Digital cameras 101

[Marie Hay]

How do I avoid glare while taking close up pictures of shiny objects, such as a  framed picture?  The object always ends up with a reflection of the flash on it.
Thanks, Marie

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi Marie and welcome to the Q&A Board,

Boy, that's a tough one, and I can't say that I have much experience with this so hopefully someone else will come along who does. You didn't mention what kind of camera or flash you're using, so let me give some general comments.

Ideally, you should not use a built-in camera flash if you want to avoid reflections when taking photos of shiny objects. If you have an hot shoe on your camera, an external flash that you can bounce off the ceiling, rather than have it point directly at the picture, would help a lot, as would a diffuser on the flash to diffuse the light.

You can also use a tripod to steady the camera and take the photo without a flash. You'd have to adjust your cameras white balance setting it you do this inside. I've personally taken pictures outside to shoot them in bright but diffused light and there has been no glare.

Tell us a little more about your equipment so we can perhaps be of more help.

[Deb]

Hi, I'm not a flash pro either but have you tried using a piece of lens paper or cheese cloth over your flash? This can diffuse the light.