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Macro help and light tent set up questions

Author	Post

Posted by ArcticRick: Mon Aug 20th, 2012 02:33

1^st Post

Has anyone used those little light cube kits for doing macro work , that come with lights etc like these 2

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/859556-REG/Polaroid_PLPS_Tabletop_Studio_Light_and.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/727653-REG/MyStudio_PS5_PS5_PortaStudio_Portable_Photo.html

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Posted by jk: Mon Aug 20th, 2012 03:27

2^nd Post

I have one Rick.
They are great for doing product shots of small objects.
My unit only cost me £10 about ten years ago but came without lights. I think that you can either use your own lights sourced from wherever. I sometimes use flash but othertimes halogen light or tungsten bulbs. It all depends on the subject and how much light you need.

My unit is reversible so I can have black or white backgrounds.
Like this one.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-50cm-Camera-Photo-Studio-Box-Light-Lighting-Cube-Tent-Kit-with-Tripod-/130697628635?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item1e6e2f8bdb

If you are photographing metallic objects then I find it best to use tungsten lighting as this allows you to see any reflections. A polarising fiilter is useful but takes an extra 2-3 stops of light!

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Posted by Eric: Tue Aug 21st, 2012 04:36

3^rd Post

I have a light tent for subjects requiring a white background ...for catalogue or datasheets, that dont need sexy lighting.

That's because a light tent does reeeaaaally diffuse the light quite a lot...no matter how you arrange your lights outside.

If you want moody or stronger lighting you need to come out of a tent.

I also prefer to shoot shiny metal items outside a light tent. Thats because in a light tent even the darkest areas reflected are still whited out...there is insufficient contrast to make them look really shiny!

Far better to shoot these objects in a darkened room with strong local lighting JUST around the object. In this way the 'pools of darkness' behind you are reflected in the object.

Here are some examples. The food and the aluminium component are in a light tent ...the 3 tube examples are shot out of the tent on a white table illuminated directly from above ...the dark areas being the reflected studio out of the light spill region.

Its also true that you get weird reflections from the tent material (creases) and the camera opening itself reflected...unless you are really, really careful in setting up. I even ironed my light tent to remove some of the storage creases for one shoot!

So a light tent is fine for many ...but not all items.

Edited by Robert to correct a typo.

Attachment: tents.jpg (Downloaded 36 times)

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Eric

Posted by jk: Tue Aug 21st, 2012 07:06

4^th Post

Nice examples Eric.

This is the sort of stuff that we need to demonstrate good light control.
Shiny metallic objects are a real challenge. I used to have a shiny (chrome) metal sphere that I used to use for testing my setup but I cant find it since I moved to Spain.

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Posted by ArcticRick: Tue Aug 21st, 2012 09:32

5^th Post

nice , maybe i will try with just a tent and play with lighting and all that . Any suggestions on brands ?

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Posted by jk: Wed Aug 22nd, 2012 04:53

6^th Post

Just get a good brand that is reversible. Black/dark blue one side and white the other.

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