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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 30, 2014 6:25:45 GMT -5
I got a light tent yesterday and started playing with it a little bit. I still need to get some settings on the camera figured out for more consistent shots but I sure was proud of this one when I seen it on the computer monitor. This shot was taken holding the camera in hand but I'll try to stop tonight for a tabletop tripod. what size tent do you guys use? I got a 24" so I could take pictures of full tumbled rock batches but trying to get a good shot of a single rock or wrap in this size tent means putting the camera in the tent to get the macro closeup. I wish all my photos looked like this.  Chuck |
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Post by deb193redux on Jan 30, 2014 9:48:54 GMT -5
good highlights on the silver w/o total whiteout. sharp focus on bail coil. if you can't get the white point set in camera, you can use photoshop type adjustment of tone. there is depth of field challenge. closest points are a little blurred. Just align the piece so all parts are about equally far from lens, instead of pointing away along the line of the lens. I also have good results with a medium gray backdrop, the camera seems to meter best. Have fun  |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 30, 2014 10:27:58 GMT -5
there is depth of field challenge. closest points are a little blurred. Just align the piece so all parts are about equally far from lens, instead of pointing away along the line of the lens. Thanks for the input. keeping the whole wrap in focus has been the biggest issue. I see what you mean as far as trying to get the whole object one distance from the lens though. That makes sense. I am really trying to avoid taking every photo into an editor as I am already spending too much time trying to get things listed when I would rather be working on the rock stuff. I will keep working at it till I find a repeatable camera setting/lighting that is acceptable. Chuck |
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Post by deb193redux on Jan 30, 2014 12:41:04 GMT -5
medium gray backdrop might minimize need for editor. but with a little practice, cropping and autotone & autocolor can help most images in just a minute or two, and you can batch the work.
if macro depth of field is too limited, maybe try no-macro with lens zoomed in. is camera point-n-shoot or DSLR?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 30, 2014 12:48:35 GMT -5
medium gray backdrop might minimize need for editor. but with a little practice, cropping and autotone & autocolor can help most images in just a minute or two, and you can batch the work. if macro depth of field is too limited, maybe try no-macro with lens zoomed in. is camera point-n-shoot or DSLR? Its a high end point and shoot "sony DSC-HX300". I have had a couple DSLR's but with three kids we found we didn't like messing with all the settings and lenses at sporting/school events. I don't mind doing a a quick auto exposure as a batch. I already do all my resizing for posting here in batches so that would be fine. Thanks Chuck |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 30, 2014 14:08:25 GMT -5
I have a 24" as well. Which kind did you get?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 30, 2014 14:16:56 GMT -5
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Post by deb193redux on Jan 30, 2014 15:16:42 GMT -5
That is the exact tent/box and tabletop lights I have. I also got some taller floor-standing lights too because I never know when to stop.
With my Canon Rebel (lower end, & used)there is plenty enough light. I ended up draping white pillow cases over the tabletop lights to further scatter the light. I want to take the two floor standing ones and bounce the light off a white surface to get tons of scatter.
For me, the shape of a bulb (or specular highlights) in a picture is the enemy. The game is getting the light softer and softer.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 30, 2014 16:12:44 GMT -5
I got this store.tabletopstudio-store.com/dejephkit.html Essentially the same, I guess. My lights are more like what you want. They upgraded my kit after I got it. I use a tripod outside the tent. I don't usually zoom. I use raw and take the biggest images possible so I can crop all I want. One word of advice. Daniel is right that the gray makes great pictures. You have to be careful that the colors look TOO saturated sometimes, though. The problem is, you sell on etsy and treasury makers like light backgrounds. I use to use grey, but now I use white for treasuries. I get in LOTS of treasuries. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Jan 30, 2014 16:19:03 GMT -5
I got this store.tabletopstudio-store.com/dejephkit.html Essentially the same, I guess. My lights are more like what you want. They upgraded my kit after I got it. I use a tripod outside the tent. I don't usually zoom. I use raw and take the biggest images possible so I can crop all I want. One word of advice. Daniel is right that the gray makes great pictures. You have to be careful that the colors look TOO saturated sometimes, though. The problem is, you sell on etsy and treasury makers like light backgrounds. I use to use grey, but now I use white for treasuries. I get in LOTS of treasuries. Your photos are a bench mark Tela. They are great. I remember your anthracite cab. Shiny metallic spots and black on a cab is tough task. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 30, 2014 16:27:49 GMT -5
I got this store.tabletopstudio-store.com/dejephkit.html Essentially the same, I guess. My lights are more like what you want. They upgraded my kit after I got it. I use a tripod outside the tent. I don't usually zoom. I use raw and take the biggest images possible so I can crop all I want. One word of advice. Daniel is right that the gray makes great pictures. You have to be careful that the colors look TOO saturated sometimes, though. The problem is, you sell on etsy and treasury makers like light backgrounds. I use to use grey, but now I use white for treasuries. I get in LOTS of treasuries. Your photos are a bench mark Tela. They are great. I remember your anthracite cab. Shiny metallic spots and black on a cab is tough task. Thanks, James.  I can do better. I'm always working on decent pictures. The trick has been to do what takes very little time, is uniform and still decent. Right now (before I change it up yet again) I can do pictures with very, very little editing. But, as @shotgunner has pointed out, sometimes my pictures get blown out in search of those white backgrounds. |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jan 30, 2014 16:32:41 GMT -5
I like a strong light for higher f/stop. I do 1/80 at f/4-f/7 for about f/3.3 on longish focal length macro. For flat takes. All hand held(lazy).
