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Whether you want to capture a painting like this, digitize old prints or reproduce any kind of canvas, there’s real skill in copying artwork with your camera. Not only do you need the colours to be accurate, you also need to master the spread, angle and quality of the light to minimize glare and show the work at its best. This painting by the artist Bryan Hanlon has a wonderfully subtle colour palette. To reproduce the painting in print and digital form, it needs to be captured in the right way.
• Read more: The best photography lighting kits
It starts with your choice of camera, lens and exposure settings. Then comes the lighting. This is where an efficient setup can make all the difference. You’ll need two lights, and if reflections and glare are an issue then you can cut through them by setting up for cross-polarization. The cross-polarization technique is known for the colourful effect you get when capturing transparent plastics. But the uses don’t end there.
In a copy work setup it can be invaluable. We just need a polarized source of light and a circular polarizing filter on our camera. It takes moments to set up but it has a magical effect on reflections, which are often the biggest headache when capturing artwork. We’re not just talking about big patchy reflections, but also the tiny, weaker reflected light that can cloud out fine details and brushwork. The technique completely eradicates the reflections, which makes it especially useful for dark, glossy paintings that are more susceptible to glare.
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