Trying to up my photo quality

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KenB259

KenB259

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Dec 24, 2017
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Michigan
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.
Cigar_01.jpg
Cigar_02.jpg
Knurl_01.jpg
N_Sceptor.jpg
N_Sceptor_02.jpg
Cigar_01.jpgCigar_02.jpgKnurl_01.jpgN_Sceptor.jpgN_Sceptor_02.jpg
 
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@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 !!! )
 
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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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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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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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 !!!!!!!
 
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).
 
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 !!
 
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 !!
Click to expand...
LOL I cant win 🤣
 
KenB259 said:
They were

all the same lighting, but pens had different platings, another monkey wrench in the works.
Click to expand...
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.
 
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...
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.
 
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.manhattan.jpg
 
@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.
 
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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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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.
Click to expand...

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


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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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
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. Copy of Copy of IMGP0892.JPGBraided Sierra.JPGCopy (2) of IMGP0924.JPGCopy of IMGP0202.JPGCopy of IMGP0525.JPGIMGP0783.JPG656Candy_Bowel-med.jpgCopy of IMGP0320.JPG
 
@KenB259

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

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