HOW TO USE  THEM AND GET GOOD PHOTOS

This is a summary of some major issues often overlooked or misunderstood by potters and others trying to take good photographs.

    WHY THIS COMMENTARY CAME INTO BEING

The following  commentary grew out of my experience as a juror for the Strictly Functional National Pottery Show several years ago.

The slides submitted for jurying were so inconsistent in quality that I wrote all the entrants a letter of encouragement and offered ideas on how to take better slides. I heard from a number of the potters who expressed their gratitude for the advice.

So, it is with the idea of pulling together all the bits of learning and equipment associated with successful photography that I offer this survey.

The following comments are all generally applicable to both 35mm slide shooting and to the use of digital cameras ( with some notable exceptions)

Because proper lighting is so critical to good results, we will begin with lighting options typically available. I have confined the options  to simple (non-strobe)* systems owing to the fact that they work well and are reasonably inexpensive for the most part.

A CAVEAT: I am not a professional photographer! The things I present here  are from of my own experiences on the way to taking better images of my work. Doubtless, a photographer would offer more profound explanations and render longer lists than you will find here. Be that as it may, I offer this material in the sincere belief that is will help potters find the path to more successful experiences as they photograph their work.

LIGHTING: TYPICAL SOURCES

THE KEY TO ALL SUCCESSFUL IMAGE TAKING IS THE PROPER LIGHTING OF THE SUBJECT MATTER AT HAND! HERE ARE SOME USEFUL OPTIONS

NATURAL: APPROX. 5000K (COLOR TEMPERATURE)

O.K. , But unpredictable and it isn’t usually available at night! (really?) Constantly changes as sun and clouds interact …thereby changing the color temperature of the light. A really big issue!

The light reading can go from less than 5000K to as high as 10,000K depending on clouds and time of day! Very iffy!

Must be diffused! Direct use on your pots might be too harsh…producing unwanted hi-lights and loss of detail!

However:

In fairness to an understanding of natural light options …visit Warren Frederick and Catherine Whites wonderful website to see their own pots which have all been photographed using natural lighting. Bravo Warren !

http://www.artistpotters.com/

And, see the Shooting Gallery page on this blog for a workflow commentary  from Warren. Thanks !

TUNGSTEN BULBS:3200K(COLOR TEMPERATURE)

Cheap and commonplace. Often called photofloods.  Most photo supply stores sell them.

Downsides:

Hot!! ( as in burn or hurt)

Requires diffusion (ALWAYS)

They only last at the intended color temperature (3200K) for perhaps as little as 3-5  hours of use. Some sources say that there is even less “in use” time before the color temperature begins to vary.

They do loose their rated 3200K color temperature over time and that makes the outcome on slides or digital images a “moving target”…meaning there will be odd color casts on your images as the bulbs age. Frustration!

See illustration below of Charlie Cummings gallery photo set up which uses photo flood lamps and a diffuser disc which you can observe hanging just below the two reflectors. Note that there is also a Veritone background in place. Good results!

Note: all images on his website are taken with this setup.

Http://claylink.com/

QUARTZ PHOTO LAMPS:3200K(COLOR TEMPERATURE)

More costly (see resources listings)

Hot ! (unless ones chosen are designed for specific situations and are therefore  safer to use. ( ex. Photoflex system john has) see resource listings

These lamps are not going to age badly as do the photo flood lamps.

These are going to produce light at the correct color temperature as long as they last …and,they last a long, long time.

Must be diffused! That is what you see above my head....the diffusion panel on the soft box.

Here I am under the Photoflex softbox making a custom white balance reading using my then, main camera the Olympus E20n. Many of the images on my website were shot in this lighting environment.

COLD FLUORESCENT LIGHT : 5000K  ( COLOR TEMPERATURE)

Typical life span: 5000 hours !!

Flicker free

Run totally cool! Very cool! Safe ...no heat to cause fires!

Inexpensive ( see resources listing)

Best to diffuse light (as with any light)  

FOR EXAMPLE:

LIGHTS BY PLC CONTINUOUS COOL LITES –THE PLC 360 MODEL

  SEE RESOURCES LIST

STROBE LIGHTS

I had said I wouldn’t include strobe ( electronic flash ) lighting in this survey. Then,  I am really not doing that because one of the better photographers that your could ever find is Gary Hatcher. See his workflow section in the Shooting Gallery ...it documents his work with strobe light.

