Thread: Pens On Camera.

Originally Posted by celt40

I have been looking at everyones pens on the forum, and i think they are all great. As i have only just started making my own pens i realise that i have a long way to go to reach your high standard.
One thing that i find difficult is nothing to do with the making part, but how to get a good picture of the pen when finished. Your pens look good when photographed, the light and layout looks realy good. On the other hand when i try to picture my pens i can't seem to get the camera to take a good shot.
Can you all tell me how you shoot your shots, i have a digital camera ( Nikon E8400 ). Do you use a photo tent? How do you light the pen?

Less scotch more water will be helpful do a search for light box

I need to make a light box, but until then, I lay them on a white or grey background, purchased two painters floodlights from Bunnings, switch them on, also using the flash and usually come out ok. Amos

Hi Dermot

A light tent/box is the way to go...its the best way I have found to control the lighting.

It can be a simple home made thing or one of the comercially available ones (try ebay)

this is a pic of my light box....basically just an upside down card table with a simple frame to hang some lights/reflectors from.

What works best for me is a set up with 4 lights (all just normal incandesant desk lamps)

1st light is a direct light that is directed at an angle arcoss the subject from the front...this gives a nice shine to the pen

2nd light is directed at the pen but has a filter (i just use wax paper) to soften the light....this softens shadows from the first light

3rd and 4th lights are indirect lights that are reflected off something...I use sheets of white cardboard (on the side and top of my light box)....this light fills in more and softens the shadows more as well.

these are the sort of results i get
5 streamlines small.JPG

Actually I think I have done better than this....I prefer the background to be bright white.

As for the camera....practice...read the manual and experiment....I had to take a lot of pics before I found a setup that gave me results I like.

cheers
BD

One other thing too, is use the Macro setting on your camera

That pic of those pens,take the advice and run with it they do what the pic should do allow you to see,evaluate,appreciate,no props,repeatable.
thanks for raising the question.I seem to be so busy I have taken to outside in the light but feel tempted now to give indoor another bash.
Good luck with your pics as well,as Mrs Beaton said first slaughter your ox.For you this means pens first,pics then share with us we all wish we had the pics solved every time.
Best wishes to the north country the birth place of my name family.
Peter

Originally Posted by DJ's Timber

One other thing too, is use the Macro setting on your camera

I think thats one of the things you have to experiment with.

I first started with the camera on the macro setting but found that although I got incredible detail on some of the pic the rest of the pic would be out of focus (depending the set up) because of the small depth of field.

The best setting I have found is to use the camera in semi manual mode . This lets you adjust the exposure (EV +/-) up and down relative to the light the internal lightmeter is reading ( wich there is usually a couple of settings for).

I also have it set on the highest resolution and pic size....this gives you more latitude to zoom in and crop once the file is downloaded onto your PC.

I reckon some sought of photo editor is pretty much essential...I just use the free one that came with the computer.

hope this helps

cheers
BD

Thank you all for your time and experence. I will try all of your suggestions as for pictures on forum that will be another call for help. In SCOTLAND we still are getting our heads around digital

Oh also thanks Australia for giving Celtic Fc your International football player Scott mc Donald.

Check out this link. http://www.ezcube.com/

It's what I use. The starter set comes with two cubes of different sizes and two powerful lights on tripods. It's pretty reasonable for what you get. You can be up and taking pictures 30 minutes after you open the box.

Originally Posted by ciscokid

Check out this link. http://www.ezcube.com/

It's what I use. The starter set comes with two cubes of different sizes and two powerful lights on tripods. It's pretty reasonable for what you get. You can be up and taking pictures 30 minutes after you open the box.

Thanks for this link. Even if you do not buy the unit, there is a lot of very good info here about small object photography, from lighting to exposure compensation, etc, all well written. Good site!
Ron

I have bought a cube with 2 lights and tripod. Just waiting for it to get sent. Thanks to everyone for the help you have given me.