BTS one light set for shooting clear plastic on white.

[john g]

Medical Supplies.

I’ve shown this set here before but here it is again.

The set is based on the white background being a priority, so I lit that first.

I also considered the spread of the light. How many lights do I need to ‘cover’ the shooting area. In this case the answer is one. In other cases, it’s more. Full length portraits, for instance, considering that a set might be 6 feet tall, I’ll often use one light for the lower half and one for the face.

Flexibility: The size and density of the diffusion material is easily adjustable. The fill and second light sources can easily be added, in this case a silver card.

This is also a good jewelry set, ideally, a thin wooden frame can be used, topped with non-glare glass. Colors can be added at the back, it comes up a nice pastel and there’s a slight reflection of the subject in the foreground.

I used a tungsten Omni light for it’s spotting capabilities and the barndoors. I could have rotated the plexiglass box for a wider white background but I was happy from the first shot. Total time, setup to processing, six items, was about four hours.

I hope you like it!

Thanks,

J.


composite


Behind the scenes.


Raw file.

 

[D Saul]

Final shots look great. One question: why not use a really large flat sheet of clear acrylic to negate the need to retouch the cube's interior corners?

 

[Ellis Vener]

Well done! I also thank you for describing not just how you did it but how you think about how using light. That is a real contribution to the forum.

--
Ellis Vener
To see my work, please visit http://www.ellisvener.com
I am on Instagram @EllisVenerStudio
“It's not about the f-stop." -Jay Maisel

 

[photolando]

Reminds me of a lesson Dean Collins taught on getting a white background and soft light on the subject using only one light. Same concept just larger diffusion panel.

Good job. Looks great.

 

[Travis Burnside]

Really thoughtful and efficient use of light. Love it.

 

[john g]

Final shots look great. One question: why not use a really large flat sheet of clear acrylic to negate the need to retouch the cube's interior corners?

Well, because I don't have a big sheet of clear acrylic, All I have is this old plexiglass display box laying around. haha

But for real, I don't shoot a lot of these small shiny products anymore and I had to rush this shoot though quickly. I was happy on the first frame and I thought that as long as I got pure white between the tubing, I was willing to clean the outside.

But in hindsight, I'm thinking that I may have spent more like six hours on this. I should reevaluate my pricing but clients won't pay a lot for these e-commerce type shots, so it is what it is.

 

[john g]

Well done! I also thank you for describing not just how you did it but how you think about how using light. That is a real contribution to the forum.

You're welcome Ellis, I like this forum, I come here every working day and I've been a member for twenty-five years!

This modest forum is full of seasoned pros who are up to date on the gear and offer very good advice,

AND WE DON'T STOP POSTING UNTIL EVERYBODY GET THEIR SAY! haha

 

[john g]

Reminds me of a lesson Dean Collins taught on getting a white background and soft light on the subject using only one light. Same concept just larger diffusion panel.

Good job. Looks great.

I remember Dean Collins and I can almost recall the lesson. haha

Yes, this set can be turned sideways. If I am shooting a large reflective object, I'll often plant a 4x8 flat in front of it and shine a raw light on the flat from the side or behind the set. At that point there's an opportunity to expand that light to almost anywhere, background, side, or rim.

Any person adept with Matthew's flags may fall into this set. Unfortunately, I don't own any Matthew's flags, all I have are sheets of diffusion paper taped to pic stands I bought from Spiratone! haha

 

[john g]

Really thoughtful and efficient use of light. Love it.

Thank you, I put some effort into it, I had it all planned out in my mind ahead of time. (Although I've used this type of set many times before.)

The client had told me that another photographer had said it was impossible to shoot the clear tubing on a white background, that it would always be light grey. I knew that was wrong so I took it as a challenge!

 

[photolando]

all I have are sheets of diffusion paper taped to pic stands I bought from Spiratone! haha

Omg! There's a name I have not heard in decades! Spiratone! lol!! I remember seeing their ads in photo mags back in the day.

Of course now I have to look it up. Never knew it was started by a guy named Fred Spira. I remember the big S in the name. Sold all kinds of cheap stuff. Ah, the good ole days!