Photography in Archaeology
As digital cameras can take amazing close ups why not enhance your shots with this homemade diffuser set-up which costs only a couple of quid and a ½ hour to make.
The only thing you need is a half decen digital -camera with a good macro ability.
Now buy yourself a large funnel, (preferably white and semi-transparent) then after you have measured the width of your lens cut of the spout so the narrow
end of the funnel is a little larger than your lens (see photo on right).
Now cut the new funnel length (from the wide end) to that of your camera’s
macro distance (it is critical you get this correct).
Now you have a stable camera keeper complete with built in macro spacer, a built in light diffuser and a stand to keep your camera square to the subject.
This now gives us the ability to take photographs using long exposures and so
small f-stops (especially useful when taking photographs of three-dimensional
artefacts).
Always try to use daylight, avoiding flash wherever possible. If you have a badly worn coin try using an ordinary hand torch (diffused), keeping it low down to apply a low raking light across the coin (this is best done in darker conditions).
Try using backgrounds that are marginally different (blues/greens) from the
subject, which will not confuse the camera’s auto exposure system. (If you are
not brave enough for fully manual)
You can post process your image through a software program, to add a little
more contrast/brightness where necessary.
WARNING :
ensure that your lens does not foul the
funnel when you power up, You will
seriously damage your camera…