Product Photography
Dec 3, 2012 06:43:19 #
Greg Steffen wrote:
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
I'm one of those fellow woodworkers, but very new to photography. I wanted to take better shots of some of my stuff but didn't want to spend a lot. These were some quick and simple Christmas gifts, but most of my work are bowls.
My lightbox is an opaque plastic tub with white (usually, although sometimes black) poster board backdrop. My lights are the curly kinds from the big box store that are rated "daylight" and 5500k. I used two lights coming in from the side and above which was dispersed through the opaque plastic. I think on these, I had one that was out front and off to the side.
I know it's cheap, but it's all I got right now. And believe me, these shots are a huge improvement from where it used to be.
Dec 3, 2012 07:50:44 #
Bret wrote:
Maybe try a small macro lens...this was shot with a 40mm...play with the lighting and have fun with it.
Bret, you gave a great answer, provided a terrific example and stole the thread. Next time don't be so helpful ;)
BTW, great photo. Was this for your own enjoyment or were you paid for this?
Dec 3, 2012 08:09:45 #
Google similar pens and check out what others are doing. To demonstrate the size and quality of your product use a "Clean manacured" hand to hold the pen. Keep the images sharp, white background. Keep the pen as the focus point. Also a couple of the pen only.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Dec 3, 2012 08:24:28 #
Dec 3, 2012 08:57:29 #
Dec 3, 2012 09:18:10 #
You will need a scrim of some sort...a soft box would be first choice but don't know your budget...try an old white sheet or a piece of velum paper. Wood pens would be nice, off the top of my old bald head, on either a black mirror finish or an old wooden desk look. I've done a great deal of table top catalog work so these are just random thoughts. I always like to imagine something then think about the magic of making it happen. 90 percent of my catalog, table work was done on film...digital makes magic...well...magic.
Learn about something called "tacky wax" or "morticians wax"
You might try taking a large straight pin and bending it with your trusty Leatherman tool so it can be taped down with the pin facing up at a given angle. Then you can slide the pen over the pin and it will appear to be in the writing position without a visible means of support. The pen cap could be placed to conceal the base of the pin and the tape...and/or I've either written something or made a long squiggly line with the pen then at the end of the inked line poke the pin through the paper and place the pen so it appears as if it just made the line....magic is what makes product photos...magic...
Learn about something called "tacky wax" or "morticians wax"
You might try taking a large straight pin and bending it with your trusty Leatherman tool so it can be taped down with the pin facing up at a given angle. Then you can slide the pen over the pin and it will appear to be in the writing position without a visible means of support. The pen cap could be placed to conceal the base of the pin and the tape...and/or I've either written something or made a long squiggly line with the pen then at the end of the inked line poke the pin through the paper and place the pen so it appears as if it just made the line....magic is what makes product photos...magic...
Dec 3, 2012 09:32:12 #
Keeping it simple, because product photography can get extremely comples (that's why those photographers make the big bucks), I like to start with the basic principles of close-up photography:
1) Simple or unclogged brackground, white, black, monocolor that compliments subject, both on and back of horizontal platform (usually a small table)
2) camera mode: start with aperteur priority, with very small aperteur, say, set at f/20-f25 to obtain large depth of field - unless you want to focus on something specific and want all the rest to be out of focus; then open up lens to desired f/stop
3) metering and ISO: matrix and lowest possible on camera
4) tripod if lense is not equiped with vibration reduction (image stabilization, et al)
5) once ball-park exposure has been obtained, then switch camera mode to manual, leaving aperteur on original setting, and increase or decrease shutter speed off original that aperteur priority chose
4)
4)
1) Simple or unclogged brackground, white, black, monocolor that compliments subject, both on and back of horizontal platform (usually a small table)
2) camera mode: start with aperteur priority, with very small aperteur, say, set at f/20-f25 to obtain large depth of field - unless you want to focus on something specific and want all the rest to be out of focus; then open up lens to desired f/stop
3) metering and ISO: matrix and lowest possible on camera
4) tripod if lense is not equiped with vibration reduction (image stabilization, et al)
5) once ball-park exposure has been obtained, then switch camera mode to manual, leaving aperteur on original setting, and increase or decrease shutter speed off original that aperteur priority chose
4)
4)
1964 1/2 Mustang
Dec 3, 2012 09:51:33 #
This is one of a series of photos I posted on eBay last night of a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens I'm selling. I achieved the near-shadowless image by placing the lens on a curved sheet of white poster paper and photographing it with an on-camera flash plus a second flash setting close to the lens that bounced light off the ceiling. (See more photos by looking up eBay Item 150958584671)
Dec 3, 2012 10:04:53 #
Greg Steffen wrote:
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
no flash or special lighting.pics were taken in greenhouse in the a.m.. used 18mm-135mm IS canon kit lens.
hope this helps. rick
iso: 400, wb: auto, f/8 @ 1/4
Dec 3, 2012 10:19:34 #
Bret wrote:
Maybe try a small macro lens...this was shot with a 40mm...play with the lighting and have fun with it.
btw, very nice shot bret. thanks for posting. rick
Dec 3, 2012 11:47:09 #
Dec 3, 2012 11:48:57 #
Dec 3, 2012 11:54:27 #
I like those. Here is a couple of mine. I think I am on the right track
I like the rock
Ok, I know it is not of pens
Dec 3, 2012 11:56:10 #
Thanks man, I wondered how to do that.
Nikonian72 wrote:
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.
Dec 3, 2012 12:03:41 #
His is a quick pic of what I have at this point. I need to difuse the tall light, it is a 5k curly fry.
JR1 wrote:
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
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
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