If I were advising anyone to get a set up based on a simple lighting concept, this would be what I would suggest using as the beginning point. Safe(no heat), easily moved, inexpensive and has a diffusion device already in place.

OR:

Here is an alternative for those who want diffused lighting that is pre-packaged:

There are a number of “photo studio-in-a box” products coming into the lighting market. Typically these are nylon fabric panels with a lightweight structure that forms an open sided box. Included parts may be background material, camera stand and lights.(or, not) Sizes begin in the 16” cube scale up to at big as 48”cube.

Convenient and portable, these units may solve the problem for some potters. Their limitations are usually associated with their finite dimensions, lack of versatility for large pieces etc.  Prices begin at about $95.00-$120 for the small units.

  www.americanrecorder.com

, adorama.com or see results from a google search on tabletop photography or light tents etc.

A WORD ABOUT DIFFUSION -WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

Regardless of what light source we use, without diffusion we end up with harsh highlights and loss of detail in images!

How to diffuse light? We use:

Vellum as a diffusion material

Inexpensive table covering plastic sheet ( see Acme Lites-A- Lot)

White cloth

Commercially available diffusion discs(as Charlie Cummings uses in his gallery setup as seen above)

Softbox systems ( Photoflex as John has)

CAUTIONS: HEAT !!

Photo flood and quartz lights produce high heat and pose a fire hazard unless properly used. Even then, they are a potential risk and probably not worth the chance of fire risk.

So, safe distance from lamp to diffusion material is critical! Common sense with hot lights is critical !

Experiment with those distances and set up your system so no accidents can happen…leave nothing to chance!

Recall that cold fluorescent lights are “cool” lights-making them a great candidate for a more worry free set up.

Softbox systems (by Photoflex) if designed for a quartz lamp are suitable. John’s system is that approach.These systems are quite costly, however.

RESOURCES :

  CALUMET PHOTOGRAPHY

http://www.calumetphoto.com/

PHOTOFLEX KITS, BULBS , DIFFUSION DISCS, BACKGROUND PAPER  Etc

Typical Photoflex kits $500.00 –600.00 with soft box, stand and light unit called a Starlite Quartz light designed to handle the heat with little risk to the provided soft box.

Diffusion discs (zip discs , lite disc) costs $40- for 32” and $50 for 42” bigger is probably better.

Seamless background paper!

The one I use is oxford gray and I buy the large 107” size width -about $40.00 for big pots I have to shoot. Most folks could get by with the smaller 53” width roll(about $25.00). 

Note: this is solid color paper, not the graduated tone Veritone vinyl mentioned below!

Photography –Lighting.com

http://www.photography-lighting.com/coollightslites.html

PLC 360 continuous Cool Lites

One Light kit on stand is $189.95 plus shipping of $20.00

Two might be required! Typically, one overhead, one as supplemental side light. This Cool Lite shown slightly above this section of the page is a 16” diameter fixture.

Note: These are 5000k bulbs and would require the use of an appropriate filter on your lens if 3200k Ektachrome film is used for slides taking. Simply tell the photo store folks what light system (color temp) is being used. For digital, a white balance adjustment would be needed to set the camera to this light source. Nothing unusual there. Pricewise, these are more than the Adorama offering seen below.

SMITH VICTOR LIGHTING KIT From Adorama Camera

  

This is another option for cool, fluorescent lights. Smith Victor makes a three light kit and Adorama Camera sells them . This is a good set up owing to the fact that you get one boom mounted fixture and two stand mounted lights.Each fixture houses three bulbs of 5000K output. I would put diffusion material in front of these units...typically, something like vellum since there is no heat generated by these three bulb fixtures. These may come with manufacturer supplied diffusion covers. Price is $369.95 from Adorama.com for the kit. Great price for three units!!

WOW!! Here is a great source for consideration !!

