Checking Out Lighting Scheme
May 24, 2015 15:43:39 #
Remember the Norman Rockwell glassware featuring Saturday Evening Post cover paintings?? I had these four glasses. There may be more to the set but, all I have is these four. The photo was set up with two SB600 flash units flashing into 36 inch silver lined umbrellas, one on each side and slightly in front of the subject. Shot with a Nikon D80 using a cheapo Quantaray 55-200 telephoto I had laying around. Camera tethered to a laptop using Nikons Camera Control Pro-2. Set up and pre-focused with the lights on. Then, shut off all lights (it gets pretty dark in my basement without lights). Triggered the camera to just shoot the picture from the computer in nearly total darkness using Nikons CLS to trigger the flash units. Only light to affect the picture came from the two SB600s. This picture is straight from the camera with one exception. I cropped to 4x5 landscape ratio. I think my lighting worked well. Suggestions to make it better? What do you think? Have a GREAT DAY.
May 24, 2015 15:50:57 #
I'd say it turned out pretty good. Maybe lacking highlights if you want me to nitpick. ;)
You have a good Memorial Day weekend as well! Remember those who served. :thumbup:
You have a good Memorial Day weekend as well! Remember those who served. :thumbup:
May 24, 2015 15:59:09 #
I agree, great start!
I would try to separate the glasses from the background as much as possible.
By moving the subject and/or flagging the lights.
By doing so though, you may discover the lack of interest through the glasses, might need to reflect some light back towards the camera through the glasses.
A simple reflector made out of cardboard and foil works great for that! I have a couple around here somewhere, if I can find them I'll send a photo.
Have fun!
Great project for the long weekend :-)
GT
I would try to separate the glasses from the background as much as possible.
By moving the subject and/or flagging the lights.
By doing so though, you may discover the lack of interest through the glasses, might need to reflect some light back towards the camera through the glasses.
A simple reflector made out of cardboard and foil works great for that! I have a couple around here somewhere, if I can find them I'll send a photo.
Have fun!
Great project for the long weekend :-)
GT
May 24, 2015 16:09:39 #
Move subject glasses away from backdrop. Use the lowest f/ stop you have to blur out backdrop.
May 25, 2015 00:16:20 #
NikonJohn wrote:
I'd say it turned out pretty good. Maybe lacking highlights if you want me to nitpick. ;)
You have a good Memorial Day weekend as well! Remember those who served. :thumbup:
You have a good Memorial Day weekend as well! Remember those who served. :thumbup:
Thanks for looking and your comment. I can't help but remember those who served. I am a 20 year USAF veteran myself and I appreciate all those who served before me and after me. Have a GREAT DAY!
May 25, 2015 00:18:33 #
Big Tony wrote:
Move subject glasses away from backdrop. Use the lowest f/ stop you have to blur out backdrop.
Thanks for stopping by and your comment. I have done just as you suggested in my retake. Have a GREAT DAY!
May 25, 2015 00:22:53 #
GTinSoCal wrote:
I agree, great start! br br I would try to separa... (show quote)
Thanks for stopping by and your comments. I sort of forgot about blurring the background when I was so intently trying to get the lighting right. I did get the glasses farther away from the background in the retake. Did not take the time to make a reflector. I have no commercial reflectors. Will leave that up to the next reiteration. Have a GREAT DAY!
May 25, 2015 00:28:42 #
Here is the retake. Is it better? Again, it is straight out of the camera. Increased the distance between the backdrop and the glasses, washed the glasses (they were a little dirty when I took them off the shelf), and changed the table cloth from black to white. Changed a couple of camera settings. Otherwise, same set up as the first picture. Have a GREAT DAY!
May 25, 2015 06:40:25 #
not bad you need some contrast in there and crop out the foreground You don't need all that black. maybe a bit of vibrance will also add to the dimension
May 25, 2015 15:31:44 #
romanticf16
Loc: Commerce Twp, MI
Great improvement from #1 to #2.Crop the foreground where it bends to focus attention on the glassware.
May 25, 2015 23:45:53 #
LennyP4868 wrote:
not bad you need some contrast in there and crop out the foreground You don't need all that black. maybe a bit of vibrance will also add to the dimension
Thanks for the suggestion. I got rid of the black foreground by going to a white table cloth. The vibrance might work. I tried some contrast and it helps the main pictures and writing on the glasses but the tops of the glasses become slightly more transparent difficult to see.
May 25, 2015 23:51:43 #
romanticf16 wrote:
Great improvement from #1 to #2.Crop the foreground where it bends to focus attention on the glassware.
Thanks for stopping by and your comments. However, cropping the foreground out of the picture sort of ruins the rule of thirds vertically. That is why it is still there. Keeps the glasses vertically centered.
May 26, 2015 08:15:07 #
I like the second one much better. The white cloth makes the "title" under the picture much easier to read.
So what is it you intend to do with the finished photo? Are you selling the glasses, or is this a sort of still life, or just so you can have a picture for yourself? Just curious if you only have to please yourself or someone esle. ;)
So what is it you intend to do with the finished photo? Are you selling the glasses, or is this a sort of still life, or just so you can have a picture for yourself? Just curious if you only have to please yourself or someone esle. ;)
May 26, 2015 08:53:29 #
#2 a nice clean shot. And if there was some improvement suggestion (which is opinion only) I would use a blue background as a compliment color to the predominant orange color on the glasses. But ANY picture can be nitpicked to death because everyone usually, like noses, have an opinion....
May 26, 2015 09:44:18 #
Try going to you lasso tool and lasso just the part you want to get more contrast and vibrance than use your sliders to add or subtract.
pixbyjnjphotos wrote:
Thanks for the suggestion. I got rid of the black foreground by going to a white table cloth. The vibrance might work. I tried some contrast and it helps the main pictures and writing on the glasses but the tops of the glasses become slightly more transparent difficult to see.
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