Photography
Use soft light natural or bounced off a white wall or ceiling if you can't use a light box. I have a large piece of black velvet that absorbs the background light hitting the subject and gives the object the look of floating in black space.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/memphis-milano
HI Heath!
Interesting. I'd say:
Good-Neutral background.
Good light. Day light.
Sunny-day but at a shadow side. (no flash).
Too much artificial light would turn beige (for regular bulbs) or other color for other bulbs, but that later can be edited.
Zoom it.
Somewhere in the DA-Radar give good advices.
And Hate to say it, but the biggest tip, is the camera. People say that good photographer could take good photos with any camera. Why professional photographers have professional cameras then?
I'd ask which camera is the the best option.
For larger objects, I have a...
For larger objects, I have a cheap plastic clothes hanger rack thing from Target or someplace like that. I tape 30" wide white wrapping paper to the top bar and roll it down and out onto the floor. If any clutter in the background isn't blocked out, I can usually photoshop it away.
I do the same thing with smaller stuff but on a counter-height thing that I have next to a bright window. I use either white paper or a dark gray fabric.
Think I might get handy with ...
Think I might get handy with a needle and thread and make something like this, how hard can it be? I think crush proof fabric and something cylindrical would work well for my purposes.
Is that a Copco sauce warmer/fondue pot? I have the same base but a different pot.
Yep, Copco
Heath, you should look into the non-woven synthetic interfacing fabrics. They come in all different weights and some are quite stiff and heavy. You could easily get away with just gluing the stuff rather than sewing, or use the fusible webbing stuff that you iron on. It comes in widths of 22" or 27" and also in an inch-wide tape. Any fabric store will have a good selection of this stuff.
If you just want a smaller...
If you just want a smaller light box like in that first photo, don't both making anything. Just go and get one of the laundry hampers that is made with light white fabric and sort of springs open. College kids use them a lot. You know what I'm talking about?
A simple little china ball
works as well. 4bucks.
2 or three of them.
and a light socked assembly.
Laundry hamper is a great idea. You just want to diffuse
the light.
If you want to experiment with the light box idea you could
frame up a piece of 4ft x 4ft milk plexi. Just rest it on a couple
saw horses with a clip light under. Stores away easier when you don't
need it.
Nice thing about digital cameras is the free testing. Take 50 or more
photos of the same object and take notes. (without flash)
Keeping the camera stable is key. Even resting on a stack of books
or edge of furniture.
And the camera? Many pros have a simple point and shoot as a back-up.
The Lumix has a nice leica lens.
All good advice above....and consistently you will hear and read that
bright, but diffused light is key to a good photo of objects.
For smaller objects a selection of poster board from the office supply
or craft stores. A matt finish is best. (no reflection) Taped to a wall with
a soft roll onto a table to create a cyc, (from cyclorama), is another cheap
trick.
Don't need to spend alot of money. Have fun with it and share your
results!
http://www.filmandvideolighting.com/16chla.html
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