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Lighting Advice for Bottles etc. for a beginner

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cyberk9

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Hi all,

I am in the process of setting up my small studio for the purpose of taking my own product images (for my upcoming catalog and website). The products are bottles (mostly plastic and some glass). I need nice and sharp images.

I have a Lowell Tota-light only. It seems that when I have this light on, all my images come out so dark, so I can barely use it. When I use flash, it reflects on my bottles and tins and I am frustrated.

I must get the proper lighting gear or no matter what I do, my images will never be what I need.

What do you all suggest? Help!

Thanks so much for the help!

Kay
 
I suggest strongly getting a copy of "Light, Science and Magic", which will help you understand the nature of lighting reflective (and other) objects. By understanding that you will do better in both getting and using the right equipment.

Dave
cyberk9 said:
Hi all,

I am in the process of setting up my small studio for the purpose
of taking my own product images (for my upcoming catalog and
website). The products are bottles (mostly plastic and some glass).
I need nice and sharp images.

I have a Lowell Tota-light only. It seems that when I have this
light on, all my images come out so dark, so I can barely use it.
When I use flash, it reflects on my bottles and tins and I am
frustrated.

I must get the proper lighting gear or no matter what I do, my
images will never be what I need.

What do you all suggest? Help!

Thanks so much for the help!

Kay
Click to expand...
--
David Colt
http://www.davidcolt.com
 
David,

Thank you, I just bought it online. In the mean time - do you have any suggestions on which equipment I should do research on.

Thanks for the great suggestion :-)

Kay

---------
David Colt said:
Dave
cyberk9 said:
Hi all,

I am in the process of setting up my small studio for the purpose
of taking my own product images (for my upcoming catalog and
website). The products are bottles (mostly plastic and some glass).
I need nice and sharp images.

I have a Lowell Tota-light only. It seems that when I have this
light on, all my images come out so dark, so I can barely use it.
When I use flash, it reflects on my bottles and tins and I am
frustrated.

I must get the proper lighting gear or no matter what I do, my
images will never be what I need.

What do you all suggest? Help!

Thanks so much for the help!

Kay
Click to expand...
--
David Colt
http://www.davidcolt.com
Click to expand...
 
cyberk9 said:
Thank you, I just bought it online. In the mean time - do you have
any suggestions on which equipment I should do research on.

Thanks for the great suggestion :-)

Kay

---------
David Colt said:
Dave
cyberk9 said:
Hi all,

I am in the process of setting up my small studio for the purpose
of taking my own product images (for my upcoming catalog and
website). The products are bottles (mostly plastic and some glass).
I need nice and sharp images.

I have a Lowell Tota-light only. It seems that when I have this
light on, all my images come out so dark, so I can barely use it.
When I use flash, it reflects on my bottles and tins and I am
frustrated.

I must get the proper lighting gear or no matter what I do, my
images will never be what I need.

What do you all suggest? Help!

Thanks so much for the help!

Kay
Click to expand...
--
David Colt
http://www.davidcolt.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--

If I'm not mistaken, these are hot lights, not strobes. If they are coming out dark then you are under exposing I would guess. But without seeing the images we are just guessing. I agree with David...you need some instruction before investing in more lighting. Your problem is probably not the lights. I recommend seeking out someone local who has some experience and offer to buy or make them dinner if they come over and
give you a few pointers to get you started.

Jim DeLuco
DeLuco Photography
http://www.delucophoto.com
 
Hi Jim,

Yes, I really have to practice taking pictures indoors. I will read the book suggested and will learn as I go along I guess.

Thanks for the help :)

Kay
Jim DeLuco said:
If I'm not mistaken, these are hot lights, not strobes. If they
are coming out dark then you are under exposing I would guess. But
without seeing the images we are just guessing. I agree with
David...you need some instruction before investing in more
lighting. Your problem is probably not the lights. I recommend
seeking out someone local who has some experience and offer to buy
or make them dinner if they come over and
give you a few pointers to get you started.

Jim DeLuco
DeLuco Photography
http://www.delucophoto.com
Click to expand...
 
