Product Photography, Shadows.. help!

[Benjamin2]

Hi There,

I'm really stressing myself out over my photography, I wonder if someone could help me out..

Basically the problem I'm having is regarding shadows in my photos which you can see below :


problem3.jpg
problem2.jpg
problem1.jpg

I'm using an area 80cm wide with a 60cm length so I can't get my lights down the side of background which is a grey paper roll.
I've got a large silver reflector but this isn't making any difference. The shadows beneath the bowls is my main issue, I can crop the other one out.

problem4.jpg

Currently I'm using two softboxes with a 5500k colour temperature, they have five bulbs in each light with an internal diffuser.
A 7d with 18-135mm lens and I'm using the internal flash on this.

To give you an idea of settings I'm using a 1/50 shutter, F5, auto iso and shooting raw.

I don't really want to correct these in post process so any help here would be greatly appreciated!

* Just to note the lights are just there for reference, I don't normally set them up unlevel.

[Ads]

[Benjamin2]

I'm thinking of getting a ring flash to resolve the issue.. thoughts anyone? .. please

[KmH]

Raise the product, or lower the lights. You might also get by by using a couple of white reflectors low on each side of the product to reflect some light under the object to fill the shadows. Some white foamboard would work. Some black foamboard can be used to subtract light.

However, you really need more lights than what you have in your set up, and your softboxes look like they don't have an internal diffusion panel.

If you don't already have it, get the book - Light Science and Magic, Fourth Edition: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting

[cgipson1]

^What Keith said!

Get the softboxes closer to the subject, more on a horizontal axis! Right now, you are throwing light at a strong downward angle... and the light source cant reach where the shadows are!

Does this make sense to you? (I know.. I am a lousy freehand artist)

Softlight.jpg

[Benjamin2]

Raise the product, or lower the lights. You might also get by by using a couple of white reflectors low on each side of the product to reflect some light under the object to fill the shadows. Some white foamboard would work. Some black foamboard can be used to subtract light.

However, you really need more lights than what you have in your set up, and your softboxes look like they don't have an internal diffusion panel.

If you don't already have it, get the book - Light Science and Magic, Fourth Edition: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting

Thanks!!! Keith, I'l purchase the book. In the meantime, what would you recommend? I don't have a lot of space to play with so I'm thinking a third softbox isn't really an option. I need something small, cheap and effective..

By defuser your talking about the sheet between the softbox cover and the light? each has one but I guess they aren't diffusing the light very well/ or it's just the picture.. I'l check this later on.

[Benjamin2]

^What Keith said!

Get the softboxes closer to the subject, more on a horizontal axis! Right now, you are throwing light at a strong downward angle... and the light source cant reach where the shadows are!

Does this make sense to you? (I know.. I am a lousy freehand artist)

Softlight.jpg

Loving the diagram Charlie, really helpful! ... I get what you are saying I'l give this a go in a moment and see what happens.. If this doesn't work I have a table I can use to raise the product up. I do have another issue to resolve after this but I won't confuse matters just yet.

You guys are lifesavers! ... thanking you!

[Derrel]

Mad diagramming skilz for the win!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES!!! I think we need more of this kind of helpfulness on TPF.

"A picture is worth a thousand words."

[cgipson1]

Mad diagramming skilz for the win!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES!!! I think we need more of this kind of helpfulness on TPF.

"A picture is worth a thousand words."

Why thank you, Derrel! It is rudimentary, but I think it gets the point across!

[cgipson1]

^What Keith said!

Get the softboxes closer to the subject, more on a horizontal axis! Right now, you are throwing light at a strong downward angle... and the light source cant reach where the shadows are!

Does this make sense to you? (I know.. I am a lousy freehand artist)

Loving the diagram Charlie, really helpful! ... I get what you are saying I'l give this a go in a moment and see what happens.. If this doesn't work I have a table I can use to raise the product up. I do have another issue to resolve after this but I won't confuse matters just yet.

You guys are lifesavers! ... thanking you!

I just hope it helps! lol! And yes... read that book!

[Benjamin2]

Okay, so I tried it again with the setup in the image below...

result2.jpg

and ended up with this result :

result.jpg

Thoughts anyone?

[cgipson1]

flip your softboxes horizontal!

move them down further.. get the bottom of the softbox on almost the same axis as the bottom of the bowl! Softboxes are still too high.. maybe too far away.

move the two softboxes together, leaving just enough room to shoot through!

Try it.. see what happens

In the image I drew for you.. where are the bottoms of the softboxes in comparison to the bottom of the subject?

Also.. turn a softbox.. take a shot of the softbox while lit.... I want to check for hotspots.... cheap lights / softboxes often have hotspots, and don't soften light that well!

[Benjamin2]

Okay now I feel stupid, I see what you mean! ...

will try again soon and take image of softbox

Thanks again!

[cgipson1]

Okay now I feel stupid, I see what you mean! ...

will try again soon and take image of softbox

Thanks again!

Ain't no Stupid about it! Just have to learn... We all stupid until we learn, right? lol!

[Benjamin2]

Yes indeed! ... I've rotated the hoods now so i'l give this a go tomorrow...

[gsgary]

And don't shoot on auto ISO if you are shooting with studio flash you should be on manual settings