Beginner with Failures/Frustrations

Hi All,

I need some help. In addition to being into basic amateur photography, I also restore old mountain bikes. I'd like to combine the two hobbies with some solid, clean studio photos of my bikes.

This is the result I'm aiming for:

http://i77.photobucket​.com …ameybrook/yetia​rc1iq5.jpg

After some purchases and some shoots in my makeshift "studio," i have some embarrassingly poor results. I'm shooting with a Xsi and I have a handful of lenses including the kit lens. I started with a 600 thread count grey sheet and hung it in the garage. Next I bought two 500-watt studio lights with umbrella. Closed the garage door and set up.

No matter what, I couldn't even get close to replicating the above photo.

First thing I notice is the white balance is off.

Background should be paper and needs to be pretty wide. You used a wide angle (21mm). You should use something more telephoto and move back. Try 50mm and beyond. Create more separation between the bike and the background.

Paper background won't show wrinkles, unless you get creases in it. You may want to light the background to soften the shadows.

In addition to what the others said, I think your camera needs to be lower also, almost at the level of the base of the tires

You have the basic idea down. You also need to get the bike further away from the background. You'll notice in the sample you posted that there are no shadows on the background. Using hot lights that should be easy enough to accomplish. Move the lights around until the shadows aren't visible from the lower angle suggested above.

try using f/9 instead of 3.5 also

One other thing to add. Your target bike looks brand new, while your bike looks dirty. You should shine it up.

Thanks all. Someone else said there might have been a flash pointed straight at the bike? Can anyone comment on this? How would you position one with the camera far back?

The camera should be pointed straight at the bike, not the flash. The flash is overhead and angled down, maybe about a 60 degree angle? Look at the shadows by the wheels. The bike needs to be away from the backdrop about six feet. If you are trying to get that spotlight effect behind the bike, then you will probably need a grid on the flash and you will probably have to play with the flash angle and distance of the bike to backdrop to get it right.