First budget DSLR - under $400 w/ lens - Product shots

[Lil Chillbil]

It's not good, I'm debating on sending it back. The lights are OK, but there's an annoying crease in all the photo's, see here.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38480419@N06/10146778196/

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38480419@N06/10146832863/

 

you just need moar, people don't expect you to be using a pro light and then a crap light 

[MayflowerElectronics]

Need more what? Lights?

 

Those two pictures where without the flash on the camera, just the two lights with the kit, and the above light in the room.

 

Also, what do you think about the pictures?

[Guest]

I honestly see no problem with those pictures. They look amazing to me

 

You photographers and your tiny issues

[Puppet]

It's not good, I'm debating on sending it back. The lights are OK, but there's an annoying crease in all the photo's, see here.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38480419@N06/10146778196/

 

This photo is quite nice, WB is a bit off, you can do better on the others though, not that they are bad for a first attempts.

 

Be careful when mixing light sources with different colour temperatures, it never really works, I don't think it even added to the exposure on the product shot though, even in built flash is way more powerful than the incandescent bulb you are using . Also careful when cropping, make sure the center point of the image doesn't change, ideally not at all but seeing as you are doing this for web you should get used to cropping properly.

 

Is this the lighting cube that you are using? Is that where the crease is coming from?

[MayflowerElectronics]

This photo is quite nice, WB is a bit off, you can do better on the others though, not that they are bad for a first attempts.

 

Be careful when mixing light sources with different colour temperatures, it never really works, I don't think it even added to the exposure on the product shot though, even in built flash is way more powerful than the incandescent bulb you are using . Also careful when cropping, make sure the center point of the image doesn't change, ideally not at all but seeing as you are doing this for web you should get used to cropping properly.

 

Is this the lighting cube that you are using? Is that where the crease is coming from?

 

I normally crop like you are supposed too, I just thought it looked nice with the gecko a little off center. Just my personal touch.

 

Right now I'm using incandescent bulbs with a white filter, it takes out most of the "yellow" in the incandescent bulbs. The only thing I can't fix is the light fixture above me, I'm shooting in a room with no windows at night currently.

 

The crease is coming from the light cube yes.

 

I'm working on a few product shots, I need a new cloth material, you'll see why in a second.

[Lil Chillbil]

Need more what? Lights?

 

Those two pictures where without the flash on the camera, just the two lights with the kit, and the above light in the room.

 

Also, what do you think about the pictures?

 

good, if I was your client I would love them because i'm a client and I am stuipid. But I can see a crease. 

 

 

set it to iso 100 and about a 1/320 shutter speed and use the flash along with every light you can squander then come back with the results 

[MayflowerElectronics]

I just put an amp on the table, to see what happens.

 

The products I'm shoot are not very big, so I can set them in the middle of the box, so I don't have to worry about the crease. My lizard is quite large so I had to zoom out.

 

 

 

[Puppet]

I normally crop like you are supposed too, I just thought it looked nice with the gecko a little off center. Just my personal touch.

 

Right now I'm using incandescent bulbs with a white filter, it takes out most of the "yellow" in the incandescent bulbs. The only thing I can't fix is the light fixture above me, I'm shooting in a room with no windows at night currently.

 

The crease is coming from the light cube yes.

 

I'm working on a few product shots, I need a new cloth material, you'll see why in a second.

 

The composition is great, just saying even if you want that ultra wide crop to still make sure the center of the image remains the same and prepare accordingly as all lenses distort in some shape or form.

 

You can get rid of the yellow simply by adjusting your white balance, you can make it pure white light.

 

With the lighting cubes what I do is get a sheet of photographic backdrop (you can probably use standard paper) cut it to the perfect width and let it roll down with a nice graduated curve and clamp it at the top with some bull clips, its essentially a small seamless drop.

[MayflowerElectronics]

The composition is great, just saying even if you want that ultra wide crop to still make sure the center of the image remains the same and prepare accordingly as all lenses distort in some shape or form.

 

You can get rid of the yellow simply by adjusting your white balance, you can make it pure white light.

 

With the lighting cubes what I do is get a sheet of photographic backdrop (you can probably use standard paper) cut it to the perfect width and let it roll down with a nice graduated curve and clamp it at the top with some bull clips, its essentially a small seamless drop.

 

Check the post I just made.

 

I use lightroom, where do you find the WB adjustment? Also, do you have an example of your setup for the light cube?

[Puppet]

Check the post I just made.

 

I use lightroom, where do you find the WB adjustment? Also, do you have an example of your setup for the light cube?