                                   Britek

The Studio Technology:  www.briteklight.com

This is their kit PE9040 W/ 2 stands, 2 soft boxes, 2 1604 light holders, 8 bulbs. Watch for sales ...this was listed in March 2007 at $225.00!! They or others will offer a boom to add functionality to this set up. They offer a variety of kits worth checking into.

This is the core of the kit shown - the four light 1604 Pro Light Bank. This could be easily be used in a self-made soft box like my Acme Lights -a-Lot set up.

This costs $ 46.77 as it appears here. 6400K at 800 lumin. Naturally, without diffusion, this  is far too harsh for our needs!

            Want more output? Check out this:

3204 Pro Light Bank 6400 K, 4 larger bulbs with an output of 2600 Lumins! Stand back! $ 76.77

                THEN THERE WAS ExpoDisc !!!

Ah, come on ! Why do we have to know all this STUFF about cameras and goofy gadgets!!

Because !

There  is a really cool goodie that may very well make your photography life a lot better!

Check our the ExpoDisc on the ExpoDisc site first of all at:  www.expodisc.com

Read the reviews!

George Schaub, editor of Shutterbug magazine reviews this white balance aid very favorably in the May 2007 issue of the magazine.Well worth the read !

Lots of pros are raving about the little disc that really works to improve on the auto white balance feature on most cameras. I use one with my Nikon D200 !

It sort of looks like a filter or a lens cover. Nope!

Placed over the lens and camera is aimed at the light source ( in my case, the soft box I light with) take a custom white balance reading and save it in camera. Remove disc and shoot with refined and greatly improved white balance setting you have achieved !

Never point at the sun , though, as that little mistake can ruin your sensor!! The supplied instructions tell you how to accomplish outdoor readings safely.

This is an ExpoDisc...isn’t it cute ? The mascot for the company does not come with it ! It is there in sprit though. Not cheap...expect to pay about $75.00-100.00 and up depending on lens diameter.

Over all...read the ExpoDisc site for comments by pros , side -by-side comparisons of images taken with auto white balance and then with the corrected W.B done with the ExpoDisc ...amazingly transformed!

They also offer other related items. Must read!

HERE IS A GREAT NEW CONTENDER IN THE REALM OF EASY WHITE BALANCE ASSISTS!

MEET: Lally CAP This is a one size fits all white balance aid that folds and stores readily and offers instant reads for all lighting situations.

Find Lally CAP at http://www.lallyphotography.com/store/

Priced at about $30.00 with s/h

If I didn’t already have the ExpoDisc, this would be my pick! Yep.

Misc, and etc.

MOST ANY PHOTOGRAPHY STORE

Photo flood bulbs

Inexpensive reflector lamps

Filters for lenses to correct for color temperature issues with 3200k films

GRADUATED BACKGROUND MATERIAL

Here is a unique solution that solves the problem of a graded tone behind your pieces rather well. This is a pre-printed, graduated tone vinyl sheet that will offer a great transition from gray to black on the background of your shooting set-up.

Called – Veritone (actually a vinyl - like material which is more durable than paper (which scuffs easily) Note: the Veritone material can also be damaged by rough pot bottoms! Once damaged, such mars become very visible to the lens and there is no such thing as  a touch up for damaged Veritone surfaces. And, unlike seamless background paper, you can’t roll down more and cut off the scuffed area! Some folks are doing fine with Veritone...others might prefer the flexibility of paper. Flip a coin.

A  42” x 62” vertical format sheet is about $60.00

A  31” x 43” sheet ….about $32.00 

The wise choice is the wider one since lenses can see the rear-most edges and you will see the edges of the background material  in your images if you have a wide pot to shoot.

http://www.phototechinc.com/graduate.htm

MOST ANY ART SUPPLY STORE

Vellum ( a pad of it in large size ) for diffusion material.

Another good source for cheap and great diffusion material is what you see in use on the Acme Lites-a-Lot page ...the inexpensive table covering material shown in use for the two diffusion components on the soft box we made. It is a translucent semi matt surface and ideal as a diffusion material. Cheap and found at party supply stores.

Foam core board to make “bounce” cards for directing light.

Please bookmark for your convenience:

The link to this Fresh Plums site is web.mac.com/johnglick