Weird photographic effect...

[Bruce Fielding]

I tried to take a picture of my newly painted fluorescent panels, but something strange happens when I try - the colour is all wrong apart from at a 'ghost' shadow (I can't think of any other way to explain it) the borders of which are the right colour. It uses a special UV lacquer - would this be the cause? The panels look amazing in real life, but on pixels, they look weird. Any explanations?

Here's a pic to explain what I mean. The actual colour of the panel is the sort of glow between the sunny bit and the shadow bit:

Edited by Bruce Fielding on Sunday 3rd September 23:52

[viggen114]

pic not visible, clicking on icon brings up atom login

[Bruce Fielding]

Sorry - try now...

[_dobbo_]

I'd say the problem is that the panel is partly in bright light and partly in shade and so when the camera evaluates the picture to determine exposure and white balance it gets it wrong.

If you take the panel into an well lit area with even light, you might find it is better. If not, you should try messing about with any white balance options your camera has, choose the one most appropriate for the environment you are taking the photo in.

Hope this helps.

[Bruce Fielding]

Ah... no, the picture above is to demonstrate the problem only (obviously I normally shoot the panel when it's on the car...)

Problem is that in sunlight it goes that boring flat orange, and in shade it goes that boring burnt orange. It's only when there's a shadow between sun and shade that one ses the actual colour in that ghost colour. I have tried photos in both, which is why the above picture demonstrates the problem so well...

[_dobbo_]

ok then... A polarising filter might help - do you have one?

[joust]

Turn off auto white balance, set it manually and bracket exposure. You might find it's the WB getting confused.

J