My D.I.Y. Photographic "Studio"

[Oakdale Studios]

Sorry Mod's I know there are other posts on this but I couldn't find them, yes I did try but failed. If a Mod would prefer to move it feel free or point me in the right direction and I will re-post there.

This is my D.I.Y. photo "studio"

Its made from an angle poise lamp with tissue over the lamp to diffuse it and the light from this has a "warm" feel to it.

On the left is a light-box with diffuser top for viewing negatives, but could have used another angle poise lamp and tissue.

The articles are put on-top of a sheet of A3 paper and blu-tacked on the wall is another sheet of A3 with a slight curve to it.

I only have a Sony DCS-W7 camera and used the close-up (flower) setting for most of the shots.

I sometimes used the flash and at times it produced some glare so I also took the same shot without flash to give me a choice.

I know I need to work more on close-up focusing and composition but I like the results so far.

All the photos below are un-touched and un-photoshopped and as they came out of the camera.

Total cost =£0 as I had everything anyway, luvely jubbly :)

Vik

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https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gIXU9Ph9dZk/TrPo5O_RY1I/AAAAAAAACM8/-zEvcMZDUiM/s800/Photo%2BStudio%2B026.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DRo6SAWEws4/TrPooBwvHuI/AAAAAAAACMc/bMkeku47x-g/s800/Photo%2BStudio%2B022.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tJpL2YcH57U/TrPmVkVCHhI/AAAAAAAACJ0/LsaxscjDJto/s800/Photo%2BStudio%2B002.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZTm__6Q7WM4/TrPnYI4erjI/AAAAAAAACLE/pIOTqM7FRJQ/s800/Photo%2BStudio%2B012.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P8cPgq_AwlI/TrPntncsAXI/AAAAAAAACLc/WocTAhywg60/s800/Photo%2BStudio%2B014.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AMo6wgzOFTg/TrPobAxeWCI/AAAAAAAACMU/8wrdk8H7bYQ/s640/Photo%2BStudio%2B020.JPG

[keystamp]

I think you should be proud of the results, especially at no cost to you. I doubt if a profesional photographer could have done much better.

Roger

[bubbleicious]

Fantastic Vik i totally agree with Roger, very professional. Fancy coming to do mine? lol, i suck at photography!

[Oakdale Studios]

I think you should be proud of the results, especially at no cost to you. I doubt if a profesional photographer could have done much better.

Roger


Fantastic Vik i totally agree with Roger, very professional. Fancy coming to do mine? lol, i suck at photography!

Thanks both of you. My brother is/was a pro photographer and says he could do better lol. It was him that pointed out the focus and composition. He even had the cheek to complain that I had used his light box too!

Nevertheless, I think it worked quite well and easy enough for anyone to do. You could even use two good torches!?

Vik

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[Mojo_77]

That's a great studio! I like the idea of the old book and the composition is nice but the focus is just slightly off on the last one, it needs more depth of field, the acorn is a little soft, but that's just being picky! Can I ask though, is that a real acorn?

[Oakdale Studios]

That's a great studio! I like the idea of the old book and the composition is nice but the focus is just slightly off on the last one, it needs more depth of field, the acorn is a little soft, but that's just being picky! Can I ask though, is that a real acorn?

Thanks for the advice but now I need the tutorial. I need to have a play with my camera and try the depth of field on it as it is quite critical and un-forgiving.

Yes, it's a real acorn, copper plated, nickel plated then gold plated....it takes about 7hrs to make one unless you do them in a batch of four.

Vik

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[Mojo_77]

Wow, that's amazing, sounds like a real labour of love! Regarding the pics try a smaller aperture, but with some lenses if you go too small you get softness due to diffraction, so it's a bit of trial and error really. If you move further away from the subject you get a greater dof, and if the pics are only for web use you can always crop them down. Apologies if you already know this!

[Oakdale Studios]

Wow, that's amazing, sounds like a real labour of love! Regarding the pics try a smaller aperture, but with some lenses if you go too small you get softness due to diffraction, so it's a bit of trial and error really. If you move further away from the subject you get a greater dof, and if the pics are only for web use you can always crop them down. Apologies if you already know this!

Thanks for the info, I do know what you are talking about but not used the camera that much on anything other than auto so will have a fiddle.
I have 7 mega whatsits to play with so I can crop them down.

