So im thinking i want to build a little studio-ish set up for taking photos of household things, just a good way to light them and have a good backdrop, but see im short on cash, so im looking for a real cheap way to set something like this up. i just want to take photos of small things, objects mostly. maybe my chameleon.
just looking for some pointers on how to go about lighting it, what kind of bulb or lamp i should try and use. and what should i use for a back drop? cloth? paper of some kind?
im in construction so i can build a stand and i have a tripod, and i have a space i could dedicate to it in the basement. so im just looking for some pointers on the other stuff.
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Comments: 15
Ryan,
The best way to take photos of small objects would be to build a light box. They can be made cheaply and can dramatically improve your photography. You can find many plans and material lists online.
Desk lamps with a white translucent diffuser (cloth, plastic) between the bulb and the object (or area) being photographed creates a strong frontal bathing light as well as ambient (indirect) light.
Never put anything directly on, or super close to a bulb or lamp. They generate a lot of heat and fires can be started or toxic aromas created.
Best of luck.
The biggest enemy in a studio setting (typically) are shadows. So the more indirect kind of bathing light you can create, the better off the objects in your pictures will appear... Unless you want dramatic shadows for some artistic effect.
Best tutorial I have found for making a light box.