 

If you have shot in raw, when you go to develop in LR it should be the top slider, although not a bad idea to get it as close as possible in-camera.

 

Its in the boot of my car and its quite late here at the moment, but would be happy to set up a real life scenario for you tomorrow and put up some picture guides of how to set it up and list the equipment for you.

 

To give you an idea for the moment, this is the light cube I have:

 

http://dfqj586i2jk2a.cloudfront.net/UK/RM1009/1/320x99999

 

http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/product/calumet-portacube-60-large/RM1009/;pgid=S1FAyX48SNZSRpckRfM67hMj0000DMfu2ueO;sid=-vLP5rR0Rfjc5uWPsL7O5rQL0GF5Yp7nTHaX0AdY

 

In this picture you can see how they have placed the backdrop, I actually use mine upside down and drag in a soft box on a c stand for top lighting if I need it. I wouldn't bother with those cloths you get with them, they are usually very wrinkly and have a very visible texture to them.

[MayflowerElectronics]

If you have shot in raw, when you go to develop in LR it should be the top slider, although not a bad idea to get it as close as possible in-camera.

 

Its in the boot of my car and its quite late here at the moment, but would be happy to set up a real life scenario for you tomorrow and put up some picture guides of how to set it up and list the equipment for you.

 

To give you an idea for the moment, this is the light cube I have:

 

http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/product/calumet-portacube-60-large/RM1009/;pgid=S1FAyX48SNZSRpckRfM67hMj0000DMfu2ueO;sid=-vLP5rR0Rfjc5uWPsL7O5rQL0GF5Yp7nTHaX0AdY

 

In this picture you can see how they have placed the backdrop, I actually use mine upside down and drag in a soft box on a c stand for top lighting if I need it. I wouldn't bother with those cloths you get with them, they are usually very wrinkly and have a very visible texture to them.

 

That would be great, I would appreciate that very much.

 

I'm heading tomorrow to the store to get new fabric, like you said, the one I got has very bad fold lines and an un-pleasant texture.

 

I'm thinking silk, but what material should I pick up?

[Puppet]

That would be great, I would appreciate that very much.

 

I'm heading tomorrow to the store to get new fabric, like you said, the one I got has very bad fold lines and an un-pleasant texture.

 

I'm thinking silk, but what material should I pick up?

 

Forget any sort of fabric, go straight for paper, ideally something that is designed for photography, but I would imagine that standard printing paper would do the job.

 

Get something with a nice thick gsm as it can get a bit patchy if its semi transparent and will also help create a nicer curve.

 

No worries, looking forward to it, will make things a tad easier to explain. Also want to show you the difference those cheap speedlights will make But you should be able to get similar results with the incandescent lights.

[MayflowerElectronics]

Forget any sort of fabric, go straight for paper, ideally something that is designed for photography, but I would imagine that standard printing paper would do the job.

 

Get something with a nice thick gsm as it can get a bit patchy if its semi transparent and will also help create a nicer curve.

 

No worries, looking forward to it, will make things a tad easier to explain. Also want to show you the difference those cheap speedlights will make But you should be able to get similar results with the incandescent lights.

 

What would you consider thick GSM?

 

http://www.staples.com/Canon-90gsm-Universal-Bond-Paper-Matte-17-W-x-150L-1-Roll/product_292637

 

Would that be okay?

 

I'm assuming you want matte, and not glossy paper.

[Puppet]

What would you consider thick GSM?

 

http://www.staples.com/Canon-90gsm-Universal-Bond-Paper-Matte-17-W-x-150L-1-Roll/product_292637

 

Would that be okay?

 

I'm assuming you want matte, and not glossy paper.

 

Links aren't working for me as its outside US. I would go a little thicker, somewhere in the 180-200gsm range and yeah matte.

 

By photographic backdrop paper I don't mean photo paper. I would refer to it as seamless, if you google "seamless background paper" it should give you a rough idea of what you are aiming for if the real deal isn't readily available, but for white you should be okay with general paper.

[Puppet]

In fact check this out:

 

http://www.calumetphoto.com/product/calumet-arctic-white-seamless-background-paper-26-x-6-yards/CS2193/?tracking=|searchterm:seamless

 

Should work out slightly cheaper than just general paper and you can trim it down to fit your cube.

 

Edit: They have a store in NY, I assume its not near to you but they should deliver.

[MayflowerElectronics]

I was going to get this, it looks like the same thing.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Savage-Seamless-Background-Paper-26-by-12-yards-Super-White-1-/161114006676?pt=US_Photography_Background_Material&hash=item258324a494

 

Shipping is $14, plus tax. It's exactly the same price.

