The Setup .... the Shot....

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fotojack

Senior Member
It's cold outside, snow on the ground, I'm bored silly....decided to do something in my shop. Set up the camera (D300), the reflector, and the flash (SB700). Took some selfies. This is how I set up, and this is the final shot. Everything done in manual mode.

The Setup:
JT3_3369.jpg

The shot (selected from about 6 or 7 I took):

JT3_3375.jpg

I used the gold side of the reflector to warm up the shot just a bit, and the flash was set on SU-4 (Commander Mode) as the Main light. White background is from the flip side of a Home Depot poster that I got for free. :)
This is by no means a "pro shoot", but just to show what can be done with minimal gear and a tight space.
 
wud

wud

Senior Member
Great picture. I'm not to fond of the shadows though, I can't really see where your flash are "hitting" but I would try adjusting it or moving the reflector closer, maybe both (since the shadows are at both sides). Just an idea.


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FastGlass

Senior Member
The shadows are because he's to close to the background. But that doesn't matter because his main point is to show what can be done with very little gear. Nice job Jack.
Do you really have snow already?
 
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slowpoke

Senior Member
Nice,Jack You got more room than me.I'll have to set up in the garage at the cottage to get any room.lol Happy Shoveling.:)
 
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Nathan Lanni

Senior Member
fotojack said:
It's cold outside, snow on the ground, I'm bored silly....decided to do something in my shop. Set up the camera (D300), the reflector, and the flash (SB700). Took some selfies. This is how I set up, and this is the final shot. Everything done in manual mode.

The Setup:

The shot (selected from about 6 or 7 I took):

I used the gold side of the reflector to warm up the shot just a bit, and the flash was set on SU-4 (Commander Mode) as the Main light. White background is from the flip side of a Home Depot poster that I got for free. :)
This is by no means a "pro shoot", but just to show what can be done with minimal gear and a tight space.
Click to expand...

Cool setup.

You got me thinking on how I could setup a smaller version using a whiteboard for shooting small objects. My son is into small action figures that he likes to arrange with a number of characters and Lego objects. I'd also like to try shooting other objects sort of like product photos.

What would you recommend for the base - another white board or something else?

Also, I notice a blueish color on the white board behind you but it blends to a yellower light higher up. Is the blue a result of your shirt color?
 
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fotojack

Senior Member
teagueAMX said:
Cool setup.

You got me thinking on how I could setup a smaller version using a whiteboard for shooting small objects. My son is into small action figures that he likes to arrange with a number of characters and Lego objects. I'd also like to try shooting other objects sort of like product photos.

What would you recommend for the base - another white board or something else?

Also, I notice a blueish color on the white board behind you but it blends to a yellower light higher up. Is the blue a result of your shirt color?
Click to expand...

It's actually corrugated plastic sheet, courtesy of Home Depot. :) The bluish colour is likely from the overhead fluorescent lights that I use in my shop.
 
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fotojack

Senior Member
FastGlass said:
The shadows are because he's to close to the background. But that doesn't matter because his main point is to show what can be done with very little gear. Nice job Jack.
Do you really have snow already?
Click to expand...

Yup...got snow. :( And yes, I was about 2ft. away from the front of the white board. And, I only used the one flash and a reflector. I knew that was going to happen with the shadows, but I didn't care, because it wasn't foremost on my mind. :)
 
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Sambr

Senior Member
I like the pose & composition of this shot. What's important is that Jack likes it. Now what I don't like the shadows the white balance( D300 has a great WB control)and the fact you cut the top of your head off. Shadows for me ruin photos like this. Just as a watermark across a photo irks you Jack. Again my thoughts only if You are happy with it. That's what matters.
 
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fotojack

Senior Member
Sambr said:
I like the pose & composition of this shot. What's important is that Jack likes it. Now what I don't like the shadows the white balance( D300 has a great WB control)and the fact you cut the top of your head off. Shadows for me ruin photos like this. Just as a watermark across a photo irks you Jack. Again my thoughts only if You are happy with it. That's what matters.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Sam. Yeah, it wasn't really about the photo itself (God knows I'm no model!). It was more about minimalist gear and tight spaces to work in, that's all. And like I said, I was bored, it's cold outside, and I needed to shoot something....and I was the only one available for a sitting. ;)
 
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