I recently did a shoot of 60+ bottles for a client where the labels were partially reflective foil, both brown glass and white plastic. They were extremely difficult to get the reflections right in the foil and at the same time get the details of the bottles. I did most of them in a translucent plastic cacoon. Here is an example. If you want details, email me and I will send you a description of the setup. HTH. PatiO.


cyberk9 said:
Yes, I really have to practice taking pictures indoors. I will read
the book suggested and will learn as I go along I guess.

Thanks for the help :)

Kay
Jim DeLuco said:
If I'm not mistaken, these are hot lights, not strobes. If they
are coming out dark then you are under exposing I would guess. But
without seeing the images we are just guessing. I agree with
David...you need some instruction before investing in more
lighting. Your problem is probably not the lights. I recommend
seeking out someone local who has some experience and offer to buy
or make them dinner if they come over and
give you a few pointers to get you started.

Jim DeLuco
DeLuco Photography
http://www.delucophoto.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
look at http://www.pbase.com/igor_diklic/inbox
igor
PatiO said:

cyberk9 said:
Yes, I really have to practice taking pictures indoors. I will read
the book suggested and will learn as I go along I guess.

Thanks for the help :)

Kay
Jim DeLuco said:
If I'm not mistaken, these are hot lights, not strobes. If they
are coming out dark then you are under exposing I would guess. But
without seeing the images we are just guessing. I agree with
David...you need some instruction before investing in more
lighting. Your problem is probably not the lights. I recommend
seeking out someone local who has some experience and offer to buy
or make them dinner if they come over and
give you a few pointers to get you started.

Jim DeLuco
DeLuco Photography
http://www.delucophoto.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
cyberk9 said:
Hi all,

I am in the process of setting up my small studio for the purpose
of taking my own product images (for my upcoming catalog and
website). The products are bottles (mostly plastic and some glass).
I need nice and sharp images.

I have a Lowell Tota-light only. It seems that when I have this
light on, all my images come out so dark, so I can barely use it.
When I use flash, it reflects on my bottles and tins and I am
frustrated.

I must get the proper lighting gear or no matter what I do, my
images will never be what I need.

What do you all suggest? Help!

Thanks so much for the help!

Kay
Click to expand...
--

Also, even though you are using digital (I presume) you still will benefit from a good handheld meter.

Jim DeLuco
DeLuco Photography
http://www.delucophoto.com
 
equipment: Canon D-30,28-135IS,28-70L,70-200L,550exX2,st-e2,
seconic -L308bII,multiblitz profilux 600,bowens espritII with soft box,
mafrotto still-life table 220,
software: photoshop 7,autofx,and many of my time
igor
Jim DeLuco said:
--
Also, even though you are using digital (I presume) you still will
benefit from a good handheld meter.

Jim DeLuco
DeLuco Photography
http://www.delucophoto.com
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Igor,

Thank YOU for the super help...I love your set up so much..

Yesterday, I bought a Di7i and a S609. Now I am deciding which to keep and will test them this week.

I was looking at the Canon D60, but just cannot afford that for now...Do you think Minolta Di7i will be a better choice for what I need, or will the Fuji S602 provide the same results?

Thank you so much again!

Kay :)
igor said:
look at http://www.pbase.com/igor_diklic/inbox
Click to expand...
 
Hi PatiO,

YES, I would love details :-)

Thank you so much! I will e-mail you...

Kay :)
PatiO said:
I recently did a shoot of 60+ bottles for a client where the labels
were partially reflective foil, both brown glass and white plastic.
They were extremely difficult to get the reflections right in the
foil and at the same time get the details of the bottles. I did
most of them in a translucent plastic cacoon. Here is an example.
If you want details, email me and I will send you a description of
the setup. HTH. PatiO.

Click to expand...
 
some new foto



all at http://www.pbase.com/igor_diklic/igor_2
Igor
cyberk9 said:
Thanks Igor,

Thank YOU for the super help...I love your set up so much..

Yesterday, I bought a Di7i and a S609. Now I am deciding which to
keep and will test them this week.

I was looking at the Canon D60, but just cannot afford that for
now...Do you think Minolta Di7i will be a better choice for what I
need, or will the Fuji S602 provide the same results?

Thank you so much again!

Kay :)
igor said:
look at http://www.pbase.com/igor_diklic/inbox
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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