Auto can take you the other way(and usually does). For a ring you better get at least f/8 or higher and go to tripod due to required lower shutter speed.
Auto will usually choose lower f/stop like f/3 - f/7 which ruins your deep focus and the front or the back of subject will sure be out of focus.
That is an important issue. And most overlooked. Talked my wife finally into manual and she is so in to it for her Etsy stuff.(she had no choice).
Use the light meter on the camera when shooting manual. Makes it a no brainer. These are generalizations for typical camera.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jan 30, 2014 17:02:52 GMT -5
Your photos are a bench mark Tela. They are great. I remember your anthracite cab. Shiny metallic spots and black on a cab is tough task. Thanks, James. I can do better. I'm always working on decent pictures. The trick has been to do what takes very little time, is uniform and still decent. Right now (before I change it up yet again) I can do pictures with very, very little editing. But, as @shotgunner has pointed out, sometimes my pictures get blown out in search of those white backgrounds. A white back ground is often over exposed. As long as it does not glare the subject i do not care. Etsy is so into white background. Must be proper. Aggravates me. Shotgunner took totally fine pictures of that faceted stone. I like photos w/a high f/stop. Causes low shutter speed(tripod necessary) but also allows you to lower ASA to like 100 which enriches color and def. Solves focus issues. Good not to have to edit too. Dial it in and make few adjustments photo shopping. For quality photos. |
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Post by pghram on Jan 30, 2014 17:19:25 GMT -5
Once you get your tripod, lengthen the shutter speed to close down the apature, that will help w/ the depth-of-field. Great photo!
Rich
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Jan 30, 2014 18:02:21 GMT -5
Once you get your tripod, lengthen the shutter speed to close down the apature, that will help w/ the depth-of-field. Great photo! Rich Exactly |
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Post by drocknut on Feb 1, 2014 20:15:28 GMT -5
Geez, you all got me beat, I got lost after you were talking about light tents...lol. I know what they are but don't have one so I basically just wing it. If I get more into selling on a big site other than Facebook I may have to do something different. I am in awe of all of your photo abilities.
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unclestu
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Post by unclestu on Feb 1, 2014 20:41:21 GMT -5
This the the site that I purchased my light box. I had good experience with them. My ste up came with 2 lights 5000k(kelvin) which is natural sunlight at 12 noon. Two 6' stands 2 12" reflectors, the tent and 4 gckground runners and travel cases for all the parts. The whole set up was under $50. The tent is eighter 24" or 30".. They sell the lights and all other photo components seperately as well. www.skaeser.com/servlet/the-852/lighting-tent%2Clight-tent-lighting%2Clight/DetailI also have a 48"tent for larger items that my wife sells on Ebay and I am going to order additional lamps and stands for the 48" tent. Stu |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2014 20:37:32 GMT -5
Mine is 24". Got it on eBay for $20 shipped.
If u have regular tripod it works well next to table.
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I can do better. I'm always working on decent pictures. The trick has been to do what takes very little time, is uniform and still decent. Right now (before I change it up yet again) I can do pictures with very, very little editing. But, as @shotgunner has pointed out, sometimes my pictures get blown out in search of those white backgrounds. 
