Product shot - C&C from trained eyes?

[djlaszlo]

I don't usually do product shots - in fact, I'm completely new to everything that has to do with off camera lighting. I just wanted to test something I came up with, and to my trained eye, it turned out pretty decent, but maybe I'm missing some details that makes it just another average product photo. I'm sure it can be done better, but it took me 2 seconds to set it up.

I placed the camera on my 67" octabox, no flash through the octabox. The only lightsource comes from a Elinchrom BX 500 Ri in a 20" softbox pointed straight up into the ceiling. Another lightsource might make it even better - where should I place it? This won't work with heavier stuff though :)

Straight out of camera, just adjusted the whitebalance since the ceiling bounced off a yellowish tone to the picture. The WB might still be off though, I'm at home at my cheap non calibrated monitor, so don't mind if the colors are a bit off :) The only thing that my untraind eyes catch is the slight glow around the camera.

http://www.laszlo.se/showcase/lumix.jpg

[vk2gwk]

I do not notice any "glow" . In product photo's it is important that every detail is clear and sharp. With off camera lighting you can get enough light to have a good DOF for the whole of the object. And that is my point: the top right hand corner is off. I cannot read what is printed there. Also a slightly higher angle to catch more of the top section, may be.

Not having seen the object I cannot judge the colors. But if it is black/grey than there is a bit of a reddish glow.

[djlaszlo]

I do not notice any "glow" . In product photo's it is important that every detail is clear and sharp. With off camera lighting you can get enough light to have a good DOF for the whole of the object. And that is my point: the top right hand corner is off. I cannot read what is printed there. Also a slightly higher angle to catch more of the top section, may be.

Not having seen the object I cannot judge the colors. But if it is black/grey than there is a bit of a reddish glow.

Ah - you see? That was what I was talking about, it never really occurred to me that a shallow aperture is important to get a sharpness over the whole product when shooting images like this. The few product shots I've done has been for editorial purposes to be published in the gadget magazine that I'm Art Directing (is that a correct term? :o) - I find these ordinary product shots on a white background very boring and not very suitable for our purpose - and so, of course I shoot with wide apertures and different surfaces and environments to bring some life to the products. I guess I was applying the same techniques when testing this white surface type of shot and totally disregarded the DoF. All I was looking for was shadows.

Thanks for taking the time to clear things up for me :)

[LeuceDeuce]

I know you attempted white balance, but it still needs a good tweak. Being a black camera it's a pretty easy fix with some curves.

White balance fix only:
_

[LeuceDeuce]

For a product shot I would also suggest giving it a good cleaning. You don't want to see the dust and fingerprints on it. Grab some white microfiber gloves to handle it.

[djlaszlo]

Wow, much better - thanks :)

[chughey]

the white balance fix helped alot.