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Model photography; My new setup
Topic Started: Mar 30 2010, 07:37 PM (634 Views)
Mike W
Member Avatar
Hook down, wheels down... call the ball
[ *  *  * ]
Hi All,
Just wanted to see what your thoughts were on these. I got a new light tent and lighting setup consisting of three 500w equivalent daylight bulbs ,one of which was smashed on arrival so i'm waiting for a replacement. In the mean time I've been playing with just two lamps, one each side of the light tent.
I set the camera to aperture priority setting it a f22, white balance set to auto and the rest as per the camera settings.

I didn't want to fiddle with too many settings and forget what i'd done :P

My first victim is a 1/72 Revell F-14D Tomcat which happened to be handy.

Posted Image

and a close up...

Posted Image

and with a partner in crime, the 1/72 Fujimi A-6E Intruder...

Posted Image

The close up looks great to me, though I am hoping that the third light from above will help a bit more on the overall shots.

As some of you may know I have previously relied on daylight in my conservatory to get decent-ish pix. But using this new setup I can take piccies after dark as these were taken just before posting here.

cheers
B)
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MemberOne
Newbie
[ * ]
Looks a nice set up ..this is one area where I have problems ..Taking a decent picture
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peebeep
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Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious
[ *  *  * ]
Any chance of a pic of the 'studio'?

peebeep
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Mike W
Member Avatar
Hook down, wheels down... call the ball
[ *  *  * ]
peebeep
Mar 31 2010, 12:17 AM
Any chance of a pic of the 'studio'?

peebeep

:slaphead: Good point!

Here it is on my dining table in the conservatory.as you can see the lights are fully adjustable. the bulbs are 55w with an equivalent 500w output. The "tent" is 100cm square and can easily accomodate large stuff like a 1/32 Jet.

Posted Image

Posted Image
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Phreak
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Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Nicely done Mike, hard to see how your method needs improving. :clap:

As they say in macro photography, the excitement is in tents.
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Grant
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Italian correspondent
[ *  *  * ]
That's a nice rig there Mike.

I did wonder about a tent like that, but it must have been a smaller one because yours looks plenty big enough. I worried that getting in close would be a problem - but clearly not from your photo.

The number of lights a setup like that requires also put me off - too much palaver. However, the pictures do look worth it.

Looking forward to stunning shots from now on!

cheers

Grant
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Mike W
Member Avatar
Hook down, wheels down... call the ball
[ *  *  * ]
Yep, it works for me!
It is a bit of a palaver Grant , you're right. But for magazine work its worth it IMHO.

I finally received the new bulb today so setup with the top light in addition to the above.
These are couple of the results..

Posted Image

Posted Image

and I wasn't happy with the first shot of the Harrier, so added +1 exposure compensation, probably too much in hindsight, but I'm still getting used to it all.

Posted Image

Posted Image
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Phreak
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Mikeew
Mar 30 2010, 07:37 PM
Hi All,
Just wanted to see what your thoughts were on these. I got a new light tent and lighting setup consisting of three 500w equivalent daylight bulbs ,one of which was smashed on arrival so i'm waiting for a replacement. In the mean time I've been playing with just two lamps, one each side of the light tent.
I set the camera to aperture priority setting it a f22, white balance set to auto and the rest as per the camera settings.

I didn't want to fiddle with too many settings and forget what i'd done :P

My first victim is a 1/72 Revell F-14D Tomcat which happened to be handy.

Posted Image

and a close up...

Posted Image

and with a partner in crime, the 1/72 Fujimi A-6E Intruder...

Posted Image

The close up looks great to me, though I am hoping that the third light from above will help a bit more on the overall shots.

As some of you may know I have previously relied on daylight in my conservatory to get decent-ish pix. But using this new setup I can take piccies after dark as these were taken just before posting here.

cheers
B)

Forgot to mention Mike.

To acheive the maximum available depth of field, carry on shooting at the smallest aperture avaialable (ie F22) and use manual focus.
Work out how close the nearest point of focus is and also the furthest point of focus is from the camera lens.
Given the resulting difference between the two points, then divide it by three. The point to set the focus on is at one third of this difference.

For example, if the nearest point of focus is 15cms and the furthest is 36cms, then the difference is 21cms.
Therefore the optimum point of focus will be 15cms plus 7cms (21cms/3) or 22cms from the front of the lens.

QED

Sorry if I've told you how to suck eggs!
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Mike W
Member Avatar
Hook down, wheels down... call the ball
[ *  *  * ]
Phreak
Mar 31 2010, 08:24 PM
Forgot to mention Mike.

To acheive the maximum available depth of field, carry on shooting at the smallest aperture avaialable (ie F22) and use manual focus.
Work out how close the nearest point of focus is and also the furthest point of focus is from the camera lens.
Given the resulting difference between the two points, then divide it by three. The point to set the focus on is at one third of this difference.

For example, if the nearest point of focus is 15cms and the furthest is 36cms, then the difference is 21cms.
Therefore the optimum point of focus will be 15cms plus 7cms (21cms/3) or 22cms from the front of the lens.

QED

Sorry if I've told you how to suck eggs!

Thanks Rich, but that all sounds terribly complicated :frantic:

Using the EOS AF point selector, I just select the centre point which acts as a measure for where the point of focus should be. Then by selecting, as you say, the smallest aperture which is f32 giving me the best possible depth of field and using the self timer removes the camera shake.
Works for me! :P
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