New and Struggling
May 12, 2018 03:50:09 #
I will start with this picture to give an idea of what I do. I have about 300 of these presses to photograph. Most look like this, some are vastly different.
It is posed on a wood stand with a turntable allowing me to rotate it for different sides.
Lighting comes from my homemede light box. There's no filter over the lights.
The purpose is for publication on the web and a magazine I write.
How would you pose this, better lighting?
What can I do to get it looking better?
Ken
It is posed on a wood stand with a turntable allowing me to rotate it for different sides.
Lighting comes from my homemede light box. There's no filter over the lights.
The purpose is for publication on the web and a magazine I write.
How would you pose this, better lighting?
What can I do to get it looking better?
Ken
May 12, 2018 12:24:22 #
I would recess that bolt into the wood, and throw a grey cloth (or if you wish to be bold, red or blue) over the table.
May 12, 2018 15:31:57 #
JD750, thank you. I have looked at it so much I don't see it.
I should add that the presses weigh from 20 to 50 pounds and are very front heavy, they have to be bolted down. A dozen different brands, dozens of models each with its own bolt pattern.
I should add that the presses weigh from 20 to 50 pounds and are very front heavy, they have to be bolted down. A dozen different brands, dozens of models each with its own bolt pattern.
May 13, 2018 10:53:27 #
Plieku69 wrote:
JD750, thank you. I have looked at it so much I don't see it.
I should add that the presses weigh from 20 to 50 pounds and are very front heavy, they have to be bolted down. A dozen different brands, dozens of models each with its own bolt pattern.
I should add that the presses weigh from 20 to 50 pounds and are very front heavy, they have to be bolted down. A dozen different brands, dozens of models each with its own bolt pattern.
Well that complicates things a little but the main point is that you want the image to draw attention to the product not the table.
You can have an interface piece of wood that you use for each vice. Another thought is that something resembling what the buyers would use to mount it would be very good. A solid industrial table for example, again the interface, 2x6 could be used. But it would be better to paint them a neutral color. It seems like the bolt pattern might matter to a prospective buyer, so shooting several pics of each product, side top front, might be useful to your customer. Just a thought if you shoot a green screen type background then the customer can easily add their own background and advertising text. So might want to add that one in the shots for each item as well.
One last thought, do a search for the products and see how they are advertised, what do the pictures look like?
Here is an example of of both those ideas:
http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/828368/rcbs-reloader-special-5-explorer-plus-single-stage-press-kit?utm_medium=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Reloading+-+Metallic+Reloading+Presses&utm_content=828368&cm_mmc=pf_ci_google-_-Reloading+-+Metallic+Reloading+Presses-_-RCBS-_-828368&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxN_XBRCFARIsAIufy1YuxD6NsjASm1Pv0cj4j5U4Z5Vx0mgplOwlFHqB3bj1vPi91Owd9XsaAunrEALw_wcB
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hornady-reg-Lock-N-Load-Auto-Progressive-Press/739991.uts?productVariantId=1378358&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=20021915&rid=20&ds_rl=1252079&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxN_XBRCFARIsAIufy1YSJhqmbJGM9xLo7-t8GmWW6fRIqdFYrwynkSnuUUIvTr9HrzS4PXYaAmuOEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
May 13, 2018 15:32:55 #
I'd paint the wood a semi gloss black. Perhaps replace the top piece of wood with some diamond plate. Accentuate the scene with some colored gels. Also, darken the area and perhaps a highlight strobe on the wall enough to "silhouette" the tool as well as the lighting suggested. This will focus the lighting and attention to the subject and reduce the appearance of a snapshot in a garage.
--Bob
--Bob
Plieku69 wrote:
I will start with this picture to give an idea of ... (show quote)
May 14, 2018 02:13:01 #
rmalarz wrote:
I'd paint the wood a semi gloss black. Perhaps replace the top piece of wood with some diamond plate. Accentuate the scene with some colored gels. Also, darken the area and perhaps a highlight strobe on the wall enough to "silhouette" the tool as well as the lighting suggested. This will focus the lighting and attention to the subject and reduce the appearance of a snapshot in a garage.
--Bob
--Bob
May 14, 2018 15:46:45 #
JD750, I have looked at your posing ideas, then decided not to go that way to avoid a too cluttered background. I have tried the Hornady approach with the press silhouetted against a white background. That works decently but it becomes labor intensive in PP.
I like the wood block, but now that it has been pointed out that it seems to draw away from the press, something better will have to be acquired.
These are great responses, I really appreciate the help. Thank You
I like the wood block, but now that it has been pointed out that it seems to draw away from the press, something better will have to be acquired.
These are great responses, I really appreciate the help. Thank You
May 15, 2018 01:06:46 #
Plieku69 wrote:
JD750, I have looked at your posing ideas, then decided not to go that way to avoid a too cluttered background. I have tried the Hornady approach with the press silhouetted against a white background. That works decently but it becomes labor intensive in PP.
I like the wood block, but now that it has been pointed out that it seems to draw away from the press, something better will have to be acquired.
These are great responses, I really appreciate the help. Thank You
I like the wood block, but now that it has been pointed out that it seems to draw away from the press, something better will have to be acquired.
These are great responses, I really appreciate the help. Thank You
Shoot with a constant color background, like green or blue paper under and behind the press. Then it will be a snap to change it to white, or whatever, in PP.
May 16, 2018 14:27:12 #
You are photographing an industrial tool. I does not need to be "glamorized" with colors. The emphasis should be on it's strength, structure, shape detail and utility.
