video: episode 6 , product lighting tricks for the DIY studio
28 April 2008
28 Comments
In episode 6 : create product photo backgrounds with no shadows and multiple colors using simple lighting equipment.
Subscribers view video on the website.
| Here are the images, a little larger, with a bit more info. It’s a challenge posting large images in a blog without linking to external sources but I think I’ve come up with a solution for that in the future. For now I hope this will do…you can download this image, uncropped at full-size if you’d like to check out the detail.
Thanks, Jim T. |
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| Below, just tungsten front light. Canon 20D, tungsten white balance, 1/15 sec at f10. | |
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| Below, front and rear tungsten light. Canon 20D, tungsten white balance, 1/15 sec at f8 (opened up to really clean up the whites). | |
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| Below, tungsten front light, daylight fluorescent rear. Canon 20D, tungsten white balance, 1/15 sec at f10. | |
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Very Smart. i love the plexiglass with variable background. thanks
good use of reflektors too!
These short videos are excellent explanations of clean, simple lighting techniques, thank you. It’s like watching a moving version of that standard reference work, the “Light, Science and Magic” text book.
I wonder if you would consider editing in a video “cutaway shot”, point-of-view from directly overhead, just to help the viewer fully appreciate the 3D space your setups occupy? You might not need to hoist the video camera at all, if you could sling a lightweight plastic mirror in the right place (think TV Poker format).
I really enjoy these videos of yours. They distill things down to an easily understandable level. Thanks. Now I need to make the home improvement store a bit richer.
Okay, so where are the larger versions of the pics? I Don’t see the link.
Thanks.
The pics are up, sorry for the delay!
Jim, thanks.
I love what you do here.
And I made you a buddy on flickr… welcome.
Great video… I just came across your website by accident, will definitely make it a bookmark that I will visit frequently. Thank you.
Great trick, I like it. Scott Kelby posted your site. It’s really good.
Another simple, yet great video! Thanks!
Your videos are just excellent. You take sometimes complex concepts and make it infinitely easier to understand. Look forward coming back each Monday(my Tues downunder) to check it out.
First of all many congratulations for this blog…really a great resource…
I tried to find those lamps for continuous lightning to clamp to the sticks in whole internet but I didn’t find anything. Where did you buy those??? At least could tell me the brand of the manufacturer?
Thanks a lot….
Hi Michele, thanks for your question. In the U.S. the lamps are easy to find at any hardware store and only cost a few dollars each. I don’t know of any specific brand names because they are so inexpensively made. I know for sure that you can find them by looking on Amazon.com and searching for “clamp light” or “clamp lamp” in the States. You can also find more information on the equipment used by looking at the tags in the right sidebar and choosing “stick-in-a-can”. Let me know if that helps!
Thanks a lot for the quick answer. It has been relly helpful. I think I’ll have to buy them through amazon ’cause here it seems that those lamps aren’t distributed…
Have a good day and thanks again for this blog..
The videos are great, bookmarked and a great help to make better pictures, thanx!
Right now I always make pictures in my attic, so all the light comes from my light bulbs. Would it be a problem to mix different types of light (tube, daylight, bulb)? What would be the best setting of white balance?
Thanks a lot
You can mix the different light sources but expect results similar to those in the video (different kinds of light sources may produce different color). Start by setting your white balance for whatever your primary / main light source is. The most important thing is to make sure one of the light sources is dominant on the subject (for the most part), if you want the subject color to be neutral. Equal mixes of different light sources (daylight and tungsten) create tricky mixes of color that can be hard to correct.
Feel free to post examples in the discussion forum after you’ve taken some shots, it’s always nice to have a visual reference.
Thank you for your clear and quick answer. Also sounds logical… When I have some samples (good or bad) I will show them on the discussion forum.
Did you use the photography “daylight” balanced bulbs that are quite pricey or did you just get the “cool white” or “daylight” bulbs from home depot or a similar place? I guess true daylight is something like 5500K and bulbs at that temperature are pricey but ones that are slightly warmer (I think roughly 5100K) are they cheapies you can buy anywhere. Does it make that much of a difference?
Excellent! SO clever using WB for creative rather than corrective purposes.
I have a similar product to shoot and your example showed me from where should I start, thanks allot,
I am not putting down your efforts, but I’ll be doing the shooting with strobes 
Btw, why not starting some advance episodes with strobes?
I mean .. honestly, if you are going to shoot product, then most probably you’ll be using at least strobes or flashes.
Don’t get me wrong
Thanks once again and keep up the good work, all the best from Montreal Canada,
I just used a daylight flourescent from Home Depot for this series. It’s not “full spectrum” but pretty darn close to daylight. Even 5100k would be substantially cooler than a standard 3200k tungsten bulb so I think you’d be pleased with the contrasting results, in most cases. Check out my battle of the bulbs post for a little more info.
Ameed, I’ve used strobes in later prophotolife videos, I hope you’ve had a chance to check them out in the video library.
Did you ever mention how you make your acetate? screens used in your videos?
Hi Billy, you’ll find more info on the screens in “more sticks, screens and bulbs”. It looks like my link to the acetate material at Calumet is no longer active, I’ll try to find a new one. Rosco is the company that makes the acetate and they have a variety of different materials available, from large rolls to pre-cut 20″ x 24″ pieces.
Jim,
You are so helpful. I couldn’t stop watching your videos. You are a gifted teacher.
I’m So Glad You Share Your Knowledge, Thanks,
Glen
dude, you rock!
Hi Jim, I just want to thank for your great learning material. I really feel that these video clips are a very good start to get a basic understanding for essential topics in photography. It is fine just to have a go at something, but with the help of your videos I have a good starting point, a direction and a lot of variations to check out.
What makes your videos so valuable to me is that you not only explain essential topics in plain words. When I watch one of your clips I could write pages about all the variations to check out! That’s the real kick I get from your videos!
My pleasure in taking photos has been increased a lot by your explanations and help. You are a really good teacher.
Thanks a lot!
You are doing an excellent job with your brief presentations. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I hope you’ll get back more than you give and have great great success your business!
Humble request: I would be interested in info on video production as well - just got my 5D mkII
Thanks a lot,
S.
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