First Pic With A Home Made Light Box

January 16, 2015

I think I'm in love...

January 16, 2015

I think I'm in love...

Well ok, I am already spoken for but if you are prepared to try some lippy we will see how it goes.

January 16, 2015

Hi,

I guess "domestic" photo set up requires experimentation to find out what works.

My drama is finding a good (strong) diffuse light and and a set up that is easy to stow away.

Currently I'm using the "over the mircowave" set, up with a Nikon D3000 on a tripod.

Light can be further softned by taping a sheet of translucent paper over it...

and here is a sample of the results I'm getting...

Keep at it, you will find your settings.

Regards,

Pedro

January 16, 2015

Good result Pedro. How do you find the Nikon for close up work?

January 16, 2015

Hi,

The D3000 is (was) the entry level on the Nikon reflex range(current model is the D3200 I think), and I'm using the standard 18-55 lens.

So, it is not outstanding but I find it pretty suficient for my amateur usage.

I have thought of improving close-ups it with bellows, or even going for the more luminous 35mm f1.8 lens, but I've been spending that money on vintage Pelikans

I'll try a few samples during the weekend.

Rgrds,

January 16, 2015

Ironically, as I have a full studio at my disposal, most of my pens get photographed on my rather cluttered desk using a couple of cheap "Yongnou" flash guns with a cheap radio trigger attached to them. I bounce the light off the ceiling or wall to soften it and have also been known to use tissue paper, bubble wrap etc for diffusers. Backgrounds vary, I have a slate table mat, a piece of granite vinyl or if I just want to showcase the pen I simply shoot down onto a piece of plain white printer paper.
I don't actually like using the light tent as it's so limited.

http://pencollect.co.uk/personal/08.jpg

http://pencollect.co.uk/personal/45red.jpg

Wow those shots are incredibly crisp. Are you using a tripod and a slow shutter speed or something like that? It cannot just be getting the light right that makes those pics look so good?

January 18, 2015

Hi,

Let me begin by saying that I'm surly not the most qualifyed guy to post samples of camera capabilities...

With this in mind, and as promised, here are a couple of shots with the D3000, at the "microwave" set.

First in "Macro" mode,

Second in "apperture priority" mode,

In either case, camara lens must stay about 20cm away from the object so you can get focus.

Focus depth is small and you must choose where you want your focus point. Notice the difference on the 2nd shot as I've moved focus point to the nib tip.

I guess that with a tripod and a timer you will get a bit more crispier image.

As I've said before, I find this very sufficient for my general photo needs.

Nevertheless, taking close-ups a bit deeper, I could not resist the temptation to place this same MB149 under a usb microscope that just came in, but that's another topic

Regards,

January 19, 2015

I don't think anyone (aside from Ron) has mentioned the type of lights used. On the cheap, you can pick up some 'Daylight' bulbs at Home Depot/WalMart etc. They will keep your shots from looking yellow.

Here's a shot with my Iphone 5, a $5 lightbox, and daylight bulb in my office lamp.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/imgs/fpn_1421708294__image.jpg

Edited January 19, 2015 by ArtsNibs

January 22, 2015

If you're in the States you may want consider something like THIS

+1 on this light box. I didn't use mine until fairly recently. But I soon discovered that I didn't like the "tiny" lights that came with it. Went to Wally World (Walmart) and secured two bright polished aluminum "reflector shades" with spring clamps, like house painters use to light up their work. Also picked up two CFL daylight lamps with the highest wattage I could find. That allows me to keep the lights on while I compose the shot, since they're relatively cool compared to other lamp bulbs. And with the large aluminum "shades" I can easily light up at least 1/3 to 1/2 of the side of the light box, which puts plenty of light on the pens inside. Two adaptations I also found useful - I put a thick telephone book under the base of the light box, so the pens are lifted up a bit closer to the center line of the CFL lamps, which gives me a good bit more light on the pens. Also, I find that my camera does best on full "program or manual" mode, with the exposure set at +1 or +1.5 (greater exposure than "normal" or "automatic"), which gets the color much closer to true. YMMV. A pen friend told me some time ago that it's mostly a matter of trial and error to get the most out of your camera and light box, and I found that to be true. Once you find the sweet spot, it seems to just keep on producing good photos. I do use the small tripod pictured above, since that almost always helps to sharpen the focus and eliminate the "shakes".

- - - Jim

Edited January 22, 2015 by Autopoint

January 22, 2015

Thanks Jim, that is really useful information.

January 22, 2015

I think you have the right idea, but perhaps the wrong materials. I've tried something similar, see THIS thread.

My set up was as basic as they come. A cardboard box with some holes cut in it and a piece of old white T-shirt. One difference is that I did not put the camera on the top of the box but in the open front (which stayed open) and it was placed more or less level with the subject pen.

If you're in the States you may want consider something like THIS

Not bad for around $50

That looks awesome! I've just ordered one!

January 22, 2015

That looks awesome! I've just ordered one!

I think that you will be pleased with your purchase. Well made, useful piece of kit.

January 30, 2015

My light tent just arrived, it looks great, can't wait to try it out. Just wish I had a decent camera to use with it.

February 10, 2015

I made a softbox this week using a moving box and some tissue wrapping paper. It was an experiment that yielded some pretty interesting results. The lamps were cheap desk lamps from Target with some 60W LED bulbs. I might take a look a light tent like the one linked in this thread if nothing else because it's portable.

http://i.imgur.com/uqLcKM3.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/4Yg26Y7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/clSWtKv.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/wAOnbRW.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GohNr3h.jpg

February 10, 2015

Great result Maverick, good light and no shadows.

I would be interested in knowing the make of the camera and how you set it up. I am using a Panasonic and leave it on 'intelligent auto', this produces a large image that needs to be resized on here but I am aware that the camera was not made for close up work and what I am asking may be beyond its capabilities.

Your results appear to be excellent.

February 10, 2015

Great result Maverick, good light and no shadows.

I would be interested in knowing the make of the camera and how you set it up. I am using a Panasonic and leave it on 'intelligent auto', this produces a large image that needs to be resized on here but I am aware that the camera was not made for close up work and what I am asking may be beyond its capabilities.

Your results appear to be excellent.

Thanks! I use a Nikon D7100 DSLR. I can't remember which lens I used in the shots I linked but there's 3 I generally use for these shots. A Nikon 105mm VR macro, a Sigma 18-35mm, and a Tamron 17-50mm. I shoot in full manual mode.

If you're using a Panasonic point and shoot, it should have a macro mode indicated by a flower icon usually on a button or menu which allows you to get in closer. If you're using a Panasonic Micro 4/3 camera or something that allows you to change the lens on it, then it's a limitation of the lens itself and not the camera if it's not letting you get any closer. Some lens are made for close up photography. A macro lens will let you get very close.

This was shot with a macro lens (Nikon 105mm VR macro) with the light box setup.

http://i.imgur.com/6NrotuA.jpg

I also decided to buy a light box. I went with the one below because it's collapsible and a decent size. I'll play around with it when it arrives in a few days.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IEPXFL4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edited February 10, 2015 by maverick777