Cheap Photography Solutions

[Marion David Poff]

OK,

I have an OK camera.

But, I do not have a light set up.....

Can you all share details of how you do your light set ups to get the great results you do?

And if you have an inexpensive solution, I would really love to hear about that....

Thanks

[cobrajoe]

I've gotten fairly good results with just a lamp and a backdrop (can be as simple as a piece of paper).

The lamp I use is one of those cheap clamp on style that has a flexible head and a 60 watt bulb.

I know it's not a spyder, but these are representative of my results (with my new camera): Link (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2192232&l=28305&id=17216651)

Make sure to use your macro (or super macro like on my camera :D)

[ozspyder]

My photography setup is the simplest.

Camera + solar power :)

I haven't bothered much with a lightbox setup etc. On occasion I have snapped off a few shots using my incandescent desk lamp but using the correct white balance setting. Photos turned out OK. However, the best setup I prefer for best colour saturation and 'true' representation of the knives are in overcast conditions (much easier to shoot) or sunny conditions for more 'character filled' shots. Some are shot outside in the garden, some indoors filtered through a window, with and without a background.

Works for me thus far :)

[The Deacon]

I'm in pretty much the same boat as Daniel. Natural sunlight, mostly indoors of late, since the landlord screwed up my two best outdoor locations. :rolleyes: I use a couple sheets of white poster board placed beyond the subject to soften the shadows, and if it's a very bright day, hang a white plastic bag between the window and the subject to reduce reflections. I always use a tripod, and generally set the camera on the timer so I'm not even touching it when it fires. And, finally, I take a LOT of shots, if you see five good ones, you can safely assume I shot fifty to get them. My worst problem is dust, the fact that I'm a lousy housekeeper doesn't help.

[Shike]

Ouch posted some cool hints and pics of his setup a while back, go here and see a few posts down the page. Hope this helps.
http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?p=428467#post428467

You can make a cheap box from white foam board, use white tape at the joints and small LED lights.
http://www.matshop.com/products/backings/foamcore/18/
Or use Halogen work lights and go crazy
http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting/types/halogen-work-lamp.html
Nice thing about Digi cams is you can practice very cheaply.
Regards

Shike

[GeorgeMaggos]

Hey Marion,

first thing I am not a pro or anything, here is how I did it & it was alot of trial & error to get here to this point.


The camera I recently bought is a Canon PowerShot S3 IS (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=13077) & I made a light box out of white foam core posterboard with some clip on lights not the best but it works.

I kinda used this website as a guide for my lightbox although it came out a little different but I really like it.



http://www.jyoseph.com/blog/detail.cfm/post/18


I started with a tri-fold piece of white foam core from the craft store it is for like kids school projects etc & I bought 2 additional pieces of of white foam core board sized like 3 ft X 2 ft.


My box is approx 20in high x 30in wide x 17in deep.

I think the light box & lights cost me around $30.00 all together which that is pretty cheap & the lightbox is the best way for me to get indoor pics. I live in the mid-west the weather can get crazy here : )



Here is the lightBox I made




http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l158/georgemaggos/Misc%20Stuff/100_6845.jpg








http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l158/georgemaggos/Misc%20Stuff/100_6843.jpg








http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l158/georgemaggos/Misc%20Stuff/100_6847.jpg



It is not pretty but hey it works ~ Good luck ;) Let me know if it helps & if you make a lightbox let us see what you did. The white balance setting on the camera is where alot of my problems were if I get that setting right it makes a big difference. Contact me if you have any more questions I am always willing to help out a fellow forumite :cool:



~Sincerely,
George Maggos

[tonydahose]

here is a really ugly light box ;)

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34102&highlight=ghetto

[Sharpy_swe]

These pictures was photographed with an tripod, white paper, two LED flashlights, greaseproof baking paper, some books, etc.

I took a pile of books as support for the white paper background, put one sheet of greaseproof baking paper on each side (as diffusers). Placed one LED flashlight on some books, and the other in my hand, and then tried different lightning angles (through the baking paper) and at the same time looking at the camera display.


http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/Foto_e_kul/Centofante_IV_small.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/Foto_e_kul/Centofante_IV_clip_small.jpg

[OuchThatsSharp]

This is an easy and cheap light setup. You can move the lights around as needed.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s145/pkdmslf/My-Lighting-Setup.jpg

I made this diffuser panel from pvc and fluorescent diffuser panels from Home Depot. Works great.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s145/pkdmslf/My-Studio-Setup.jpg

I wen to the flooring section at Home Depot and picked up some 12" x 12" vinyl floor tiles in various stone patterns to use as backgrounds. You can also go to an art/craft supply store and pick up some nice "artist's papers" that will work as well. I use black and chrome reflectors to deepen/lighten the shadows if needed. Oh, yeah, for really clear pictures, use tripod.

[Mr Blonde]

I've used a lightbox like Gmaggos showed. But the past year I use outdoor light, I have a balcony that works great; overcast days are the best.

Wouter

[RIOT]

this is an art i have yet to perfect

[Simple Man]

Taken with a cheap (now dead) Fuji point and shoot and a diaper box light box. (Looking back it is a lot like Tony's, but with a Pamper's box and bigger/more holes):D. I cut all but 1" border out of the top and sides (when on it's side) of the box and replaced them with some tracing paper. I use a 1000W Craftsman shoplight above the box and it's lined it inside with white paper.

Sloping the paper like George's above for the infinity background affect works well, it eliminates the crease and gives you more area to work with.

I'll re-adjust the color afterwards on the computer. Mehh, but it gets the job done.

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1971/spyderkey019msb0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Light
http://s.sears.com/is/image/Sears/03473825000?qlt=90,0&resMode=sharp&op_usm=0.9,0.5,0,0

[KamSingh]

I use a setup similar to OuchThatsSharp.

Kam

http://www.kamsinghphotography.com/