copying an old photo album

[iCe]

I've got a couple of really old family albums that I want to copy. I've got a great scanner but if I try to separate the photos from the album page or remove an album page I will destroy the album. Since it's my sister's that's not a good plan. It's not a good plan if it was mine.

Plan B is to use one of my DSLR's and shoot individual photos. I don't want to buy or build a copy stand. I'm not sure how to light it without getting glare I thought about using a ring light on my 100 or 180 macro lens but it sounds like a bad idea.

Any suggestions?

[ec11235]

Originally Posted by iCe

I've got a couple of really old family albums that I want to copy. I've got a great scanner but if I try to separate the photos from the album page or remove an album page I will destroy the album. Since it's my sister's that's not a good plan. It's not a good plan if it was mine.

Plan B is to use one of my DSLR's and shoot individual photos. I don't want to buy or build a copy stand. I'm not sure how to light it without getting glare I thought about using a ring light on my 100 or 180 macro lens but it sounds like a bad idea.

Any suggestions?

Honestly, you are going to get better results from the scanner. They will be perfectly square, they will be perfectly flat since they're pressed against the glass and there will be no reflections. Try to find some way to make it work.

If you do have to take pictures of prints, a ring light will not work at all because you will get all reflections. You want to try to get the picture and camera lined up perfectly and then have one flash from each side firing at the picture from 45°

[groovyone]

I leveled out my camera on a tripod with the pivoting neck and used a 100mm macro with 2 umbrella lights, one on each side. I wish I had used a CPL to help with the glare on the pages. My Grandfather had a TON of very well put together albums that I wouldn't dream of taking apart.





You can see the gold foil reflected on to the photo a little.

[iCe]

I guess I'm going to have to drag out the soft boxes and studio lights... I was hoping to avoid that.

I've had the albums for a while. There is no taking them apart unfortunately.

[groovyone]

Very limited space setup:

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by iCe

I guess I'm going to have to drag out the soft boxes and studio lights... I was hoping to avoid that.

I've had the albums for a while. There is no taking them apart unfortunately.

I have finished one of maybe 20 albums.

[shiladityab]

Keith, I am from Calcutta (now called Kolkata.) We have heard stories about US & British soldiers passing through Calcutta during WWII. It's great to see some mementos of those times from my city. The Lighthouse and New Empire were two cinema halls which are still in operation.

[ec11235]

iCe, try again to see if you can get the pages on the scanner without taking them out or removing pics for scanning...

If that doesn't work, pay attention to the pictures from groovyone's setup.

Originally Posted by groovyone

Very limited space setup:

I see white reflections from the umbrellas in the pictures and maybe orange ones from the ceiling light? He also talked about glare on the pages. This "glare" is reflections from his umbrellas that are too close in, directly above the pages he's taking pictures of. Groovyone needs to move the lights away from the documents being photographed because the umbrellas are almost right above the documents. This is not good and how you get reflections. The light bounces right back up to the camera lens.


Here is a quick diagram about angles of incidence I found that will help you understand what you need to do for your setup:


Groovyone could back the lights way up, or get rid of the umbrellas and lower the flashes closer to the ground

BTW No offense intended, groovyone. Your pictures just made it easier to discuss by referring to them. Thanks for sharing.

[iCe]

Interesting. I want to make sure I am reading the diagram correctly. For the light at 85° is the correct camera position the highest point or the lowest point?

The images are "glued" in the album. I'm not willing to risk damaging the album or image since neither are technically mine.

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by ec11235

iCe, try again to see if you can get the pages on the scanner without taking them out or removing pics for scanning...

If that doesn't work, pay attention to the pictures from groovyone's setup.


I see white reflections from the umbrellas in the pictures and maybe orange ones from the ceiling light? He also talked about glare on the pages. This "glare" is reflections from his umbrellas that are too close in, directly above the pages he's taking pictures of. Groovyone needs to move the lights away from the documents being photographed because the umbrellas are almost right above the documents. This is not good and how you get reflections. The light bounces right back up to the camera lens.


Here is a quick diagram about angles of incidence I found that will help you understand what you need to do for your setup:


Groovyone could back the lights way up, or get rid of the umbrellas and lower the flashes closer to the ground

BTW No offense intended, groovyone. Your pictures just made it easier to discuss by referring to them. Thanks for sharing.

I completely agree with your assessment. As you can see my workspace was very small and this was a first time attempt. Since then I have a softbox to try and need to set it up where I can get the lights and a better angle. Certainly no offense taken!

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by shiladityab

Keith, I am from Calcutta (now called Kolkata.) We have heard stories about US & British soldiers passing through Calcutta during WWII. It's great to see some mementos of those times from my city. The Lighthouse and New Empire were two cinema halls which are still in operation.

He has some amazing photos of that area, a whole scrap book just dedicated to his time there. It is amazing how well he documented things and kept it all together.

[ec11235]

Originally Posted by iCe

Interesting. I want to make sure I am reading the diagram correctly. For the light at 85° is the correct camera position the highest point or the lowest point?

The images are "glued" in the album. I'm not willing to risk damaging the album or image since neither are technically mine.

The diagram I posted just has to do with the physics of lights. Don't set your camera up like that.
Groovyone has his camera set up perfect, but the lights are too close to the camera as I described.
Reflection (physics) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Obviously, your lights don't work like a laser, so if you have the camera right above the prints and you have lights close to the camera over the prints, the light will come back up to the lens as reflections

[iCe]

Ahh... I see where you're coming from now.