Help with studio lighting setup..(test pic included)

[RinkRat]

I've been reading a little about lighting, and wanted to try some stuff out.

What I have is ~20" away from the subject (1) 150w Tungsten ~45deg on the left, w/White Sport Vinyl as a diffuser.

Immediately to the right of my camera, ~ 35" away from the subject, I have an identical tungsten w/Vinyl.

Just about exactly out of the viewable image, on the right, I have white poster board as a reflector.

I had my 300D w/Tamron 28-75 @ 28mm.

Exif:
1/25, f/8, ISO 200.

WRT lighting & camera settings only, what can I do to imrove my results?

Any Suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks...

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze75feo/Lenses-4.jpg

[RinkRat]

Ok, looks like one, or more, of 5 things here.


1) Wrong forum

2) Nobody cares enough to comment

3) No way to improve on the picture

4) so many things wrong, you don't know where to begin
5) I make absolutely no sense, and there is no possible response to the question

[Wrench]

looks like you need a bit more light from the front to fill in the shadow, particularly the 'dead spot' between the L lense and the flash.

[blue_max]

Ok, looks like one, or more, of 5 things here.


1) Wrong forum

2) Nobody cares enough to comment

3) No way to improve on the picture

4) so many things wrong, you don't know where to begin
5) I make absolutely no sense, and there is no possible response to the question

You have a quite complicated set-up that is perhaps unique. You don't state what you feel is wrong with the picture. Your question is very specific on kit and very sparse on a specific problem. I don't think you covered that in any of your options.

Graham

[wilflee]

Hi. I'm only pointing out what's wrong instead of what's good as you're asking for it. Don't take it as criticism. Just trying to help.

1. Try positioning your lights lower. This will light up the underside of the flash and brighten the shadow.
2. Dust on the lens cap.
3. Grease spots on the 50mm lens (just above the 'n' in Canon)
4. Manuals out of focus and reflecting light (glare). Try DOF preview button. Also, the letters at the bottom right (next to the 50mm lens) is distracting. Try arranging the manuals in fan shape if possible or just photohop it out.
5. Rotate the Sigma lens a bit clockwise to show the whole distance scale. The flash is pointing a bit to the right.
6. Increase the reflectivity of the reflector (use silver?) as the background seems to get darker on the right side and there's a big shadow to the right of the 50mm lens
7. use a bigger reflector and arch it (like a satellite dish). The reflection on the gold ring of the Sigma lens shows the reflector shape
8. the whole pic is overexposed. Try closing down 1/2 stop. The lens cap & rubber grip appears grey instead of black
9. put more light on the background and less light on the subject. Feel free to blow out the background (+2 stops). This will help separate the top right hand edge of the 420EX manual from the background.
10. Are you doing this in a darkened room? The greenish tint looks like daylight getting into the picture.

May want to experiment with 2 equi-distant lights @ 45 degrees to the subject and reflector right in front of the camera (cut a hole in the reflector). This may help even out the highlights and you can photoshop out the camera reflection in the highlights.

[blue_max]

Oh, to add to this... it's good enough for an Ebay auction.

The melting lenses on each extreme may put even them off though. :lol: It's not your lighting that you want to be concerned with – it's your lens distortion.

Graham

[RinkRat]

looks like you need a bit more light from the front to fill in the shadow, particularly the 'dead spot' between the L lense and the flash.

thanks Wrench. I'll have to try that.


Like I mentioned, I was just reading a book on lighting, & wanted to give it a try.

Since i'm real new to this, I wanted to get feedback, on what seemed to be "missing" with the lighting.

Thanks again.

[RinkRat]

You have a quite complicated set-up that is perhaps unique. You don't state what you feel is wrong with the picture. Your question is very specific on kit and very sparse on a specific problem. I don't think you covered that in any of your options.

Graham

Graham,

I wasn't real sure if there were any problems. Which is why I was so vague.

When I took the picture, I actually thought it was fairly OK, but I wanted some other opinions on the final result.

The melting lenses on each extreme may put even them off though. :lol: It's not your lighting that you want to be concerned with – it's your lens distortion.


aaaack! What the heck causes that? I never noticed that, until you pointed it out. Now that's all I can see. I think the make-shift table I made was collapsing in the center, & everything was leaning back & in. Could that have something to do with it?

thanks for the help Graham.

[RinkRat]

wilflee,

Excellent! This is really what I was after.

I'm going to work on all of these later, and let you know how I make out.


10. Are you doing this in a darkened room? The greenish tint looks like daylight getting into the picture.


Actually, it was in my basement, with the florescent lights still on. Do I need to shut them off? (I'm guessing that's a dumb question)

Thanks again.

[MTalley]

The only other suggestion I could make is that the "L" lens looks a little out of place in the photo. If you send it to me (I'll PM you my address), I'll be glad to see if I could come up with a little more attractive display. :D

[RinkRat]

The only other suggestion I could make is that the "L" lens looks a little out of place in the photo. If you send it to me (I'll PM you my address), I'll be glad to see if I could come up with a little more attractive display. :D

Sure, as long as you PayPal me a bajillion dollars. :D

[RinkRat]

Ok, here's the 2nd attempt.

Here's what's different:
* I took my car's sun shade(silver), and used it as the reflector on the right and above.
*put both lights ~ 10 inches away, @ 45degrees, and lowered them to be even with the lenses.
* I put a board underneath everything, to straighten it out.
* EXIF: 1/25, f/10, ISO 200
* did a custom WB


1) I'm having a hard time with the reflection in the black book.

