Lens flare?

[fundabug]

I'm currently building a website for my custom furniture business. My girlfriend does a lot of craft shows and asked me to make some "quirky" candle holders to put in her booth. Well, they've been a big hit....so I'm told and I had several orders to get done before Christmas. I tried to get a few images to put in my website, but I'm stumped as far as lighting. I took these shots without lighting the candles and adding the light and lens flare on Photoshop. The reason being....well...I could control the amount of light without having to adjust the entire image. What do you think....any suggestions would be helpful. She also wants to make a catalog of furniture, lamps, candle holder, and whatever else I can come up with, that she can show at her craft shows.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/fundabug/ZipStick1.jpghttp://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/fundabug/Intergallactic4.jpghttp://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/fundabug/Intergallactic.jpg

[MattMoore]

Try lighting from the front (not from above) to try and control those shadows, use a softbox if possible. I would use a different backdrop also, the one your using is kinda 'sloppy' and definitely distracting from the primary subject matter.

Personally, I'd actually light the candles or leave then unlit. While I think the lens flare tool is great, it really only looks good/right in certain situations and in extreme moderation (1 per photo, at most; and it have to be in a photo I'd expect to see lens flare (i.e. outdoors)).

[fundabug]

Try lighting from the front (not from above) to try and control those shadows, use a softbox if possible. I would use a different backdrop also, the one your using is kinda 'sloppy' and definitely distracting from the primary subject matter.

Personally, I'd actually light the candles or leave then unlit. While I think the lens flare tool is great, it really only looks good/right in certain situations and in extreme moderation (1 per photo, at most; and it have to be in a photo I'd expect to see lens flare (i.e. outdoors)).

Thanks for the input. I'm kind of limited in my lighting at the moment, but I'm hoping Santa brings me some new lights. I'm kinda stumped on candles because it seems that I can't get the lighting right either way....lit or unlit. As far as the backdrop, it's an old Navajo blanket. I thought it would fit with the "quirkiness" of the candle holders, but I agree....It looks sloppy. I need to set up some kind of studio for this stuff because I have a lot of bigger pieces to shoot for my website and catalog. Thanks!

[tonydee]

I think the pictures are way too busy... a simpler background would help bring out the wood grains and design. Also, shooting for a bit further away would reduce the distortions from the wide angle lens, so viewers take in the shapes in a more direct, intuitive way. Quirkier photographic techniques can add interest to very simple subject matter, but you've got quite busy designs already, so I'd keep the photography and backdrop simple. Cheers, Tony

[fundabug]

Thank you. I thought the close up wide angle look would enhance the angles of the pieces. However, it does misrepresent the dimensions. As far as the backdrop....well..it's all I had at the moment. I have a large purple backdrop that's kind of shiny on one side and matte on the other, but I didn't like the way it went with the wood. I have a large black backdrop that's the same way, but when I got it out I found that the cat had been sleeping on it and it was COVERED in cat hair.....that does not seem to want to let go of the fabric. That's all I've got...any suggestions on a solid color?

[MattMoore]

...any suggestions on a solid color?

I would experiment.

You could buy a bunch of cheap white sheets and experiment.

http://www.diyphotography.net/homestudio/chaep-diy-muslin-photography-background