i need your help guiys..do u think this wil work?

[macro junkie]

im thinking of buying this for my mantis shooting..as u can see below its far from perfect..do u think if i buy this what i linked u guys to i can get perfect shots with white backgrownd>? let me know guys if so im buying one!

http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/prod.asp?i=16892&1=Lastolite+LiteTable


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2111/2056340306_2cff2fdcfb_o.jpg

[LordV]

Wouldn't have thought you needed anything quite that big or elaborate.
Check here under lighting
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/?/photo/intro.html
think I remember seeing some smaller table top setups.
One thing you would need to check is how hot the lights get- you don't want to fry your mantids.

brian V.

[macro junkie]

i want perfect whit pics tho..and i think thats what im going to need..i dont want to have to go in photoshop sorting out the background..im sure with thats e4t up it will be spot on?..this is trouble..im in the deep..i know nothing..this is why that set up is great cause i dont have to look and hope it works..it looks like that's been tested and works?

[troypiggo]

There's heaps of DIY lightbox threads in the lighting forum. Will that do you? Many are as simple as a cardboard box with white paper/cardboard.

[macro junkie]

There's heaps of DIY lightbox threads in the lighting forum. Will that do you? Many are as simple as a cardboard box with white paper/cardboard.
thats no good ..if u look im on that thread i have a few post on there.i have one of them..its to hot buddie..the tungstune lights get to 100f..it would burn them to a crisp..and u have to do alot of editing in photo shop to get it perfect..to much trouble..i dont mind spending a few 100£ as long as its a good set up with good a white backgrownd

[S7000]

I think the main thing with all light boxes is getting the white balance on your camera right. You will always need to edit a small amount in photoshop to get rid of certain things, but once the white balance is set, you will always get the whitest of white backgrounds. I think 247pounds is very expensive for that, if you go to a light shop you will be able to get white lights which aren't little halogen bulbs which wont heat up so much and kill the mantis'.

[racketman]

sounds like you have made up your mind to buy this set up anyway although I note they are out of stock. Seems a good solution when you don't want to risk heating the mantids. Certainly an open set up would make the adjusting of props easier than in an enclosed light box.

[macro junkie]

sounds like you have made up your mind to buy this set up anyway although I note they are out of stock. Seems a good solution when you don't want to risk heating the mantids. Certainly an open set up would make the adjusting of props easier than in an enclosed light box.
no i not made up my mind yet.i just want pics like that guy u linked me to.i emailed him but no email back yet,.

[macro junkie]

igor Siwanowicz just emailed me back..i think je just saved em alot of money



my setup is very simple, I'm using a A2 (A1?) piece of
white paper as a backdrop. The sheet bends slightly at
right angle - so the top is vertical, bottom -
horizontal. I use 2 flashes, 550EX set as master and
430EX as a cordless slave, both are equipped with
lumiquest's diffusers. this photo may give you some


for the white backdrop shots I set the 430EX above the
object - it gives this soft shadow just below the
"models". 550EX with a much larger diffuser
(umiquest's bigbounce) provides "ambient" light.

[Jay Lowery]

thats an easy problem to fix. you need more lights from different angles. that photo looks to only have one in the front, and it creates a strong shadow. with back lighting, side lighting (both sides helps) and even a top along with the front will give you the most well lit picture. with little to no cast shadows.

p.s. perfect photos take practice and doing a lot wrong and learning from it. lighting is an easy thing to learn too you should have no problems.

[macro junkie]

thats an easy problem to fix. you need more lights from different angles. that photo looks to only have one in the front, and it creates a strong shadow. with back lighting, side lighting (both sides helps) and even a top along with the front will give you the most well lit picture. with little to no cast shadows.

p.s. perfect photos take practice and doing a lot wrong and learning from it. lighting is an easy thing to learn too you should have no problems.
your right..thayt shot was taken with 1 flash and it wasnt defused.il get 2 more flashes and some defusers..it should work out then.im a fast learner..

[Jay Lowery]

they dont NEED to be flashes. still lights work just as good for backlighting or supplemental light. its a lot less expensive thats for sure.

[Dalantech]

Why not just add a set of Sto-Fen diffusers to your MT-24EX? You've already got two flash heads in one unit, and the MT-24EX can control a 430EX or 580EX as a slave.

[scrumpy]

Maplins in Yeovil - Near Curry's - have the box for under a tenner!!

[macro junkie]

Maplins in Yeovil - Near Curry's - have the box for under a tenner!!
iv allready got a box.:D il get it sorted..just need to order some defusers..il be sorted then..I hope:rolleyes:

[scrumpy]

A few ideas here too - good luck with it

http://www.tabletopstudio.co.uk/Pages/About%20Us.htm

[macro junkie]

well done scrumpy jack..ooohhh arrrr me cider where me combine harvester :D me farmer from west country ooohhh arrrrr oooh aarrrrr

i want this,, http://www.tabletopstudio.co.uk/Pages/Sparkler%20Light.htm