doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Help needed on photographing gold inlays

I need some advise on how to properly digitally photograph a gun that has bright metal inlays. In the darkroom days, dodging and burning was a way to get both the gun and the inlays properly printed but what to do with a digital image?? Here is an Ithaca 5E with a silver likeness of a woodcock. I can expose for the silver or the gun background but not both. Anyone have some suggestions??

Have you tried outside on an overcast day?

CJ

normally you would use a piece of white cardboard with a hole cut in the front to stick the lens through. This will allow the gold to reflect back correct color.

I already see I misread your original requirements. You should still try the white card because this is the way we were taught to do it.

Vary the angle of the light source.
The nice thing about digitals is that you can take thousands of pictures without wasting film.

I guess today's digital equivalent to dodging and burning is a software program such as Photoshop or the dumb downed versions that typically come with a digital camera. I'm a bit confused by your post; you titled it relative to gold inlays, but post a photo of a gun with a silver woodcock. Am I supposed to see a gold or silver bird?

Hello Dave, I have the same problem with both gold or silver. I used the silver inlaid gun as it was near. Sorry for the confusion. I might need a flatter light as was suggested. I think you are correct about a Photo Shop program being necessary. Gosh, its hard to learn these new tricks!
Will you be at the Raleigh show this weekend? I plan on having a table. Please stop by if you are there.
Best, Walt

Walt, you've already mastered computers and posting photos. The rest should be easy. I'll see you this weekend at the show. And only three months until Sanford. Once again, dinner at the LobSteer will be on Saturday (no confusion this year, as per the others). As far as I know, the usual gang from Canada and Dixie will be there. Hope Ken Hurst will be able to join us.

I agree with Mark (Subgauge). Since gold is bright and has no color or tone variation across the surface, only light reflection angles and shadows will give it depth. A "flat" light will only make it more monotone. Use a single source of light (studio light, strobe, halogen desklamp, etc.) All of these are using a point-n-shoot camera with a halogen desklamp. The inlay is very small.

I believe in natural sunlight....for the real colors as they appear to the naked human eye ? I'm no photo expert, but have always done better outside...?