Opinion Please;

[kwgeorge]

I made a goblet today out of Cedar. But that is not important what is, I spent a lot of time working on my photographic setup. I built a PVC frame and made a photo tent so to speak. I also added some new lights. What I notice is that the objects color is more realistic but the finish looks more satin and it is not. As a matter of fact it is high buffed. I also seem to have gotten a mirror reflection of the goblet in the base.

What is your opinion?

[Whaler]

Ken

As allways the turning is beautiful.

I like the subduded effect on the picture but I think it fits a portrait better, ie: a picture of a beautiful lady.
I think a turning like that needs to be a little brighter and with more contrast to show it off but I love the photo. It shows the beauty of the object without being overpowering.

It's a hard call to make.

[Scottydont]

I like the shape of that one. The pic needs little more light from the front. I just bought a like cube tent and waiting for my light fixtures to come so I canplay around with diferent techniqes.

[LCHIEN]

Ken, nice looking goblet, the photo is also technically nice but you can see from the highlights you used equal lighting from 45° high to the right and high to the left.

Maybe too technical-looking; even and symmetric.

You might try less technical lighting, one 45° to the side and one at the camera and vary the relative intensity for experimentation and dramatic effect.

Using strobes or fixed lighting?

[Tom Hintz]

kwgeorge,
The softness in the photo could come from being right at the edge of the focal length limitations of the lens. You might have to back up just a bit and then crop the photo down a little to get the sharpness you are looking for.
It's a nice photo though, the light tent is working!

[leehljp]

Elegant! Pleasing to the eye!

[kwgeorge]

Thanks for the nice comments on the piece; I am starting to wonder if I will ever be happy with my lighting. Maybe I should experiment with outside shots.

Loring; I am using fixed lights, one from the top and two angled from the sides. I have a piece of cheese cloth on the exterior of the tent that covers the left, right and top. I am using this in an effort to defuse the light some. I will experiment and move the lights around some.

Tom; I was about 6 feet away and zoomed in. I will try backing off the zoom.

[Tom Hintz]

kwgeorge,
Try positioning the camera up so you don't have any zoom dialed in. Unless this is a high-buck camera and lens, they often do not have very sharp focus in the zoom modes. Even the high-dollar stuff does better with no zoom.

[Ken Weaver]

Ken -
Email on the way.

[maxparot]

Set the camera for a lower ISO equivalent.
That should slow down the shutter speed and take in more detail.
My question is if your lighting is direct or reflected?
I would tend to try and use reflected light it would reduce the harsh reflection on the subject.
If you start to get bluring because of the slow shutter speed use a tripod to keep the camera steady.

[kwgeorge]

Well, the camera is set at 100 ISO and I tried for 2 to 4 feet away today and still not very good. I changed the lighting around and still did not do very well. For you photography guys, how many watts of light do you think is needed? Three 100 watt bulbs plus the rooms lighting is obviously not enough. I was looking at lighting just a minute ago on Wolf camera’s web site and am wondering about that. Maybe I should invest in one of there kits, they seem pretty reasonable but I don’t know how much I need.

[Jim Boyd]

****, I thought all your stuff looked good anyways Remember K.I.S.S.

[WoodPirate]

Hi Ken,

You might try using one of those smaller 60W flood-type lights from above and to your right (give it some distance). Aim it directly at the subject. That will bring out the sheen. It will also throw a shadow off to the left, giving the object an anchored presence in it's space, kinda like a natural sunlight shot.

I prefer to shoot from 6 - 8 feet away, but use optical zoom to bring in the subject (always use weighted tripod). This diminishes "fish-eye" effect and makes for a better "portrait". In the 35mm camera world a 105mm lens is much better for portraits than is a standard 50mm (normal human eye).

That piece is well worth whatever you go through for the perfect photo. Very nice!!!

<'(((><

[maxparot]

Using standard incandesent lighting there never seems to be enough light.
That is the reason strobes are used. It gives off a much more intense light for just the moment.
I used to have a photo light bar that took 4 150watt photo flood bulbs.
A more flexible way to go would be 4 clamp on fixtures 150 watt bulbs in each.

[kwgeorge]

Well, as a follow up on my picture taking quest. I decided I was just unhappy with my lighting. I even tried some halogen and they cast shadows from the light itself. So I went out and bought a Photoflood Kit from Wolf Camera. The guys there were real helpful and one guy that was in there was a professional portrait photographer. So I ended up with what I hope was good advice. Anyhow I ended up with a 3 Light and Stand kit that delivers 1500 Watts. It is made by Smith Victor and is model KT1500.

So here I go again! My wife said that this is not a hobby but rather an obsession. Being the quick witted person I am I responded “So!”