Reflected Visible Light Photography

Normal light photography makes use of daylight-matched (approximately 5500 K) studio floodlights to record images of your objects before, during and after treatment. Despite the fact that normal light photography might not provide as many clues about the condition of an artwork as other techniques, it is an indispensable photographic method for documenting the condition of your object.

You should thus be aware that everything starts with normal light photography and that the rest of the multispectral techniques follow accordingly.

Normal light photography procedure

1. Position your object on the easel.
2. Set up your tripod and the Canon EOS 6D camera.
3. Adjust the height of the easel and properly frame your shot (see the "Setting up" chapter).
4. Remember to correct the white balance of the camera accordingly. To adjust the white balance, press the “Q” button on the back of the camera and use the wheel to navigate to the white balance settings. To confirm your settings, press the “Set” button twice.
5. Make sure the camera’s programme is set to “Av”, the aperture value to 8.0 (f/8.0) and your ISO value to 200.
6. Position your light source at a 25-30° angle. This will most probably ensure that you don’t get unwanted reflections on your objects compared to a 45˚ angle.
7. Try to find the best lighting angle before you start photographing your object. Try to avoid glare and unwanted reflections, especially from varnished surfaces.
8. Switch off all lights in the room.
9. Proceed with photographing your object.
10. When finished, switch off your light source.