Some lightbox shots

[Salma]

Hi guys, how's it going?

I experimented with my lightbox and speedlight today, I got some shots that I was quite happy with which thought i'd share.

There are a few things I think I need to work on such as the dust on the objects, and reflections, is there anything you guys think I need to work on.

I added some pp, upped some exposure but +14 in photoshop, added some curves and used a preset in lightroom.

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz198/SitaraPhotos/Lightbox/Covers.jpg

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz198/SitaraPhotos/Lightbox/MultiShadows2.jpg

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz198/SitaraPhotos/Lightbox/braceleterw.jpg

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz198/SitaraPhotos/Lightbox/purpleshadow.jpg

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz198/SitaraPhotos/Lightbox/nailies.jpg

[windpig]

Nice shots. It'd be cool to try the last shot with a TS-E 90. What light box are you using, how big?

[Salma]

I made the lightbox myself and I used a sheet of a2 paper as the backdrop!

[stsva]

Nicely done product shots. You could get into advertising work. :D

[skygod44]

Hey Salma :D

Well done you!!!!!!!
You made your own lightbox? Is that "allowed" in POTN? I thought it was the law to spend massive amounts of money on gear we don't really need ;)

But, do tell how you made the lightbox.....it'll be like "Blue Peter" all over again!!!

Back to your shoot though, and these are lovely shots, well exposed, great colour saturation....but boring subjects, hun! How about you "up the ante" and get a human to pose for you so you can play with the lighting more?

Later!
:D

[hawkskins]

These are great!

[Salma]

Nicely done product shots. You could get into advertising work. :D
Thanks alot, that really means alot to me. Lol haha, I wish I could get into advertisement that would be awesome, I really enjoyed doing this.
Hey Salma :D

Well done you!!!!!!!
You made your own lightbox? Is that "allowed" in POTN? I thought it was the law to spend massive amounts of money on gear we don't really need ;)

But, do tell how you made the lightbox.....it'll be like "Blue Peter" all over again!!!

Back to your shoot though, and these are lovely shots, well exposed, great colour saturation....but boring subjects, hun! How about you "up the ante" and get a human to pose for you so you can play with the lighting more?

Later!
:D
Hey you, how's it going? Good to see ya :p

Thanks alot man, you know there is a thread on here where people post their DIY light box pics, here's the thread http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=281524. Lol OMG Blue Peter, how I miss that <3

Thankyou, to be honest, I wasn't prepared I just grabbed anything I had lying around, next time i'll give it my all and take some shots of cool things :)

I'm definitely going to start working with the strobe I recieved, also I got the flash trigger which is awesome so i'll have 2 strobes and a backdrop, can 't wait to get going with that.

Thanks for your post mate.
These are great!
Thankyou very much, I appreciate that.

[skygod44]

...Hey you, how's it going? Good to see ya :p
I'm good ta!
...there is a thread on here where people post their DIY light box pics, here's the thread http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=281524.
Ta for the linky! :D And I miss Blue Peter, too :cry:
[/quote]...I'm definitely going to start working with the strobe I received, also I got the flash trigger which is awesome so i'll have 2 strobes and a backdrop, can 't wait to get going with that.[/quote]
What-a-lotta gear!!!
You realise that setup will get your friends begging to be photographed by you, as the final image can be sooooo pro! Good luck with it!
As to the trigger....I'm saving for a 7D, which can fire my Speedlite from it's IR-sensor! Then I just need some spots and permission from my landlord to adjust my school-room agreement to use it as a studio as well as for teaching - 'cos at 45²m it's got serious potential!!!

Catch you soon....
:D

[windpig]

Nice shots. It'd be cool to try the last shot with a TS-E 90. What light box are you using, how big?
does you box have overhead illumination?

[Salma]

does you box have overhead illumination?
I have no idea what the means :/

But on the top of my box I have a white fabric I cut from my pillow protector :p

[BlindGuyTakingPictures]

Probably just one more light for picture 1 & 3 to give rid of just about all the shadows.

Nice clear, crisp and bright colors for all and basically what I have been trying to do. :cool:

How about a picture of your setup including light positioning.

[Salma]

BGTP I will do that for you as soon as I can.

Thanks alot for your reply :)

[Salma]

By the way, light was simple I just used my speedlight bounced from the top of the light box!

[windpig]

I have no idea what the means :/

But on the top of my box I have a white fabric I cut from my pillow protector :p
So is the top like the sides, in that the sides are cut out for the light to go through? What ever you've made, your pictures are great.

