Digital cameras and Metalflake ?

I have to take some pics of some serious Metalflake.
(2 different Kelly Green flakes,Lime Green flakes,
3 different Gold flakes,2 different size Prisms,
Moss Green Pearl,and lots of clear)
This looks spectacular in direct sunlight,
but so far the pics all look flat and unexciting.

Do I need strong directional lighting ?
Flash? No flash ?
Is there a filter that will work with a digital camera
to give the right effects ?

Any suggestions ?

Thanks.

 

Yeah, flake looks dull when you take pictures of it on an overcast day or under fluorescent lighting. It looks good with direct sunlight or at night with more pinpoint type light sources like spotlights or floodlights or streetlights if you can hold the camera still on a tripod. Also, you need to get in closer to the car to get the real effect because the little sparkles all wash together if you're too far away. If you use a flash, you only get reflections of the flakes that are aiming right back at the lens and everything else looks washed out. A flash works okay sometimes.

 

The best pics I got were close up shots that were taken with no flash, and I had a light source an opposite angle from where I was taking the picture from. If that doesn't make sense I can draw up a crude pic in MS paint.....Maybe you can tell how the light makes the difference in these two pics....

 

Cool,I'll try it again with no flash and directional light source.

 

that is some serious flake...looks awesome

 

I have the best luck shooting into the sun or making use of shadow to bring out a pattern. This is big silver flake on fine silver flake (all rattle can) and I moved around until I got the design to be clear. If I cared more about this project I could have made it look better. But most often shooting with the sun in front of me or slightly to the left or right yeilds the best results.

 

I agree with thirdyfive and switchblade, you need the right angle of the light. I prefer to shoot at sundown (not a morning person, sunrises aren't an option), because low light is best. Normally you want he sun behind you when shooting a vehicle, but to get a good sparkle, you want it almost in front of you. To use the clock face ****ogy, if the car is pointing at 6 (or 12), you'd want the sun at 10, and you should shoot it from 4. I learned from an old pro, and I'm still not too god at getting the flake, but that's what I've picked up so far.

 

We shot a fully metalflaked car right after noon (about 2 or so)... I think they came out good. The owner (john who's a hamber) also wondered if the flake would show up... we (and John) were really glad with the results... hope that was a little hlepful.

http://www.deadendmagazine.com/jan07_page115-116.html


-Juan

 

woops almost forgot to mention we didn't use flash... and we used a cannon digital rebel.

 

Agree with above, no flash but direct light source at an angle to highlight the area.

 

Yep, what they said. Shoot outdoors under natural light and have the sun 90 degrees to the plane of the camera. Don't use on-camera flash.