Trying to up my photo quality

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

Been trying different settings on my camera as well as lighting in my light tent. I'm sure these could be way better, but I feel they are the best I have done. I'm basing some of this on the fact that you can actually see the acrylic pen stand,. In the past, that has been washed out on a lot of my photos. Constructive criticism always welcome.

Darrin · Feb 28, 2021

I'd say you're doing really good buddy!

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

I don't know why they post twice.

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Bob in SF · Feb 28, 2021

Ken - Great pens, great pix!

magpens · Feb 28, 2021

@KenB259

Ken, you said ..... "Been trying different settings on my camera as well as lighting in my light tent." .....

Good work .....

Now ..... What do you find to be optimal settings and lighting techniques ? . ( Probably a short answer is not possible !!! )

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

I would imagine my settings that I had wouldn't be of much help to anyone because absolutely every aspect is a variable. I did have the best luck by turning down the brightness of the light in the tent. I also took Eric's advice and shot the photos further back, about 2 feet is where I ended up. I created a custom white balance setting and shot in RAW mode.

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Fred Bruche · Feb 28, 2021

Nice effort! Few pointers that I think would improve the pictures.
The picture I like best is #3 (knurl GT pen), primarily because there is almost no light reflection off the pen body or the stand. To avoid that (very obvious in the other pictures) you need to be mindful of these reflections while taking the pictures and move your camera position accordingly. I can see your lighting system in the finials in #4 and #5, seems you are using some direct lighting, which is the main cause for the reflections. Try to add some sort of diffuser below these lights. Or better the lights should point to the white panels and reach the pen only indirectly. Less light but if you are shooting with manual controls (and with the camera on a tripod) you will find the right speed for your shutter.

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

Fred Bruche said:
Nice effort! Few pointers that I think would improve the pictures.
The picture I like best is #3 (knurl GT pen), primarily because there is almost no light reflection off the pen body or the stand. To avoid that (very obvious in the other pictures) you need to be mindful of these reflections while taking the pictures and move your camera position accordingly. I can see your lighting system in the finials in #4 and #5, seems you are using some direct lighting, which is the main cause for the reflections. Try to add some sort of diffuser below these lights. Or better the lights should point to the white panels and reach the pen only indirectly. Less light but if you are shooting with manual controls (and with the camera on a tripod) you will find the right speed for your shutter.

Thing is I can't point the light, it is fixed in the tent I could shut them off , but then, what's the point of a tent?

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Fred Bruche · Feb 28, 2021

KenB259 said:
Thing is I can't point the light, it is fixed in the tent I could shut them off , but then, what's the point of a tent?

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It is possible to use the lights from that tent, you did it in the third picture

leehljp · Feb 28, 2021

EXCELLENT! Those picts make me WANT to look at the pens!

magpens · Feb 28, 2021

The thing is ......

..... All this fiddling around with setting up for photography ..... minimizing reflections ..... choosing camera settings ......

It is all peripheral to the real point ...... making a nice pen !!! . . Too bad there is not a way around the complication of taking the pics !!!!!!!

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

They were

Fred Bruche said:
It is possible to use the lights from that tent, you did it in the third picture

all the same lighting, but pens had different platings, another monkey wrench in the works.

Dehn0045 · Feb 28, 2021

I like the photo of the knurl gt the best also. I like the angle of the pen, I can't really articulate why I like it more, maybe it just seems a little more natural in the shot (how I would position the pen if I was looking at it on a shelf).

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

What do you all think about this one? I put a

diffuser cloth over the lights to cut down reflections.

magpens · Feb 28, 2021

Frankly, I do not like the pic you just showed.

I get the impression that it was taken in a minor blizzard ..... too much whiteness overall.

Isn't it amazing how the picture quality influences our judgment of the merits of the pen in the picture !!

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

magpens said:
Frankly, I do not like the pic you just showed.

I get the impression that it was taken in a minor blizzard ..... too much whiteness overall.

Isn't it amazing how the picture quality influences our judgment of the merits of the pen in the picture !!

LOL I cant win

Fred Bruche · Feb 28, 2021

KenB259 said:
They were

all the same lighting, but pens had different platings, another monkey wrench in the works.

Yes, the plating is certainly something to consider. The knurl gt is the only one where the stand doesn't show light reflections though. When we look at a picture our eyes instinctively go to the brightest spot/spots. Many bright spots keep the vision wandering and it takes longer to get to the pen. If there aren't really any bright spots, the attention will go quickly get to the subject.

magpens · Feb 28, 2021

KenB259 said:
LOL I cant win

EXACTLY !! ..... The point I am making !

You have to be a profession pen-maker AND a professional advertising cameraman !!

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

KenB259 said:
LOL I cant win

Fred Bruche said:

Yes, the plating is certainly something to consider. The knurl gt is the only one where the stand doesn't show light reflections though. When we look at a picture our eyes instinctively go to the brightest spot/spots. Many bright spots keep the vision wandering and it takes longer to get to the pen. If there aren't really any bright spots, the attention will go quickly get to the subject.