You have many of them to shoot so you need to set up a realistic environment that is uniform and facilitates easy placement of each unit, one after another. The potential"customer" has to relate toe each piece as to how and where the are going to use it.
First establish a wooden or metal work surface where each press would be ordinarily mounted. Make it look substantial and professional- that wooden stand looks too makeshift. You can suspend it on saw horses to accommodate the weight. You don't need to see much of it. Use a clean neutral color or shade that provides contrast. All you need is a nice plank of stained wood or something like a section of metal shelving. In your shot, the mounting holes are empty. You might consider using just some cut off tops of lag bolts or machine bolts to place atop each hole.
Clean and tidy up each unit before you shoot it- you don't want it to look look used or surplus equipment. If any piece looks a bit rough, a bit of Armor All can be applied to spiff things up a bit.
Next-establish your lighting: You light box might work well if you suspend it over the items and slightly to the back of each piece. Use a simple sheet of diffusion material over the box- a frosted-plastic shower curtain can do the trick. You the tilt the light a bit forward toward the camera so that a white or "silver" reflector can redirect some of the light to act as a fill source. This kind of lighting will define the shape of each unit, bring out the engraved or molded lettering on the side of the units and also provide a better lighting on the unpainted metallic parts of the devices. If you don't have a boom stand, just suspend the box from a cross bar of some kind. Once you have it in place, you won't need to move it- you just move the presses into the lighting pattern. In your shot- the lighting is too flat, that is why I am suggesting this approach.
Watch your camera position: Examine each piece and make cretin that the camera is "seeing" important features. In your image, there is something at the top of the unit that is not well defined- it may not be important- find out.
Background. If all the units are black and metallic, bright colors will only distract. A gray background should work well. You may want to light it to create a bit of tonal mass and depth.
I don't know what your light source is- tungsten, flash, LED, other? Let me know.
If you do lots of this work you may consider investing in a medium sized soft box. Chitinous tungsten light is cheap and works fine- you have time and you don't need to stop action. Another good investment would be a few backgrounds with gradation of tone.
If you can get this down pat- the 50 units will go fast and well.
You have many of them to shoot so you need to set up a realistic environment that is uniform and facilitates easy placement of each unit, one after another. The potential"customer" has to relate toe each piece as to how and where the are going to use it.
First establish a wooden or metal work surface where each press would be ordinarily mounted. Make it look substantial and professional- that wooden stand looks too makeshift. You can suspend it on saw horses to accommodate the weight. You don't need to see much of it. Use a clean neutral color or shade that provides contrast. All you need is a nice plank of stained wood or something like a section of metal shelving. In your shot, the mounting holes are empty. You might consider using just some cut off tops of lag bolts or machine bolts to place atop each hole.
Clean and tidy up each unit before you shoot it- you don't want it to look look used or surplus equipment. If any piece looks a bit rough, a bit of Armor All can be applied to spiff things up a bit.
Next-establish your lighting: You light box might work well if you suspend it over the items and slightly to the back of each piece. Use a simple sheet of diffusion material over the box- a frosted-plastic shower curtain can do the trick. You the tilt the light a bit forward toward the camera so that a white or "silver" reflector can redirect some of the light to act as a fill source. This kind of lighting will define the shape of each unit, bring out the engraved or molded lettering on the side of the units and also provide a better lighting on the unpainted metallic parts of the devices. If you don't have a boom stand, just suspend the box from a cross bar of some kind. Once you have it in place, you won't need to move it- you just move the presses into the lighting pattern. In your shot- the lighting is too flat, that is why I am suggesting this approach.
Watch your camera position: Examine each piece and make cretin that the camera is "seeing" important features. In your image, there is something at the top of the unit that is not well defined- it may not be important- find out.
Background. If all the units are black and metallic, bright colors will only distract. A gray background should work well. You may want to light it to create a bit of tonal mass and depth.
I don't know what your light source is- tungsten, flash, LED, other? Let me know.
If you do lots of this work you may consider investing in a medium sized soft box. Chitinous tungsten light is cheap and works fine- you have time and you don't need to stop action. Another good investment would be a few backgrounds with gradation of tone.
If you can get this down pat- the 50 units will go fast and well.
May 17, 2018 19:52:36 #
Lighting diagram and typical results pertaining to above recommended setup.
May 18, 2018 14:32:50 #
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
You are photographing an industrial tool. I does not need to be "glamorized" with colors. The emphasis should be on it's strength, structure, shape detail and utility.
I suggested green or blue background as an option to make it easy for his customers Graphic Artist to replace it with their own background and text.
Jul 6, 2018 16:05:18 #
Hamltnblue
Loc: Springfield PA
Best place to start is knowing the product you are shoooting and the typical customer.
Since the pic is sharp we can tell it’s a herters single stage bullet press.
Google bullet press. You will find plenty of them including the Cabelas site.
The pictures you find will represent what is expected in the industry.
You can also ask your customer if there are any specific features they want focus on.
Finally remember these spefic product pics will have the quality reduced to fit in catalogs and web sites.
Edit. Lookin at the product it looks like a long ago discontinued item. Most are found on eBay.
Since the pic is sharp we can tell it’s a herters single stage bullet press.
Google bullet press. You will find plenty of them including the Cabelas site.
The pictures you find will represent what is expected in the industry.
You can also ask your customer if there are any specific features they want focus on.
Finally remember these spefic product pics will have the quality reduced to fit in catalogs and web sites.
Edit. Lookin at the product it looks like a long ago discontinued item. Most are found on eBay.
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