[Salma]

So is the top like the sides, in that the sides are cut out for the light to go through? What ever you've made, your pictures are great.
Yes exactly, I will post pics soon.

Thankyou :D

[FELINEDEBOURGES]

Hey Salma :D

Well done you!!!!!!!
You made your own lightbox? Is that "allowed" in POTN? I thought it was the law to spend massive amounts of money on gear we don't really need ;)

But, do tell how you made the lightbox.....it'll be like "Blue Peter" all over again!!!

Back to your shoot though, and these are lovely shots, well exposed, great colour saturation....but boring subjects, hun! How about you "up the ante" and get a human to pose for you so you can play with the lighting more?

Later!
:D

I agree except for the "boring subjects" part. To us ladies, makeup and jewelry is fun stuff, and I love the spilled eyeshadows especially - and it's all good practice for product photography in my opinion.

[Salma]

I agree except for the "boring subjects" part. To us ladies, makeup and jewelry is fun stuff, and I love the spilled eyeshadows especially - and it's all good practice for product photography in my opinion.
Thanks, I love makeup besides most of these shots were for my assignment anyways.

[Sageg]

These are gorgeous! Love those phone cases.

[Salma]

Thanks Sarah, my iPhone is special lol!

[Flo]

Excellent series!! Love the vibrancy of the items....very sweet!

[Sageg]

quick question: the only lighting you are doing is with the flash? How are you aiming it?

[Salma]

Excellent series!! Love the vibrancy of the items....very sweet!
Thanks alot flo.
quick question: the only lighting you are doing is with the flash? How are you aiming it?
I aimed the flash to the top of the light box, so it bounced. I tried different angles but only having it bounce from the top worked best.

[Sageg]

Was it in front of the items, so they got flashed as well? You've got nice shadows...

[Salma]

The flash was facing directly above the items facing up so it bounced back right onto them.

Thanks, some people dislike shadows, I think they look cool :D

[Miss Frizzle]

Okay, I saw your pictures in the XSi thread but thought it would be easier to catch you here. :)

Is there any chance you'd post a picture of one of your photos before PP? I can't get my lightbox pictures as wonderful as yours. I'm so frustrated! I wonder what I'm doing wrong. Even with custom white balance, the background is way too grayish pinkish! And my camera wants me to have very long shutter speeds.

[TheMirrorMan]

I've been wanting to build one. Thinking of starting with one of those collapsible hampers. Just have not come across a large one yet. But with your results I would like to see your set-up. Great shots

[PixelMagic]

To get the correct exposure you need to set your camera to Manual (M) Mode and your flash to E-TTL. Set your shutter speed to the sync speed for your camera; its usually 1/250 sec. for 1D bodies and 1/200 sec. for other Canon bodies. Then set your aperture to f/8 or f/11 to get the depth of field.

You can then adjust the exposure by dialing negative or positive amounts of E-TTL.



Okay, I saw your pictures in the XSi thread but thought it would be easier to catch you here. :)

Is there any chance you'd post a picture of one of your photos before PP? I can't get my lightbox pictures as wonderful as yours. I'm so frustrated! I wonder what I'm doing wrong. Even with custom white balance, the background is way too grayish pinkish! And my camera wants me to have very long shutter speeds.

[vk2gwk]

To get the correct exposure you need to set your camera to Manual (M) Mode and your flash to E-TTL. Set your shutter speed to the sync speed for your camera; its usually 1/250 sec. for 1D bodies and 1/200 sec. for other Canon bodies. Then set your aperture to f/8 or f/11 to get the depth of field.

You can then adjust the exposure by dialing negative or positive amounts of E-TTL.

Depends on how you position and drive your strobes... When you are using the wireless triggers made by Canon and slave flashes that'll work (E-TTL mode). But I am using cheap Cactus wireless triggers. That means the flashes are in M-mode and have to be adjusted by hand (1/1, 1/2, 1/4 output and so on).

I prefer constant light over strobes for my lightbox because then you can see what you are doing - see the wanted and unwanted shadows and position lights to accentuate edges or just dull them out. Far more flexible.

[PixelMagic]

My response was based on the poster's gear list and the description of the problem. He/she said they were getting slow shutter speeds which indicates that the flash is mounted on the camera. Slow shutter speeds occur because Canon cameras are programmed to to expose for ambient light when they detect that a flash is mounted, and assume that the on-camera flash will provide the fill light for the subject. If the location is dark/underlit, slow shutter speed will occur.

