How to photograph cameras

[Al Kaplan]

It seems that we're getting more and more threads, comments, and photos about everybody's latest camera or lens rather than about what and how to photograph it, or use it to take pictures. Maybe somebody would like to jump in and explain how they photographed that camera? Maybe discuss lighting techniques, why they chose a particular lens perhaps, or why they didn't correct for distortion and alter the plane of sharp focus via utilizing the swings and tilts of a commercial view camera? Do it the right way instead of quick and dirty!

[tom.w.bn]

Please be lenient. If someone photographs his best camera he obviously can't use his best camera. That must be the reason why so many photos of cameras are rather average :-)

[buzzardkid]

I think the answer to your hidden question is simple.

It's far easier to upload images to Flickr than it is to upload here. The RFF engine has lost it to Flickr on uploading, tagging, group creating, etc.


Methinks the Head Bartender won't mind too much about the gearheads taking over the forum, so no change to be expected soon either, I guess.

[Dave Wilkinson]

It seems that we're getting more and more threads, comments, and photos about everybody's latest camera or lens rather than about what and how to photograph it, or use it to take pictures. Maybe somebody would like to jump in and explain how they photographed that camera? Maybe discuss lighting techniques, why they chose a particular lens perhaps, or why they didn't correct for distortion and alter the plane of sharp focus via utilizing the swings and tilts of a commercial view camera? Do it the right way instead of quick and dirty! Al, I used to do it that way - back in the 'good old days', but if I started again, I would not have time to come on here and read all the comic posts - about which new toy to get next! :D Dave.

[Al Kaplan]

Actually, it was a very serious thought, wanting to get a feel as to the way others here felt about it. Products, buildings, even portraits and landscapes can sometimes be depicted much better when you can change the plane of focus.

[MartinP]

Hmmm, is this a trend Mr.Kaplan ?

From Leica/Bessa, to TLR, to view-camera, to Ultra-Large-Format, to pinhole-in-a-room ?

;)

More seriously, yes that would be a good way to achieve the perfect result.

I actually happened upon a group of students in the foto-museum in Antwerp trying desperately to photograph a quantity of small, camping-related items laid out artistically(?) on the floor - total depth front to back of about three metres. They were using a tethered Canon digital camera of some sort, and all gathered round the Macbook-thingy complaining that the photo wasn't sharp all over . . .

Very sensibly, I refrained from saying something along the lines of "Oh youngsters today . . . What you need are movements, see." Largely because I thought it likely they had never heard of Scheimpflug (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheimpflug_principle), and my Dutch is not good enough to explain.

Not to demean Dutch speakers, as there was a very practical Dutchman who was often complemented on the, apparently wonderful, white-field lighting effects he used in hardware shots on his website (which I have forgotten the name of, sorry). He happily admitted that what he did was go out in the back garden when it got evenly cloudy (which happens often in Holland) and put the photographic gear on a table with a white backdrop.

Now I feel old. Ooops.

[neelin]

Do it the right way

I guess that would be to get Justin Low who often sells gear here to snap it. His product photos are outstanding!
robert

[capitalK]

The only time I use my digital camera anymore is to take pictures of my film rangefinders.

[Al Kaplan]

Hey, calm down folks! I wuz just bein' curious.

[John Robertson]

Very white tablecloth draped over some cereal boxes in bright sunlight, shot with my Digital camera, (one of the things it is very good at!) Generally flash switched off.

[buzzardkid]

The only time I use my digital camera anymore is to take pictures of my film rangefinders.


Hehehe, same here :D

How's the M5? Bet you like it!? I got mine loaded with Kodachrome and the M-Hex 50 and I use the M8 to shoot the M5:D:D

[charjohncarter]

Home made lightbox:

I have used it with my 6x7, we will see when I develop.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2551/3718845182_84dceba16a.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3450/3733763746_02aa551911.jpg

[ferider]

"Photostudio in a box", old Olympus digi P+S with no other purpose.

I agree that Justin makes really nice camera photos - have a look at his M2 in the classifieds.

Cheers,

Roland.

[capitalK]

Hehehe, same here :D

How's the M5? Bet you like it!? I got mine loaded with Kodachrome and the M-Hex 50 and I use the M8 to shoot the M5:D:D

I haven't been brave enough to load my M5 with K64 yet because I'm using Wein cells and still getting used to how it meters. I shot a roll of it last weekend in my Bessa instead.

As far as lighting is concerned, I saw a beam of light shining on the floor through my small dining room window and decided to place my camera inside it. No crazy set-ups... just taking advantage of natural light.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2508/3686818203_b8b0057607.jpg

[HuubL]

No tricks at all. Just use the red wooden table in the glasshouse, preferably with an overcast sky.

[jonmanjiro]

My experience has been that good product photos often mean better auction results, so its worth the effort to take decent photos. My product photography setup is a Nikon D200 DLSR, manual focus Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8, tripod, light box, lighting, flash only if necessary. Works great.

[buzzardkid]

My experience has been that good product photos often mean better auction results, so its worth the effort to take decent photos. My product photography setup is a Nikon D200 DLSR, manual focus Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8, tripod, light box, lighting, flash only if necessary. Works great.

I used to sell Hexars on the big auction site. Had a Fuji S3 Pro, Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8, Gitzo tripod and the right time of day for lighting. I included bigsize shots hosted from my own webspace and sold the Hexars like loafs of bread. Sold the Fuji, got the D300 and sold that as well, but selling hasn't been the same since then. The 105mm 2.8 is a killer lens, for sure.

@CapitalK: Great shot! Hows the secret handshake coming along, still practising in the garden shed?:p

[DennisPT]

Biogon + blue soft release, that's pretty good as well!
Cheers,
D

I haven't been brave enough to load my M5 with K64 yet because I'm using Wein cells and still getting used to how it meters. I shot a roll of it last weekend in my Bessa instead.

As far as lighting is concerned, I saw a beam of light shining on the floor through my small dining room window and decided to place my camera inside it. No crazy set-ups... just taking advantage of natural light.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2508/3686818203_b8b0057607.jpg

[bennyng]

Most of my gear pictures are snapshots off my dining/coffee table or kitchen counter, using the Canon IXUS 40, the Panasonic LX3 or occasionally with a Digital SLR. No special background or lighting. Though they are not anything to shout about, but I thought for internet sharing, it's good enough.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/3229219912_322c2d94d0.jpg
Shot with Canon IXUS 40 on the kitchen sink

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2569/3731998640_c7a09886e6.jpg
Shot with Panasonic LX3 on dining table

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2453/3577469947_8ae2899507.jpg
Shot with Panasonic LX3 on kitchen counter

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/3015175379_a7cfa793d8.jpg
Shot with Canon 1Ds MK2 on table

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3307/3668248144_e02ae593cf.jpg
Shot with Canon 1Ds Mk2 on coffee table

Maybe one of these days, I'll try to do it in a proper manner to do the gear a bit of justice.

Cheers,

[shadowfox]

Or a beach with stones and sunset glow...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3492/3744218767_382a3d348f.jpg

:D

[pphuang]

So, which do you think works better for selling a product? Tight cropped, "sexy" photos with dramatic lighting/shadows that get the juices flowing, or brightly lit shots with standard views that show every surface with good detail?

Ahh - maybe a good topic for a poll...:angel: ;)