often used a similar improvised setup for various
scientific photographic documentation.
It is simple and effective when "regular" illumination is not enough...

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

[Kevin Jones]

Originally Posted by David Darom

Hi guys,

I think it is also okay if you ask me any kind of questions
related to a Thread or anything else on photography,
right here on the CKCA Forum.....
AND you can still email me personally whenever you feel like it...

It certainly is David, as the purpose behind these photography forums is to help educate and share these amazingly beautiful images.

I have thoroughly enjoyed these forums. Thank you and the other photographers.