Thread: First Light Box Photoshoot!

Originally Posted by DoctorSaul

Super job on the razor. I'm trying to do the pins as neatly as you have. I'm close, but yours look much better than mine.

The photos are terrific. Now I've got to either build or buy a lightbox. I've been using a close-up stand with my Canon T4i with a macro lens and have an attached light ring. It works well for coins that I sell on eBay, but not so hot for taking photos of razors. B&H in New York City has a large selection of lightboxes, I'll review them when I get a chance.
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I found a really nice lightbox... they call it a light shed at B&H photo in New York City. It is a Polaroid brand and sells for $49. Comes with a small tripod and two lights. The description says it was designed for e-commerce. I've purchased from B&H before for lots of computer and photo stuff. A great place with great prices and fast shipping (usually free).

Originally Posted by Chevhead

I do have editing software but that seems like cheating...

Totally NOT cheating.

Putting a little bump in contrast, recapturing highlights that are overexposed or distracting, cropping.. these are all pretty much necessary edits to images and can make an average image outstanding. Don't fear the editing software!!

Originally Posted by MikekiM

Totally NOT cheating.

Putting a little bump in contrast, recapturing highlights that are overexposed or distracting, cropping.. these are all pretty much necessary edits to images and can make an average image outstanding. Don't fear the editing software!!

I don't "fear" it...it just seems like you are cheating. I guess if your not "fixing" anything besides contrast and exposure it would be okay. I have this preconceived notion that editing software is to fix what doesn't look right. ie...smoothing out skin or wrinkles. I will play with it some more.

I have that box, it is nice, folds up in a nylon case for easy storage.

A paper or cardboard back drop and you are good to go. I like hand laid papers from a good paper store for some unique backdrops, a piece of Duct Tape on the top and let it curve down behind and under the razor.

+ 1 on the software, IR fan view is another simple free basic photo software for quick use.

Originally Posted by Chevhead

I don't "fear" it...it just seems like you are cheating. I guess if your not "fixing" anything besides contrast and exposure it would be okay. I have this preconceived notion that editing software is to fix what doesn't look right. ie...smoothing out skin or wrinkles. I will play with it some more.

LOL... Take my use of the word 'fear' loosely.

Consider this... famous landscape photographer Ansel Adams often said he spent more time in the darkroom creating the perfect print than he did in the field creating the original image. He used all kinds of objects to refine the printed image.. fingers, pencils, bottle caps, paperclips were all tools to dodge and burn portions of his images to create the high dynamic range that made his prints so amazing. The darkroom was for Ansel what post-production editing software is for us.

Todays editing software is no different than Ansel darkroom.. It is an essential tool in creating a pleasing image. No doubt it is often overused. Filter effects, textures and one-click presets often take things light years from the original image. Having said that, this 'over-processing' has become a genre of its' own. Goodle 'High Dynamic Range or HDR'. To be frank, most basic cameras do some level of image editing on the fly, and absolutely do when you're shooting in jpeg format. Scene settings such as portrait, landscape, Vivid, etc all do a ton of brutal destructive editing to the original pixels. Yes, editing software can be extreme and smoothing wrinkles is the tip of the iceberg. For our purposes, edits such as crops to eliminate busy backgrounds, sharpening to define blade etching and Damascus patterns, contrast and highlight adjustments to give images more visual snap and even vignette or selective focus to direct the viewers attention, are pretty nearly required if one wants images to move from mundane to eye-catching or simple forensic documentation for a BST post to more moving visual experience for a SoD post. With patience and experience, much of this (like exposure, white balance, blurred backgrounds, selective focus, and proper cropping) can be and should be done in camera, but the digital medium we tend to view images in, requires some steps that are best done in post-production software. In addition, gone are the days of viewing little 4x6 prints. We are looking at things in much larger, more detailed formats. Images straight from the camera are a far cry from what they can be with a few clicks in post production software.


[/rant]

Back to originally scheduled discussion...

i agree with Chevhead. the restore looks good and your peening is especially great. keep it up.