Camera / Lighting set up...

[Dead Dogg]

althai has been asking about this and figured it was about time I got a few images posted about. My lighting set up at home is pretty basic and inexpensive and I consider it pretty effective. My light source is just the lamp I use to paint by. It uses 2 15" 5000k bulbs and flood fairly well on its own. In front of the light I have a frame made from premade canvas frame parts from the local art shop for about 2$ USD a side for a total of about 8$ USD. I just bought the 4 sides and dry fit them together. Across the frame is a sheet of matte mylar being held in place with 4 push pins. This helps diffuse the light and keeps any hard spots of light hitting the mini Im shooting. I wished I could claim the simple ingenious design of this, but that credit goes to fellow forum goer Keltheos. I tend to keep mine balanced with 2 micro clamps facing opposite directions where they form a "Z" with the frames bottom edge. On the right side is a piece of scrap white foam core being held up by a bottle of paint medium. This helps reflect excess light onto the shadowed side of the mini. Its also known as a "fill card" as it tends to fill in the shadows with light. A very basic technique used by professional photographers/videographers around the world. Make sure its white, as it reflects light the best, otherwise it absorbs light. Technically this was free, but Im sure a piece can be found for 1-2$ USD. As a back drop, I tack on a piece of canson? paper. Ive always prefered a more neutral color as it tends to work with all color schemes the best and not fight any one color I have on the minis. (not to mention reflected light from the backdrop can alter the colors of the mini as well.) Usually can be found for 1-2$ USD. You can see my tripod without the camera, as obviously Im using it at the moment. Any decent tripod will do as your just trying to steady your camera.

When Im taking my shots, I always close the drapes and hang a piece of dark colored felt to keep all outside light, outside. All lights but the one I have in the pictures is on, so I know there will be no drift of color balance or light temperature.

So there ya have it. Any question or comments are always welcomed.


http://www.infohell.net/~deaddogg/DD_CameraSetup_01.jpg http://www.infohell.net/~deaddogg/DD_CameraSetup_02.jpg http://www.infohell.net/~deaddogg/DD_CameraSetup_03.jpg

[Otzlowe]

Very simplistic! I like it. (I also have all the materials on hand to be able to set one of these up myself, barring a good lamp.) I'm most certainly going to borrow this setup.

Also: For those unfamiliar, the wooden frames that DD is using are more commonly referred to as "canvas stretchers" in case you don't know where to look in an art supply store and have to ask.

[necrosys]

I much prefer this approach, than the "cut out the sides of a cardboard box" method!

Your photos look really professional, so am going to have to have a go.

Only one question, what is matte mylar? It looks like a sheet of vellum (my wife uses it for her scrapbooking) Is it the same sort of thing?

[Dead Dogg]

Only one question, what is matte mylar? It looks like a sheet of vellum (my wife uses it for her scrapbooking) Is it the same sort of thing?

Very similar. Vellum is more of a natural material. (animal skin, cotton sort of papers) Mylar is more synthetic. (plastics, ect) Its the translucency your after. I tend to lean on mylar as vellum tends to be a touch more thin, and does not diffuse as much.

[althai]

Thanks Todd. One question - I have some parchment paper lying around for use with a wet palette. Would that work as well as the matte mylar for diffusing light?

[Dead Dogg]

Thanks Todd. One question - I have some parchment paper lying around for use with a wet palette. Would that work as well as the matte mylar for diffusing light?

Impossible to judge without seeing it in person, but the best thing I can say is give it a try and if your getting hot spots or glares, its not diffusing it enough.