Polarized Light Photography (PL)
Polarized light photography (PL) is a useful method for the documentation of works of art and archaeology. PL photography eliminates surface reflections and professional photographers use it for high-quality documentation of varnished art.
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Applications for Art Examination
PL photography eliminates glare in photos, in particular, disturbing reflections from varnish. Light from the lamps can be reflected or diffused from a painting. Reflected light gives glare while diffused light provides colors and texture. When the light is reflected it keeps its polarization while diffused light loses it. So, when polarized light illuminates a painting, the glare is still a polarized beam while diffused light vibrates in any direction.
Polarized Light Photo Kit - PITTY
Experimental set-up
A classical experiment with polarized light is that done with a calcite crystal and a polarizing filter.
For manual focus, it can be used a linear polarizing filter. A circular polarizing filter is necessary for autofocus. Indeed, the camera focusing system doesn’t work properly with polarized light. The circular polarizing filter resolves this problem. It is essentially a linear polarizing filter that diffuses the polarized light just before feeding it to the camera.
A video on the linear polarizing filter and the circular polarizing filter:
Learn Technical Photography for Art Examination
Technical Photography is one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—tools for the scientific examination of art and archaeology. If you are a conservator, scientist, or art collector and you are not yet familiar with this method, it is truly a missed opportunity. Using simple, affordable equipment and a clear methodology, Technical Photography allows you to reveal underdrawings, retouchings, material differences, and conservation issues in a completely non-invasive way. Far from being complex or inaccessible, it is an easy entry point into scientific analysis. In many cases, Technical Photography represents the first essential step toward a deeper understanding of artworks and archaeological objects.
Scientific Art Examination – Resources:
Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) – USA
The British Museum – Scientific Research Department – UK
Scientific Research Department – The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
C2RMF (Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France) – France
Rijksmuseum – Science Department – Netherlands
