Bead Photography Setup - What do you think?

I just found this on eBay and thought I'd fish around here for some
opinions. For those of you with some photography knowledge, what do
you think of it?
http://snipurl.com/8oxq

Tink
Check here for available work:
http://blackswampglassworks.com/latest.htm

I've seen that setup before and think it's rather pricey. You can shoot just
as well (I think your pix are already fantastic) with a pair of halogens,
some white nylon drape (about $6.99/yd at Joann) and optical white paper. A
light board would be nice but honestly I think it makes things look
overexposed.

Just my 2 cents (better than $275)

KarenK

I just found this on eBay and thought I'd fish around here for some
opinions. For those of you with some photography knowledge, what do
you think of it?
http://snipurl.com/8oxq

The only things that concerns me are that with bulbs instead of flash you get a
much slower "shutter speed" and with macro shooting you need alot more light
than just regular pictures. So it is more likely that you would get blurry pics
due to camera shake. If your camera has a little hole to put a cable release on
it you would not have that problem. The other thing is that your camera have a
good exposure overide feature. It won't meter the setup correctly and + or -
one like the site says may not be nearly enough.

I don't think you need to spend that much money on a simple setup like that.
But then if lighting really baffles you it would help to have it all put
together like that.


......Stephanie.....

My hubby's hobby is photography and is rather good at it....He cut me a
piece of matboard that is black on one side and white on the other and
hinged it clear matte tape. I can fold it black side up or white side
up...and it photographs nicely.

I did send him this auction and I will see if we can come up with something
similar (and cheaper).

Janet R
"Tinkster" wrote in message
...
I just found this on eBay and thought I'd fish around here for some
opinions. For those of you with some photography knowledge, what do
you think of it?
http://snipurl.com/8oxq

Tink
Check here for available work:
http://blackswampglassworks.com/latest.htm

Overpriced. You can do the same thing at home much cheaper:

Check out these resources:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Articles2/10237/214/

And this one will require Acrobat reader:

http://www.stayfocusedphotoclub.com/...hotography.pdf


"Tinkster" wrote in message
...
I just found this on eBay and thought I'd fish around here for some
opinions. For those of you with some photography knowledge, what do
you think of it?
http://snipurl.com/8oxq

Tink
Check here for available work:
http://blackswampglassworks.com/latest.htm

Thanks, everyone! I really appreciate the input!

Right now, I am just shooting on/against a sheet of printer paper. I'm
using two 75 watt Reveal bulbs for lighting. I don't use a flash, as I
think it "flattens" the image.

My camera is an Olympus 5050-Z. Regarding camera shake, it has a
wireless remote control, so shake isn't an issue. Thank goodness.

I just hate that I have a nice camera and such a cheesy setup. And
it's very hard to get in macro-close and still be able to hit the
front of the bead with light. The camera is in the way.

I have new pics up today and I changed some settings:
http://blackswampglassworks.com/latest.htm
I'd like some suggestions, if y'all wouldn't mind. One thing I did I
move the camera back from the work so light could get to the front
side of the piece. Because of that, I had to take it out of macro
mode. I don't think the pics look too bad.

Once again, I've been up over 24 hours. I have my AGI demo handout
finished, last night's beads are annealed, cleaned, photographed and
sold, and I am going to go lay on the sofa with three kitties and a
puppy and take a nap.

:-)

Tink
Check here for available work:
http://blackswampglassworks.com/latest.htm

Hi Tink.

Funny you mention it because I got it...at the recommendation of another
lampworker. I haven't quite figured out the light table yet and am not sure
if that was a wise purchase. But...I LOVE the tent. Overpriced? Probably
but I have a new studio being built and it looks nicer and will be easier to
move around (comes with a little case). I was working with the pvc with a
white sheet drape set up like in my WC! article which does work just fine!
There really isn't a need for this tent, but like I said, it looks good and
I personally feel more professional...it's a perception thing for me...I'm
not saying anything about how anyone else does it. I do think it might
difuse the light better so the lights reflecting on my beads is softer...so
maybe it is good. If you look at my site, don't judge by the first
picture...I had to photoshop it a bit too much and it came out grainy. I
have to replace it. On my page my images are half with the new set up (and
still working on them) and half with old set up. They look a lot alike to
me.

What I am really impressed with are the light bulbs. I went from reveal to
their day light fluorescents. Wow! Only 26 watts each but so crisp and
clear. I did have to change a setting on my camera because I used to have
it for incandescent with the reveals, but I like them. Some still need an
ever so slight tweak with Photoshop elements but it takes a few seconds per
picture. Oh, and I will probably leave a reveal set up for taking pics of
purples....the lights do that weird fluorescent thing to them.

So, I give thumbs up on the tent for perceived value, thumbs up on the light
bulbs (although it will necessitate new settings on your camera) and jury is
still out on the light table.

--
--------------------------------------
Lori Greenberg
www.beadnerd.com
ebay:
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...origre enberg


"Tinkster" wrote in message
...
Thanks, everyone! I really appreciate the input!

Right now, I am just shooting on/against a sheet of printer paper. I'm
using two 75 watt Reveal bulbs for lighting. I don't use a flash, as I
think it "flattens" the image.

My camera is an Olympus 5050-Z. Regarding camera shake, it has a
wireless remote control, so shake isn't an issue. Thank goodness.

I just hate that I have a nice camera and such a cheesy setup. And
it's very hard to get in macro-close and still be able to hit the
front of the bead with light. The camera is in the way.

I have new pics up today and I changed some settings:
http://blackswampglassworks.com/latest.htm
I'd like some suggestions, if y'all wouldn't mind. One thing I did I
move the camera back from the work so light could get to the front
side of the piece. Because of that, I had to take it out of macro
mode. I don't think the pics look too bad.

Once again, I've been up over 24 hours. I have my AGI demo handout
finished, last night's beads are annealed, cleaned, photographed and
sold, and I am going to go lay on the sofa with three kitties and a
puppy and take a nap.

:-)

Tink
Check here for available work:
http://blackswampglassworks.com/latest.htm

it's very hard to get in macro-close and still be able to hit the
front of the bead with light. The camera is in the way.

One thing you could do is cover the cameras flash with some kind of diffusing
material (paper, fabric) and that would reduce the amount of light and soften
it significantly so it doesn't flatten the object. You could also get longer
paper and curl it from the back under the bead up to the bottom of the camera
so that light will reflect back onto the bead. A piece of heavy paper with a
cutout for the camera to stick through will bounce even more light than the
curled paper.

Just some ideas.

Your photos look very good. A cheezy setup doesn't matter, it's really the end
result that matters.
......Stephanie.....

Absolutely - use some foam core for a bounce - hang it above the setup.

I've got 2 new reflectors with daylight flourescents in them. I was going to
'play' with them this weekend and get a permanent jewelry photo area setup.

Your photos look very good. A cheezy setup doesn't matter, it's really the
end
result that matters.

That's what I was thinking.
~~
Sooz