The way to override the described problem is by using the method I outlined earlier.


Depends on how you position and drive your strobes... When you are using the wireless triggers made by Canon and slave flashes that'll work (E-TTL mode). But I am using cheap Cactus wireless triggers. That means the flashes are in M-mode and have to be adjusted by hand (1/1, 1/2, 1/4 output and so on).

I prefer constant light over strobes for my lightbox because then you can see what you are doing - see the wanted and unwanted shadows and position lights to accentuate edges or just dull them out. Far more flexible.

[Miss Frizzle]

Sorry I wasn't clear. I am using my 580EXII and bouncing it off of the top of the light box. I'm very new at this - just recently got my flash and learning how to use it. I will try what you mentioned PixelMagic. Thanks for your suggestions.

[Miss Frizzle]

Woo hoo! Pixel Magic, thanks for the advice, it helped a lot! I am still having difficulty with some grayness. These pictures I photoshopped just a bit. I still need to practice, but I figured out how to increase/decrease the flash, so I'm excited about that! haha

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4326883210_9c6480b91c.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4326146745_1476a8bd03.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4326874410_ec44485e38.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4326874194_bbe4fdb933.jpg
PS I had way too much sugar intake during this shoot

[TheMirrorMan]

I prefer constant light over strobes for my lightbox because then you can see what you are doing - see the wanted and unwanted shadows and position lights to accentuate edges or just dull them out. Far more flexible.

Many mono lights have model tracking. As you adjust the power of the strobe the model lights dims to match. Strobes produce a cleaner light.

[TheMirrorMan]

Wow with these shots I guess I'm going to have to play with my 580EXII and use PixelMagic's method.
I've never tried product shot but looks fun. And if your getting this from 1 bounce flash I'm going to let the 4-AB's sit this one out.

[Salma]

To be honest, they come out just slightly grey with one flash but I upped the exposure in photoshop to get it plain white.

[TheMirrorMan]

Yes all that White ...Just bump up a +1 1/2 in exposer. Still one flash Great.

[Salma]

Lol, I can't wait to see your shots, will you share? :p

[TheMirrorMan]

Yes, Will post in a few days........Now I have to figure what to shot MMMMMMMM...

[Salma]

Yaaay :)

[PixelMagic]

If your photos are "slightly grey" the solution is to increase the Flash Exposure Compensation (FEC) of your flash. Simply press the SET button on your flash, then turn the Control Dial to the right add FEC. The rule of thumb is that when shooting white objects you increase FEC, and decrease FEC when shooting dark objects.


To be honest, they come out just slightly grey with one flash but I upped the exposure in photoshop to get it plain white.

[doubledragon]

That 1st shot of the phones is AWESOME! Now I'm wondering how long it took you to paste them all on there...

[Salma]

That 1st shot of the phones is AWESOME! Now I'm wondering how long it took you to paste them all on there...
Lol, thanks alot.

I uploaded them to tinypic.com or photobucket.com :D

[TheMirrorMan]

Bee’s left in the cases, light meter bottom of bag. Camera M, AF off, only 1 Flash E-TTL with stofen. Couple of rubber totes, blankets, 3 white poster boards, OK I did cheat a little Reflector and background light stand.

I tossed this setup together in about 5 minutes and 15 minutes later moving files to PC. I would have still been building the octoboxes. Happy with the results in such a short time. I’m differently going to toy with this set-up some more.

Yes next time I will get new or like new objects (I chose these for the colors and I wanted something with reflections).


The setup
426598
Bullets
426599

[TheMirrorMan]

Some more shots
Lizard
426600


Lizard, mouse, Dog
426779

[GregX999]

In the 2nd shot, the one with the powders (eye shadow?) and glitter, the two on the ends aren't separated from the background - if you know what I mean. The white of the container just "becomes" the white of the background.

I have no idea how you'd fix that. Anyone know? If you darkened them, then wouldn't all the "product" be underexposed?

[vk2gwk]

I think Greg was referring to the images in the first post in this thread. I think the only way to get separation from the background is to have a different coloured background or intentionally create a shadow. I have a light box and use six different colours of A1 sheets for backdrop. (see my set up here in this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=818926))

[TheMirrorMan]

I didn’t catch that till Greg pointed it out.

I think a fix would be to get a big white sticker and put on the bottom of the clear glass jars. This will produce a light gray with a hint of the color in the jar as it is reflected. You can see there is a sicker on the bottom now and it does break them apart. It just needs to be bigger. You may even experiment and try white paint on the bottoms only. May be color?