How do avoid this?

[David Price]

I need to take a pic of a black headstone at a cemetary. The stone faces East so if I take it in the morning I get a perfect backlit reflection of me on the stone. If I take it in the evening, the sun is in my face and again, I get the reflection in the stone. This pic needs to be square on so I can't move to the side to avoid the reflection and a softbox is kinda out of the question.

I would like to take this one tomorrow, supposed to be sunny all day. Or would it be better to wait for an overcast/cloudy day? This has turned out to be kinda like shooting into a mirrow

Any thoughts or suggestions?

TIA,
~dp

[Sonny]

If you have to take the photo straight on and want to aviod being in the photo you might want to use a long lens, stand far back, and zoom in.

[jeffkohn]

A polarizer might also help; I know it can remove reflections from most non-metallic surfaces, though I can't say I've tried it with a headstone.

[David Price]

Originally Posted by korrupt

If you have to take the photo straight on and want to aviod being in the photo you might want to use a long lens, stand far back, and zoom in.

Thanks Korrupt, that's a good idea. I've been limiting myself to the booming 8 ft. between stones. It'll have to be a high noon or after shot to avoid my shadow but I can shoot over the stone in front of the target stone easy enough.

Funny how my "duh factor" limtis my ability to think outside the box.

Thanks again, I feel better already.

~dp

[David Price]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

A polarizer might also help; I know it can remove reflections from most non-metallic surfaces, though I can't say I've tried it with a headstone.

And now I have a valid excuse....I mean "reason" to buy that polarizer I've been wanting. If it dowsn't work.....oh well. it'll still be in the bag.

Thanks, Jeff.

[Sonny]

Glad I could help. I hope everything goes well for you tommorrow.

[CaptainTom]

If it were me., and I don't fully understand what it is exactly that you want the final product to look like. I would shoot the stone at mid day with the sun overhead. I would use a tripod and shoot several shots at different exposures. In photoshop I would combine the shots so that the stone was exposed for what I needed, and the surrounding area was exposed for the look I want.

[David Price]

korrupt, Jeff and Captain Tom.

The 135L and waiting 'till just after high noon provided just what I was looking for. Jeff, it worked without the polarizer so I saved those bux, at least for now. Tom, I didn't have to do any blending because the background of the final product is black. When I get it put together it will be a B&W with three elements. The stone, an opaque face and a scripture.

Thanks again for your help,
~dp