Really nice, even, white backgrounds

12/03/2003 05:00:19 PM · #26

Originally posted by Gordon:

Also note, that white balance has nothing to do with getting a correct exposure.

White balance is used to compensate for different light temperatures, which introduces colour shifts in the image.

In this image, the white background is essentially grey - no colour shift, just under exposed.

I didn't know that. Thank you Gordon, and all who answered. I have a very good idea now of what I need to do here. THANKS!! You guys are really helpful :)))

Ursula

Patella

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

12/03/2003 05:35:37 PM · #27

I'll suggest a piece of white plexi -- which can either be left alone or lit from underneath to give very nice, clean whites.

12/03/2003 05:45:49 PM · #28

Originally posted by Patella:

I'll suggest a piece of white plexi -- which can either be left alone or lit from underneath to give very nice, clean whites.

Thanks, good idea!

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/03/2003 05:49:14 PM · #29

Using some of the posted suggestions, here's my first finished attempt:

soup

Canon EOS-30D

12/03/2003 06:40:22 PM · #30

i'll to mess with that EV more - and the metering modes
never had an autoSLR
lots of new things to figure out..

new from my old canon AL1

final looks pretty good - but above the shadow is funky

glimpses

Sony DSC-F707

12/03/2003 06:40:24 PM · #31

Originally posted by uabresch:

Using some of the posted suggestions, here's my first finished attempt:

I love this pic.

ScottK

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/03/2003 07:23:53 PM · #32

I did the lighting a bit softer on that last one, and it's about ready to be replaced - it's getting pretty dull, including pencil dust from the first shot. You can check out some of my other challenge entries for examples with other colors - the black is my favorite.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/03/2003 07:37:27 PM · #33

Originally posted by ScottK:

I use 8.5" x 11" sheets of foam I get at the craft store for studio/macro shots. Comes in lots of colors. The white works really well, though it can get dull and dirty over time. Here's one of the first I did with the white: Look Sharp. This is my latest: I did the lighting a bit softer on that last one, and it's about ready to be replaced - it's getting pretty dull, including pencil dust from the first shot. You can check out some of my other challenge entries for examples with other colors - the black is my favorite.

Nice, I like the "Look Sharp" picture. I'd thought about the foam sheets - will have to try them. Thanks!

Spork99

OM System OM-1

12/03/2003 07:49:07 PM · #34

For lighting shiny things like the fork, I would recommend "tenting" them on a sweep to get nice highlights. In this case, the shadow would have been too soft, but a light with a grid or snoot poking through the tent will fix that.

It would eliminate that diagonal line that goes across the tines. You can then add dark areas by opening the tent in certain areas if the room is dark, or by using black reflectors (think of them as anti-fill cards).

The way my professor explained how you light shiny metal objects is that you don't really light the objects themselves, but everything around them.

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/03/2003 08:17:04 PM · #35

Originally posted by uabresch:

Using some of the posted suggestions, here's my first finished attempt:

This looks good, but I just wanted to point out that there is still a slightly distracting "gray patch" in the curve of the shadow at the back left. To me, that gray patch gives it an "edited" look.