2) I used the DOF preview, & still have no idea how to get everything in focus.
(is there an obvious place that I should be focusing?)

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze75feo/Lenses-5.jpg

[tim]

Focus about 1/3 of the way into the scene, the DOF is typically 1/3 in front of the focus point, and 2/3 behind. That's a rule of thumb, not a hard and fast rule.

Since you're using a tripod, stop it down to F22 and use ISO 100, there's no harm.

[dwterry]

1) I'm having a hard time with the reflection in the black book.


Change the angle of the book. :o

If the book can't be moved... try a polarizing filter.



2) I used the DOF preview, & still have no idea how to get everything in focus.
(is there an obvious place that I should be focusing?)


I sometimes play with A-DEP on the Canon (I have 20D and 300D). If everything you need focused falls along the focus points, it's a handy way to get it all in focus and have the camera pick the best aperature to do it.

[RinkRat]

Focus about 1/3 of the way into the scene, the DOF is typically 1/3 in front of the focus point, and 2/3 behind. That's a rule of thumb, not a hard and fast rule.

Since you're using a tripod, stop it down to F22 and use ISO 100, there's no harm.

Ah, thank you!

Here's the latest attempt @ f/22...(forgot to use ISO 100 though) Maybe tomorrow night, I'll try again...

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze75feo/Lenses-6.jpg

[RinkRat]

Change the angle of the book. :o



Heh. I thought of that right after I went back to try again. :oops: :oops: :oops:

I didn't want to move too much around, so I put something in front of the book to keep it closed.

thanks for the help

[tim]

Last one looks pretty good. The front is sharp and the back is fuzzy, so i'd choose a focus point a bit further back into the image. I'd probably even try F32 if your lens can do it, though it will show any dust on your sensor at that aperture.

[wilflee]

Just a suggestion on the glare from the black book. Not sure if this will work and not sure if you really want to do this but here it goes:

1) get some matt spray and spray the book. note that this may wreck the book. hairspray may work too. Try it on a piece of dark paper first.
2) are you using reflected metering? If so, try incident metering.
3) if the books are really hard to light, shoot it separately and photoshop it in.

[tim]

Read this book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0240802756/102-9127707-6895351?v=glance) to learn about lighting all sorts of different objects: glass, metal, artwork, etc.

You need to stop the reflection of the light from the source into the camera lens. Your options are moving the light source, moving/angling the book, or perhaps moving the camera. A polarizer might work, but it's a last-try solution for me, it's not so elegant as good lighting.

[RinkRat]

Just a suggestion on the glare from the black book. Not sure if this will work and not sure if you really want to do this but here it goes:

1) get some matt spray and spray the book. note that this may wreck the book. hairspray may work too. Try it on a piece of dark paper first.
2) are you using reflected metering? If so, try incident metering.
3) if the books are really hard to light, shoot it separately and photoshop it in.

Since I don't have a light meter(yet), I would probably give the PS option a try.

Thanks for the tips. Since I was just goofing around, I wanted to see if there was a solution, without moving the book.

Thanks.

[RinkRat]

Read this book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0240802756/102-9127707-6895351?v=glance) to learn about lighting all sorts of different objects: glass, metal, artwork, etc.

You need to stop the reflection of the light from the source into the camera lens. Your options are moving the light source, moving/angling the book, or perhaps moving the camera. A polarizer might work, but it's a last-try solution for me, it's not so elegant as good lighting.

Just added it to my cart for my next order!

Thanks!

[blue_max]

Graham,

I wasn't real sure if there were any problems. Which is why I was so vague.

When I took the picture, I actually thought it was fairly OK, but I wanted some other opinions on the final result.



aaaack! What the heck causes that? I never noticed that, until you pointed it out. Now that's all I can see. I think the make-shift table I made was collapsing in the center, & everything was leaning back & in. Could that have something to do with it?

thanks for the help Graham.


Your distortion is because you are using a wide angle lens from close-up. Try the same set-up at the other end and move further away. It will look very different. I wouldn't blame the table, but interesting thought! Your pictures are improving a lot, but I'm no expert, so can offer no advice other than what has been suggested. I am more trial and error myself. Keep at it!

Graham

[RinkRat]

Your distortion is because you are using a wide angle lens from close-up. Try the same set-up at the other end and move further away. It will look very different. I wouldn't blame the table, but interesting thought! Your pictures are improving a lot, but I'm no expert, so can offer no advice other than what has been suggested. I am more trial and error myself. Keep at it!

Graham

OH! I get it now. I'll have to try that.

I have a few more things to try now

Thank you!

[RAitch]

Instead of turning the book from side to side, tilt it back so the light will reflect off and up over the camera. You'll probably get rid of most of the glare.

If that doesn't work, put the black book between the other 2 to help separate them or put it behind to separate the books from the background.

[PhotosGuy]

1) I'm having a hard time with the reflection in the black book. An old trick is to take the covers of the books & mount them (with a few pages) on art board so they're flat. Or, put the black book behind the white one. (Who needs to read it? You can't read the others.)
You're having so much trouble lighting them that you arent getting enough light into the flash & the zoom ring on the "L". A low intensity, hot (direct) light from the right would help with that.