How's The Lighting

[James Combs]

Updated my lighting arrangement. Still getting some minor shadows but I think it is an improvement over this. http://www.sawmillcreek.org/album.php?albumid=308. This same pen is in the album. I should have turned the clip to the top though.:o

Let me hear what you think.

There some more photos using the same setup toward the end of this thread. http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=134306. The first ones are with my old setup.

[John Keeton]

I am not one to critique a photo setup!! My trashcan and pillowcase have not yet been upgraded.

To me the lighting looks good, but I do not care for a colored background. Too many chances for a clash with the subject. I prefer the gray gradient backdrops, or the mottled gray look. But, then, I still think the trashcan/pillowcase work OK!

[James Combs]

Just thought I would give it a try. Didn't cost me anything but a sheet of paper and a little ink from my printer.:D Made the gradient myself. The edges are barely outside the cameras viewfinder.:) Not about to pay $30-40 for the pro version. Yes I made a gray gradient too... and a yellow... and a orange...:) because I could. 8.5"x11" is fine size for pins and small cups. Still a work in progress though.



I am not one to critique a photo setup!! My trashcan and pillowcase have not yet been upgraded.

To me the lighting looks good, but I do not care for a colored background. Too many chances for a clash with the subject. I prefer the gray gradient backdrops, or the mottled gray look. But, then, I still think the trashcan/pillowcase work OK!

[Bernie Weishapl]

James the light looks good to me. I also like a light gray background.

[David E Keller]

Looks good to me, but I agree with the others about the background color. That being said, my wife knows much more than I do about photography.

[James Combs]

I have probably been doing too much research on photography and lighting:). I ran across suff about complimentary colors such as this http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene638f.html and thought I would try to compliment my turnings.

It's also about learning something new so I will probably still try to "compliment" the color of new turnings with the background. In some cases gray will probably be the most complimentary. As you might guess retired folk don't have much else to do except what they want to do.:D:D

[Dave Haughs]

Build yourself a lightbox. You can buy them too but to build it all you need is a cardboard box and some white paper. Then take a couple of hotlights (shoplights - anything really just try and have equal power) and put them on either side.

Here are a couple links that describe it a bit better with pictures.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3792/2480/1600/ms-2-strobist.jpg

http://www.studiolighting.net/homemade-light-box-for-product-photography/

You can google search "homemade lightbox".

It will help even out the lighting (not that what you have is bad) to eliminate shadows. Working with white is the easiest since it bounces the light around. Reflections are a bit trickier to work with, the easiest thing to do is change the angle of the object or the angle of the shot. But you may not always want to do that.

What you have isn't bad. I'd probably bump the exposure a bit.

I'll stop now, I forgot this is a woodworking forum :) You got me going on my other love.

[James Combs]

Thanks a bunch Dave. I have seen the first link and learned some things and am now scarring the second site for more. I already have the light box, its the lighting, angles, and backgrounds that I am most interested in. This all helps a bunch:)


Build yourself a lightbox. You can buy them too but to build it all you need is a cardboard box and some white paper. Then take a couple of hotlights (shoplights - anything really just try and have equal power) and put them on either side.

Here are a couple links that describe it a bit better with pictures.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3792/2480/1600/ms-2-strobist.jpg

http://www.studiolighting.net/homemade-light-box-for-product-photography/

You can google search "homemade lightbox".

It will help even out the lighting (not that what you have is bad) to eliminate shadows. Working with white is the easiest since it bounces the light around. Reflections are a bit trickier to work with, the easiest thing to do is change the angle of the object or the angle of the shot. But you may not always want to do that.

What you have isn't bad. I'd probably bump the exposure a bit.

I'll stop now, I forgot this is a woodworking forum :) You got me going on my other love.

[Dave Haughs]

Thanks a bunch Dave. I have seen the first link and learned some things and am now scarring the second site for more. I already have the light box, its the lighting, angles, and backgrounds that I am most interested in. This all helps a bunch:)


It takes practice, practice and more practice :D

I'm still not good with reflective surfaces, but thankfully in the digital age it's cheap to take as many pictures as you want.