Click to expand...

What about the one I just posted. I like it,Mal doesn't. There are no reflections on the stand and the finish looks smooth like it is.

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

Here's a couple more I just took, in the same blizzard Mal.

Fred Bruche · Feb 28, 2021

KenB259 said:
What do you all think about this one? I put a View attachment 300216diffuser cloth over the lights to cut down reflections.

I like that one overall but the metal finial is a tad too bright and there's some light imbalance in the pen body that doesn't look natural. If there needs to be any the brightest half of the body should be toward the viewer.

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

I am going to try a few with a gray background.

magpens · Feb 28, 2021

One possible byline .....
'There are no mistakes in woodworking until you run out of wood.'

Another .....
There are no successes until you master the art of photography.

Fred Bruche · Feb 28, 2021

KenB259 said:
Here's a couple more I just took, in the same blizzard Mal.View attachment 300248 View attachment 300249

It's getting there, you need a bit more depth of field, the top part is slightly out of focus.

magpens · Feb 28, 2021

KenB259 said:
Here's a couple more I just took, in the same blizzard Mal.View attachment 300248 View attachment 300249

I like these .... somehow they encourage me to look through the blizzard and see the real merits of the pen.

Professional photographers must have simple tricks to get through all this ...... application of "digital filters" or something.

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

Gray background...better or worse?

magpens · Feb 28, 2021

Gray background = much better !!

But WHY ?

"Who cares ?" ..... is acceptable, I guess ..... if it works, use it !

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

Okay last one. I believe these all may not be perfect, but I believe I have improved my technique. This last one is with a gray background, camera moved off to the side, capturing the pen at a different angle and the light was turned down rather low, with a diffuser cloth.

magpens · Feb 28, 2021

@KenB259

Ken, I would like to know, please, the f-number and shutter speed for that last photo ..... which is REALLY GOOD !!

One more thing, Ken ..... can you please take a picture of your whole booth setup with pen (on stand) in place so we get an overview ?

Thanks.

Fred Bruche · Feb 28, 2021

KenB259 said:
Okay last one. I believe these all may not be perfect, but I believe I have improved my technique. This last one is with a gray background, camera moved off to the side, capturing the pen at a different angle and the light was turned down rather low, with a diffuser cloth.View attachment 300253

YES YES YES!

jttheclockman · Feb 28, 2021

Grey background is the answer to me. I use to shoot with grey, use to use gradient paper, shot with white and now sort of settled on a white shivering cloth type background. I do not use a tent. I use to but I move lights around and still looking for that perfect angle.

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

magpens said:
@KenB259

Ken, I would like to know, please, the f-number and shutter speed for that last photo ..... which is REALLY GOOD !!

One more thing, Ken ..... can you please take a picture of your whole booth setup with pen (on stand) in place so we get an overview ?

Thanks.

Mal I will do that, but another day, as I just took care of it all and my stomach is growling.

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KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

jttheclockman said:
Grey background is the answer to me. I use to shoot with grey, use to use gradient paper, shot with white and now sort of settled on a white shivering cloth type background. I do not use a tent. I use to but I move lights around and still looking for that perfect angle.

I agree about the gray, that's what I'll stick with.

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magpens · Feb 28, 2021

KenB259 said:
Mal I will do that, but another day, as I just took care of it all and my stomach is growling.

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@KenB259

Well ....... if you've got it all packed up and put away ....... then OK !

Fred Bruche · Feb 28, 2021

magpens said:
@KenB259

Ken, I would like to know, please, the f-number and shutter speed for that last photo ..... which is REALLY GOOD !!

One more thing, Ken ..... can you please take a picture of your whole booth setup with pen (on stand) in place so we get an overview ?

Thanks.

These numbers will depend on your camera capabilities/settings (such as ISO) and the lens you are using. Ken mentioned the light intensity was low. So ballpark he was probably using something like f8 or f11 for 1/25 to 1/40 seconds exposure.

jttheclockman · Feb 28, 2021

Just something to compare to and as I said I shot on all types of backgrounds. In order::
Grey background, graduated black to white paper, white, grey cloth (old days), blue felt, blue painted boards, and there are a few others but mostly now white shiny cloth.

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

Backgrounds definitely make a huge difference. All your pictures are well done to my eye.

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howsitwork · Feb 28, 2021

KenB259 said:
What do you all think about this one? I put a View attachment 300216diffuser cloth over the lights to cut down reflections.

better

magpens · Feb 28, 2021

@KenB259

No .... not so good as the last previous one.

But I thought your stomach was growling and you had to go for dinner ? !!

KenB259 · Feb 28, 2021

magpens said:
@KenB259

No .... not so good as the last previous one.

But I thought your stomach was growling and you had to go for dinner ? !!

Umm Mal..... I didn't post another one!!!

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Trying to up my photo quality

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