Yeah in some cases, it is a simple point and shoot, in past all we worried about was redeye. In addition, what is hard for some to understand with digital the picture does not always have to be centered or wait for the right lighting condition because you can always crop to center and adjust the colors.
Nevertheless, there comes a time where you want to take a picture of a reflective surface such as of a crystal clear lake with the snow cap mountains in the background without seeing the camera in the photo which it is never easy. The fact is sometimes you have to snap hundreds or even thousands of shots attempting to capture that one awesome photo. The best all we can do to better our odds is to use a controlled environment, opposed to a natural setting.
Therefore, if you want to take and continue to take consistent pictures you need a controlled environment. A light box, with proper lighting, a camera tripod and lens but don’t be fooled with a tripod because if you have to push the button you can still take fuzzy pictures. The best thing to use with a tripod is a remote switch or set the timer so you are not touching the camera when it snaps, sure stabilizer are nice but not always faultless.
Hey LOL glad to hear the background was gray I was thinking I was loosing it; also, what you see on your screen is not the same what I see because our monitors are calibrated differently. I attached a few photos that are designed for calibrating; I have the hard copy of it, which is great to calibrate digital cameras.
I know I push the white balance but there is no need to keep doing a white a balance, you just need to save one of each to the camera. On an overcast day take your white background outside do a balance and save it to the camera, do this for a sunny day as well plus don’t forget one for when you are standing in a shaded area and pending the room lighting in your home a white balance saved to your camera is helpful. Once you save these to camera, all you have to do is select it for the condition you are shooting in then if need be a plus or minus 1 or 2 if you are looking for perfection.
Wow, I checkout your Nikon an oldie but a goodie eh I remember those now almost bought one but instead I went with canon 4 mega pixel with the flip out screen. Now like you I also have the Xsi and the Xti LOL I killed my 105mm lens the other day I was setting up to run a few test with it but dropped and killed it. Anyhow, the photos I took of the phone is highly reflective and the only thing I had to demonstrate the left and right shift even with a flash same principal applies without a flash.
Either way it sounds like you are on the ball using your Nikon to maximum benefit the only other thing I can suggest are tilt and angle position to remove the undesired reflection/s.
Sorry to hear you have not been well, but glad to hear you are recovering my prayers and blessing are with you.
Best of luck
PS it would not allow me to post the full resolution of the attached photos oh well maybe it is enough to test your screen with anyway right click and save the white should be true white and the shading between 18, 19 and 20 you should see a separation from the whites to the black etc..