eleanordew
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posted on December 1, 2000 08:08:46 AM new
Although my photos in my auctions are OK, I'm always looking for ways to improve them.
I'd like to get a new lighting system - it seems like there can never be "too much" light for a good photo! But I can't afford too much money. Any suggestions from experienced photographers on how to address this problem?
Thanks,
El
"The customer may not always be right, but she is always the customer."
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abacaxi
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posted on December 1, 2000 08:18:23 AM new
Get halogen work lights from a big discount home improvement store. 2 or 3 of the 200-watt clamp-ons will adequately light up anything smaller than a Chevy truck.
And learn how to use reflectors (white or silvery surfaces to bounce light into shadowed areas.
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AndieBelle
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posted on December 1, 2000 08:21:57 AM new
Hi El!
The absolutely cheapest way is to search for one of the old fashioned three-bulb pole lamps (the kind that were popular in the Danish Modern 50's and 60's). They turn up often in thrift shops and garage sales, and they're usually priced between $5-$20. I bought one about 10 years ago, and it was one of the best investments I ever made. Be sure and look for the kind with the swivel-mounted lamps, and as with all vintage electronics, Be Careful (forgive the Girl Scout warning  )
Best of luck with your photos!
AndieBelle
(edited because I never got my Girl Scout merit badge for typing.)
[ edited by AndieBelle on Dec 1, 2000 08:24 AM ]
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brighid868
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posted on December 1, 2000 08:23:00 AM new
abacaxi beat me to it. a few months ago, someone (maybe macandjan? can't remember) suggest the clamp on lites from a home depot type store, I went down there and bought a 2-pak for 12.00 and they work great! You can move them wherever you want them and they give a good bright light. My other suggestion: Don't pose your stuff in front of a window. I learned the hard way that it makes bad pictures. Also, if what you are shooting is black, take a lot of pictures from different angles. Black is hard to make look good.
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abacaxi
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posted on December 1, 2000 08:34:36 AM new
Brighid -
The trick for shooting black is to blast a lot of light at it, AND when you edit the photo, use the "gamma" correction and lighten the midtones until you can see detail.
Altering the brightness and contrast is not nearly as effective as using the "gamma". The picture will not look natural, as the black will be mostly greys, so you have to say "photo lightened to emphasize detail".
I also retouch dark objects to emphasize the edges of the components ... just a thin highlight with a partly transparent 3-pixel brush and a light grey ... and identify the picture as "retouched to show detail location".
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snowyegret
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posted on December 1, 2000 08:59:56 AM new
abacaxi: Thank you for that tip!!! I've been having fits trying to get details of black buttons on black velvet.
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uaru
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posted on December 1, 2000 09:43:53 AM new
I use 3 200 watt flood lights. These are tungsten lights and will give an amber tone to the photo which I correct with software. My usual color correction is:
red -10
green +5
blue +20
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Shoshanah
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posted on December 1, 2000 10:27:20 AM new
Here a two diagrams showing the basic set up of your lighting
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Gosh Shosh!
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number47
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posted on December 1, 2000 12:24:50 PM new
I bought some old sets of movie floods (4 floodlights on each set - remember home movies?) on eBay for about $10 each set. I can control the lighting very well by varying the number of bulbs that are lit (I just unscrew them slightly when they are COLD... them suckas get HOT!). I've tried halogens and incandescents and was never pleased with the way they altered colors.
I put the floods on two on tripods (also eBay specials for about $7-$8 each) and can even "bounce" the lights off the ceiling if I want. Works great!
Shoshana's diagrams are excellent! I've been using the setup in her first diagram. For a background I use an inexpensive off-white window shade... just roll it up when I am done.
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lswanson
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posted on December 1, 2000 12:38:30 PM new
Shosh, you've got some great suggestions. Nice work.
If you find your pictures are too contrasty, you can soften the light by placing a white cloth between the light source and the object. This is ideal for showing detail of small objects such as jewelry. White Tyvek automobile windowshades are ideal for this and are cheaper than the photo store equivalents.
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Shoshanah
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posted on December 1, 2000 03:42:08 PM new
Thanks, you guys, but I cannot take the credit...I copied it from my Nippon Porcelain Books, by Joan Van Patten.
Nippon has a LOT of Gold, which can be difficult to photograph.
Nice tips , everyone!...
********************
Gosh Shosh!
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/rifkah/
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sonsie
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posted on December 1, 2000 03:52:03 PM new
Just be careful about placing white gauze or fabric TOO near the lights. They are hot; you can start a nice little fire that way. I know...damned near burned up my dining room table trying to photograph some jewelry.
I do as much of my photography outdoors as possible, on the north side of the house without any direct sun but plenty of cool white light. A lightly overcast day is perfect. This works great for larger items like clothing, etc. And of course not everybody has access to a spot like that, so we all have to know how to work with indoor lighting. Thanks for all the great tips!
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Shoshanah
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posted on December 1, 2000 04:11:16 PM new
sonsie Hey...You could combine laundry and photography: Take pics of clothes on the Cloth Line...
********************
Gosh Shosh!
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/rifkah/
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