Photographing Materials: Wood, Glass, Steel and Stone

From the working archive. Materials behave differently in front of a camera. Polished stone can lose its texture, dark metal can disappear, glass can become a mirror and pale wood can flatten under even light.

The solution is rarely more equipment. It is usually a change of angle, a smaller source, a darker reflection or simply waiting for the daylight to move. These close studies are valuable for manufacturers, interior designers, makers and property businesses because they show workmanship in a way a wide photograph cannot.