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I am trying to photograph my coin sets. The coins are encased in a postcard-sized glossy paper that acts as mirror.

I need to position my camera exactly on top of the card coin set. Unfortunately, when I do this, my reflection is seen on the glossy paper and also get captured in the image. The reflection vanishes if I move the camera too close to the card, but then I need a lens with a closer focal point.

What is the suggested way to take pictures of a glossy surface, avoiding the reflection on the surface?

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3 Answers 3

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The coin reflects light. With a light shining straight on it, much of it may be reflected straight back at the camera:

enter image description here

The first thing to do is move the light to the side and put a dark object where it used to be. The dark object is now reflected in the coin, but that's not noticeable:

enter image description here

There are still many specular highlights on the relief and lettering, reflections of the light and of other bright objects in the vicinity. Minimize those by surrounding yourself with a flat, black environment. This last photo was taken from above with a black cloth draped over photographer and camera:

enter image description here

(All three images are of the same coin. Some noise reduction was applied, but no contrast enhancement was performed in any of them. The softness in this last image is because there was much less light to illuminate the coin: because these images were handheld, this required a high ISO and large aperture. For good work you will use a tripod, of course, allowing a smaller aperture and low ISO, because a long exposure is no problem.)

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    \$\begingroup\$ fantastic answer. thanks for posting the images. they really help to make the point. I have faved the question just because of your answer. :) \$\endgroup\$
    – AJ Finch
    Oct 26, 2011 at 11:01
  • \$\begingroup\$ Exactly what I was thinking. You stole my answer. (Seriously) I would have just rephrased my answer, but since you already got the correct answer, I'll just refrain. Besides, if I rephrased my answer to mean the same thing, and that was exactly what you said, to some, it would appear just down right plagiarism. Anyway, Good answer. \$\endgroup\$
    – J. Walker
    Mar 28, 2012 at 0:57
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You might try using a circular polarising filter, which can eliminate reflections on glossy surfaces. They reduce the amount of light coming into the camera so if you're not already you should use a tripod to make sure you're getting sharp shots. They are relatively cheap, around $30.

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    \$\begingroup\$ If I'm not mistaken, for using a CPL he needs a lens with non-rotating front element. \$\endgroup\$
    – fahad.hasan
    Oct 13, 2011 at 7:55
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    \$\begingroup\$ Not necessarily, it just means you have to adjust the CPL after focusing. Not too much of a problem considering he'll be on a tripod and the camera will be the same distance from the subject each time. \$\endgroup\$
    – ElendilTheTall
    Oct 13, 2011 at 8:00
  • \$\begingroup\$ Where do you buy $30 CPLs?! Please share! Things are stupid expensive! \$\endgroup\$
    – dpollitt
    Oct 14, 2011 at 18:44
  • \$\begingroup\$ amazon.com/HOYA-52MM-Circular-Polarizing-Filter/dp/B00006HOAN/… Granted this is 52mm \$\endgroup\$
    – ElendilTheTall
    Oct 14, 2011 at 18:55
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    \$\begingroup\$ I thought polarizers didn't work on metal? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarizer - "[Circular polarizers] are used as polarizing filters in photography to reduce oblique reflections from non-metallic surfaces..." \$\endgroup\$
    – anon
    Oct 17, 2011 at 16:08
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You don't actually have to position your camera on top of the card coin set, you only need to make sure the camera sensor is parallel to the card to prevent converging lines. This means you can move your camera off to the side to prevent reflections and simply crop the resulting images to the view you'd get if your camera were right on top.

If you want to avoid cropping then you can use a tilt-shift lens at maximum shift, but these lenses are incredibly expensive!

see also this closely related question:

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Thanks, however its not just my reflection. Even if I take it from side as you mentioned, i get a reflection of the roof or some other stuff. \$\endgroup\$
    – Dheer
    Oct 13, 2011 at 10:30
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Dheer You just answered your own question: between the coins and the roof, place a nonreflective very dark object (like a piece of velvet cloth inside a box) and keep as much ambient illumination away from it as you can (that's where the box helps). There won't be any light to reflect, therefore no reflection. \$\endgroup\$
    – whuber
    Oct 13, 2011 at 21:29
  • \$\begingroup\$ @Whuber: Thanks. Looks like I will have to keep a dark cloth etc at some distance above the set. And keep the camera parallel as i cannot keep it on top. If you make it as an answer, i would up vote it. \$\endgroup\$
    – Dheer
    Oct 14, 2011 at 5:25

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