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Post by fishenman on Jun 16, 2008 21:52:47 GMT -5
Hi everybody. I made a little light box for cabochon pics. It's bamboo plant stakes duct taped together and a kitchen garbage bag around the outside (price was right ). The lights are 100w equivalent daylight compact fluorescent. It works but, I need to set it up better, find some sheer white fabric and figure out a little better lighting. O.K., here's the box Test pics. Rhodonite Pigeon blood agate Owyhee jasper Sugilite The super shiny stones like the agate are the hardest to photograph. I'd like to do better. I'm open to suggestions. I think the others turned out pretty good. Thanks for looking, Geoff
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Simon
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 352
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Post by Simon on Jun 17, 2008 0:54:34 GMT -5
Hi Geoff, You need to diffuse the light so you don't have such hard edges, try using a card board box cut holes in the sides and cover with tissue paper some thing like this. tinyurl.com/29tcpo works quite well. Or this tinyurl.com/zskbc more finesse. Hope this is of some help. Oh and I forgot if you're using a flash on a compact camera there should be a setting for like a half flash, try using that as well. alternatively stick some tissue over the flash as well. Simon
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Post by Woodyrock on Jun 17, 2008 1:10:08 GMT -5
One word of caution with using tissue paper for light boxes. It catches on fire very quickly! Those tungstun lights get very hot! If you can find some fibreglass skrim, or some other light weight fibreglass you will get much more piece of mind, and not burn down your shop. Years ago, I stepped in front of a photoflood, and set myself on fire, tissue paper would do so much faster, and since you would be focused on the shot, you will not see it happening. Woody
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Simon
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 352
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Post by Simon on Jun 17, 2008 7:48:45 GMT -5
Very good point, but, those aren't photo floods, if they were I think his cabs would be covered in melted trash bag.
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holdemplyer
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 418
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Post by holdemplyer on Jun 18, 2008 8:25:57 GMT -5
Simon, thank you very much for posting those links, I attempted to build a light box a while back and failed horribly, now i know what to do! woooo hooo.
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Post by fishenman on Jun 19, 2008 23:25:43 GMT -5
Yes, thank you Simon. It seems no matter how much the light's diffused, it's still white and the cabs are like little mirrors. I bought Workforce lights !! I have a little picture frame w/out the glass that I cover with black fabric Here's a sample shot Things that are less reflective than a cab photograph fine. I'm not sure I can totally eliminate the white spots. It's the mirror effect.
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Post by stoner on Jun 20, 2008 22:40:17 GMT -5
And don't forget to turn off the overhead light in the room!
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Post by creativeminded on Jun 27, 2008 11:41:17 GMT -5
Why don't you try a light behind or on top. Tami
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Post by LCARS on Jun 27, 2008 15:15:54 GMT -5
If your camera has a lens filter thread try using a polarizer to cut down on the reflected glare. It has to be oriented correctly to work but it's easy to tell when you've got it rotated to the right angle.
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Post by fishenman on Jun 28, 2008 10:55:21 GMT -5
Thanks. I will try a light on the top. I have a polarizing filter I just can't find it!
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