Yes it's a "labour of love" but also matched by the price tag lol

Vik

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[sakura-drops]

That's very clever. The pictures came out great.

[Oakdale Studios]

That's very clever. The pictures came out great.

Thank you and thank you although I have to work on my aperture, composition and focusing but I'm getting there without spending a fortune ;)

[Mojo_77]

Yes it's a "labour of love" but also matched by the price tag lol

Vik

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No, I think your price is justified, given the fact they take seven hours it's maybe a little low, but I know what you mean, sometimes it takes me 2 days to make something I sell for £50, though usually because I make a b***s of something and have to re-do it! Imho at the moment it seems like crafts are being devalued because people are unwilling to spend money on items they consider to be non-essential, but these are things that can possibly last a lifetime, and sellers are happy to take the extra income where they can, and if it's something they enjoy doing all the better, but there are always going to be people who rely on their craftsmanship for their livelihoods, and it seems wrong to undercut them. Public perception of crafts seems to be stuck in the 1950s of housewives baking cakes and knitting tea cosies and things that cover toilet rolls and it's up to the modern crafter to prove otherwise.... imho ;)

[Oakdale Studios]

No, I think your price is justified, given the fact they take seven hours it's maybe a little low, but I know what you mean, sometimes it takes me 2 days to make something I sell for £50, though usually because I make a b***s of something and have to re-do it!

Imho at the moment it seems like crafts are being devalued because people are unwilling to spend money on items they consider to be non-essential, but these are things that can possibly last a lifetime, and sellers are happy to take the extra income where they can, and if it's something they enjoy doing all the better, but there are always going to be people who rely on their craftsmanship for their livelihoods, and it seems wrong to undercut them.

Public perception of crafts seems to be stuck in the 1950s of housewives baking cakes and knitting tea cosies and things that cover toilet rolls and it's up to the modern crafter to prove otherwise.... imho ;)

Put that to music and you'll be No.1 by Christmas ;) but please....no rap! and yes, I know what you mean.

If you do get to No.1 can I have that oak leaf and acorn guitar strap of yours....attached to Rory Gallagher's Strat?...I'll pay the p&p!

Vik

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[Mojo_77]

If I get to No 1 I'll deliver it myself! :)

[Oakdale Studios]

If I get to No 1 I'll deliver it myself! :)

Done, but it's going to be tough, Cliff and Slade will be out there and probably Jedward :o

[Mojo_77]

I thought this forum had a swear filter?

[nikon]

You've done pretty well for a homemade setup, I used something similar when I first started in product photography. A simple white linen cloth only clothes basket with the side cut out and 2 desk lamps.

For anyone that would like to have a go themselves for a cheap outlay you can get a 60cm squared light tent from a website called ecrater.co.uk for £22 inc delivery, comes with 4 coloured backgrounds too. Then simply add a couple of desk lamps to light it and there you go.

As for your issue with depth of field, as already mentioned by another forumite, move the camera further away and this will increase the DOF with the same settings.

[Oakdale Studios]

You've done pretty well for a homemade setup, I used something similar when I first started in product photography. A simple white linen cloth only clothes basket with the side cut out and 2 desk lamps.

For anyone that would like to have a go themselves for a cheap outlay you can get a 60cm squared light tent from a website called ecrater.co.uk for £22 inc delivery, comes with 4 coloured backgrounds too. Then simply add a couple of desk lamps to light it and there you go.

As for your issue with depth of field, as already mentioned by another forumite, move the camera further away and this will increase the DOF with the same settings.

Thanks for the compliment and advice. Will post more photos when I've had a little more practice.

Amazon have one for £29.97 >>>>HERE (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro-Product-Photo-Soft-studio/dp/B001A3Z7OK/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1320883774&sr=1-8)<<<<

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31NyCtg0mAL.jpg

Vik

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[goodnightboutique]

Beautiful photographs :)
I can't wait to get my new camera - it should be arriving on Monday

[Oakdale Studios]

Beautiful photographs :)
I can't wait to get my new camera - it should be arriving on Monday

Thank you for the compliment, I bet it's a bit like Christmas at your house then?

Don't forget to post your photos and also add a review about your camera.

Vik

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