Product Photography
Dec 2, 2012 13:13:04 #
I, like so many of my fellow woodworkers, am making turned items such as fancy ball point and fountain pens. Other items as well. I need to photo them for sale and would love any advice. I have a Cowboy studio tent, lights, acrylic stands and the like.
Tips and Tricks please
Tips and Tricks please
Dec 2, 2012 13:47:07 #
Maybe try a small macro lens...this was shot with a 40mm...play with the lighting and have fun with it.
Dec 2, 2012 14:13:23 #
Dec 2, 2012 14:24:08 #
I tend to shoot things in a BLACK light tent on a large house mirror24"x18"
Dec 2, 2012 15:40:57 #
I would take a look on ebay under your topic and see what others are doing. You probably want to be a little different than the mainstream, but NOT a whole lot different!
Bret showed an excellent example: You want to be sharp and clear, and show the detail of your item. If you make your photo dark and moody and "expressive" people are just going to be asking what your item really looks like, since your not selling photos, but turned or carved items.
It's a great thing to experiment with, don't lose patience, learn from your failures as well as your successes!
Bret showed an excellent example: You want to be sharp and clear, and show the detail of your item. If you make your photo dark and moody and "expressive" people are just going to be asking what your item really looks like, since your not selling photos, but turned or carved items.
It's a great thing to experiment with, don't lose patience, learn from your failures as well as your successes!
Dec 2, 2012 16:06:25 #
Bret, Don't look like you need any help, nice photos, think I'll go hab a Spiced Rum...
Dec 2, 2012 19:35:24 #
I have a piece of Absolute Black granite tile and glossy acrylic. Those candles look awesome
Dec 2, 2012 19:36:46 #
Dec 2, 2012 19:37:32 #
Dec 2, 2012 20:30:54 #
Bret wrote:
Maybe try a small macro lens...this was shot with a 40mm...play with the lighting and have fun with it.
Nice shot Bret!
Dec 2, 2012 21:12:11 #
Fil Hunter's 'Light Science & Magic' is the go to book for product photography. In fact it is the go to book for a huge variety of lighting tips and tricks, and lets you understand _why_ you need to do the things it suggests.
I tend to keep things as simple as possible, which often means cutting out the object from its background with the Pen tool, and placing on a new BG.
A lot depends on how reflective your subject is, and with wooden items I guess that depends on how well polished they are. So you need to place your lights to minimise specular reflections from shiney corners etc.
I'd go for contrast, so lateral lighting on a dark surface perhaps with a black BG. That would produce dramatic images with lots of character.
At the end of the day, if it is proving tricky, you can't go wrong with a light tent, but can sometimes produce flat boring images.
[EDIT] I do all my product work with the Canon 100mm macro lens nowadays. It is so sharp, and a nice focal length. Not so wide as to cause distortion, but long enough to give you room to light your subject.
I tend to keep things as simple as possible, which often means cutting out the object from its background with the Pen tool, and placing on a new BG.
A lot depends on how reflective your subject is, and with wooden items I guess that depends on how well polished they are. So you need to place your lights to minimise specular reflections from shiney corners etc.
I'd go for contrast, so lateral lighting on a dark surface perhaps with a black BG. That would produce dramatic images with lots of character.
At the end of the day, if it is proving tricky, you can't go wrong with a light tent, but can sometimes produce flat boring images.
[EDIT] I do all my product work with the Canon 100mm macro lens nowadays. It is so sharp, and a nice focal length. Not so wide as to cause distortion, but long enough to give you room to light your subject.
Dec 2, 2012 21:13:54 #
Dec 2, 2012 21:25:23 #
Dec 3, 2012 03:29:06 #
Greg Steffen wrote:
I have a piece of Absolute Black granite tile and glossy acrylic. Those candles look awesome
Thanks, you don't need a lot financially, beware spending.
Just get a large mirror and make a light!!!! tent but in fact a "dark tent" open on one side, place items on the mirror, turn off house lights and meter, candles took about 1/4 at f12
Dec 3, 2012 04:19:27 #
Greg Steffen wrote:
When answering a particular post, please use the Quote Reply tab, so we know to whom your comment is addressed (as I did here).Thanks for the advice.
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