Advice needed for studio lighting

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Dave99 - 19 May 2008 02:00 GMT

Hello,

I'm looking for suggestions on what I might need for shooting some
products in the studio. I've done photography for years, but most of
it outdoors. We have to photograph products for our company, which
mainly consists of RF technology devices... In particular, antennas of
various types. Some are about 4' long and basically look like a TV
antenna turned vertically. Others are simple verticals that are made
from tubes about 5' long and 1" wide.

Until recently I've always photographed these products outside, but
that has started to be a real pain. We have to go to a location that
has a decent background and is also above the often poor air
conditions of L.A. That means hauling all the stuff sometimes 40 miles
and having to assemble it all on location. Weather is also a big
issue, because the wind can sometimes be too strong to setup the
antennas, or the heat is miserable.

So what I would like to do is start photographing the products in a
studio environment, preferably using fluorescent lights... Mainly just
because I think it would be a lot easier, and I don't want to have to
spend a bunch of money on strobe gear. These shots are basically for a
website, so we're doing digital at web resolution. A basic white
background would be fine. My question is, what size, strength and
number of lights would I need to be able to do this? If anybody has
ideas about a good setup for these types of products, I'm interested
to hear.

Thanks for any help,

Dave

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Ken Hart - 19 May 2008 02:52 GMT

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> Dave

First, the white background: You can buy a roll of background paper (Savage
is one manifacturer) depending on size, for under $100. You can either
unroll it and tape it to the wall, or you can buy a background stand. (For
starters, get a catalog from PortersCameraStore.com; there are many other
sources.)

I'm not big on fluorescent lights- the color of the light can make color
correction difficult. And the size of the lights can make control tough. If
color is critical, strobes are the way to go. If color isn't too critical,
you could use standard incandescents in "workshop" type reflectors.
Incandescents will have a 'warm' color cast, which is usually easy to
correct, or may not be objectionable uncorrected.

As an example: Let's say you're shooting a yagi antenna .Tape your white
background paper to the wall of the office you appropriated and let it
unroll across the floor. (Actually, don't unroll it across the floor until
you have the shot set up; you don't want to tear it or get it dirty) Suspend
the yagi using fishing line from the ceiling tile grid, with the driven
element end lower and slightly to the rear of the director element end. Aim
your light at the driven element with the light falling off slightly toward
the front end. Have the light positioned about 45 degrees off the camera
angle. The elements of the antenna will have good contrast. The closer end
of the antenna will be slightly darker; the lighter end (driven element)
will draw the eye.

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Joel - 19 May 2008 13:42 GMT

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> Dave

    I don't think what you need is complicate and expensive. I would say a
good backdrop (something like a small piece of seamless paper often use for
portrait, they come with several color), and few light sources to brighten
the object and to reduce/remove the shadow.

    Just place the object 5-6' away from backdrop to reduce the shadow, and
use light source to cpntrol the shadow.

    For smaller object then a BOX would be a good choice.

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