[Puppet]

I was going to get this, it looks like the same thing.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Savage-Seamless-Background-Paper-26-by-12-yards-Super-White-1-/161114006676?pt=US_Photography_Background_Material&hash=item258324a494

 

Shipping is $14, plus tax. It's exactly the same price.

 

Yeah looks good, haven't used that particular supplier, but I doubt you could go very far wrong.

[MayflowerElectronics]

Yeah looks good, haven't used that particular supplier, but I doubt you could go very far wrong.

 

I found it at a big NY suppler (B&H photo) so it should be here quickly, and I wasn't charged an arm and a leg for shipping.

 

It'll be here Wednesday.

[Puppet]

I found it at a big NY suppler (B&H photo) so it should be here quickly, and I wasn't charged an arm and a leg for shipping.

 

It'll be here Wednesday.

 

Even better, cool well I'll get some set up examples posted up here for you tomorrow so you can get stuck in on Wednesday. Off to bed now but I'll mention you when they are up.

[Lil Chillbil]

Even better, cool well I'll get some set up examples posted up here for you tomorrow so you can get stuck in on Wednesday. Off to bed now but I'll mention you when they are up.

 

is your avatar a eos m shutter? 

[Silvercall]

When it comes to white balance, try setting the WB manually in the camera menu.  As long as you know what type of light source you have (incandesent, tungsten, daylight, cloudy, florescent) you should be able to pick the proper WB.  OR what I do when I have the time is, once you have your setup ready (lights, backdrop, location of the item selected, camera distance and placement, camera aperature and shutter speed), take a shot of the product/model with a "grey card" in the photo.  This is a piece of cardboard that is rated to be "18%" grey. It only cost a few bucks and I would recommend one.  If you keep your lighting the same, in Lightroom, select the WB "eye dropper" and click on the grey.  You can then apply that edit to the "batch" of photos that have the same lighting setup. 

White Balance:

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/lightroom/using/WS947672F1-AAB2-43de-9011-BDDECA05EC19.html

 

Batch Process:

http://www.thephoblographer.com/2012/11/04/useful-photography-tip-44-batch-processing-in-adobe-lightroom-4/

 

If you still havent checked out the Strobist site, I highly recommend it. He even has an article on how to make a $10 light box: http://strobist.blogspot.ca/search?q=product+photography

 

Good Luck!!

 

 

 

 

[MrSuperb]

is your avatar a eos m shutter? 

 

eos m is miroless

[MayflowerElectronics]

When it comes to white balance, try setting the WB manually in the camera menu.  As long as you know what type of light source you have (incandesent, tungsten, daylight, cloudy, florescent) you should be able to pick the proper WB.  OR what I do when I have the time is, once you have your setup ready (lights, backdrop, location of the item selected, camera distance and placement, camera aperature and shutter speed), take a shot of the product/model with a "grey card" in the photo.  This is a piece of cardboard that is rated to be "18%" grey. It only cost a few bucks and I would recommend one.  If you keep your lighting the same, in Lightroom, select the WB "eye dropper" and click on the grey.  You can then apply that edit to the "batch" of photos that have the same lighting setup. 

White Balance:

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/lightroom/using/WS947672F1-AAB2-43de-9011-BDDECA05EC19.html

 

Batch Process:

http://www.thephoblographer.com/2012/11/04/useful-photography-tip-44-batch-processing-in-adobe-lightroom-4/

 

If you still havent checked out the Strobist site, I highly recommend it. He even has an article on how to make a $10 light box: http://strobist.blogspot.ca/search?q=product+photography

 

Good Luck!!

 

Alright, I plan on taking all of my photo's in the exact same area more or less. I'm also getting my new lens in today, so lets see if that will help anything as well.

 

I've seen that strobist article before, but it was much easier to just buy one pre-made. I don't really have the time with arts and crafts.

 

But as for the lighting part of his article - I'm having a hard time getting that down. I have an Uncle who does this, he's very good at it and has expensive gear, but he lives a few hours away so I'm going to have to teach this all myself, and really don't have anyone to say yay or nay if I'm doing something wrong.

[Silvercall]

No worries. I'm sure that if you post here, many of the members will be able to guide you and provide (sometimes harsh ) criticism and advice. The more you shoot and experiment the better you will get.

[Silvercall]

One thing you can do is may be post photos of other people's shots that you like and we can help you "deconstruct" how it was set up and how and where the lighting was placed. You can tell by the way the shadows lie in the photo and where the highlights are.