Using correct lightinggreenspun.com : LUSENET : Imaging Resource Discussion : One Thread |
I have a wholesale business and I am trying to create a catalog of my imported baskets; however, I need to now what is the best lighting to use and how to go about this in the proper way.
-- Loraine LaPalomento (Loraine@erols.com), May 02, 1999
Yes, lighting is the most important factor in how your products look in print. Of course there are a vew basics to get out of the way, such as Camera, Lens, Film (I assume you're not using film - rather a digital camera), and others. This subject is a bit heavy for a forum - I'd recommend a book (or two) to cover the subject. If you do a search at amazon.com for "Product Photography" you'll see a couple of decent books listed there. If you are shooting with film or digital the lighting techniques remain the same. 1. You'll need three lights (two will do, but three allows you to give some depth and/or highlights that add interest. Play with the arrangement, placing one light above and behind the subject. With a digital camera you have the advantage of taking many different pictures and immediately viewing the results. 2. Keep the background simple - without any detail. 3. Shadows on product shots can be interesting, but generally keep the light fairly flat across your product. Consumers want to see it all - shadows tend to give it that I'm-hiding-something look. 4. I assume that you will want some close-ups to show some of the detail in your baskets. Detail may be better if you do not put the light directly on, rather shine it from the side. Experiment a bit to see what the best angle is. 5. Digital cameras don't have the lattitude film does (the ability to show detail in highlights and shadow in a very large range) so you'll want to light for less contrast than you would for film. Simply - this means flatter light - see number 3 above...That's just a few of hundreds of possible pointers - others may jump in here and make a few more suggestions. I do recommend one of the many books on the subject. Try this querry directly from Amazon: Product Photography At Amazon.Com Good Luck!
-- Dan Desjardins (dan.desjardins@avstarnews.com), May 03, 1999.
Oops - sorry about the bad formatting of the previous response I'll try again! Loraine: Yes, lighting is the most important factor in how your products look in print. Of course there are a vew basics to get out of the way, such as Camera, Lens, Film (I assume you're not using film - rather a digital camera), and others. This subject is a bit heavy for a forum - I'd recommend a book (or two) to cover the subject.
If you do a search at amazon.com for "Product Photography" you'll see a couple of decent books listed there. If you are shooting with film or digital the lighting techniques remain the same.
1. You'll need three lights (two will do, but three allows you to give some depth and/or highlights that add interest. Play with the arrangement, placing one light above and behind the subject. With a digital camera you have the advantage of taking many different pictures and immediately viewing the results.
2. Keep the background simple - without any detail.
3. Shadows on product shots can be interesting, but generally keep the light fairly flat across your product. Consumers want to see it all - shadows tend to give it that I'm-hiding-something look.
4. I assume that you will want some close-ups to show some of the detail in your baskets. Detail may be better if you do not put the light directly on, rather shine it from the side. Experiment a bit to see what the best angle is.
5. Digital cameras don't have the lattitude film does (the ability to show detail in highlights and shadow in a very large range) so you'll want to light for less contrast than you would for film. Simply - this means flatter light - see number 3 above...That's just a few of hundreds of possible pointers - others may jump in here and make a few more suggestions. I do recommend one of the many books on the subject.
Good Luck!
Des
-- Dan Desjardins (dan.desjardins@avstarnews.com), May 03, 1999.
try this: http://www.photo.net/photo/studio-photography.htmlthere is a lighting section there.
-- benoit (foo@bar.com), May 04, 1999.