How to Light this Shot?

Partinobodycular · Mar 27, 2011

I have a camera that I got a few years ago, and I thought that I would finally try my hand at taking something more than just family photos.

This is my first attempt at taking an actual "photograph" and after hours of fiddling with the lighting, this is the best that I could do. There's a lot about the photo that I'm not happy with, but as far as the lighting goes, I can't seem to find a way to get light on the bottom of the objects without introducing even more reflections in them. Plus I don't like the reflection on the top of the goblet. It's too distracting. But like I say, this is the best that I have been able to do.

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to better light this photo? How would a more experienced photographer light this shot? I'm very limited on equipment, but I'll try any suggestions as best I can.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

kundalini · Mar 27, 2011

What lighting do you have at your disposal? We can easily see the background sweep and overhead lighting, but is there more available?

It doesn't look like you are getting any foreground lighting, which is causing the very dark and detail lacking objects.

One suggestion would be be to angle your main light (overhead) towards the camera and have a bounce card to reflect the light back onto the objects.

Big Mike · Mar 27, 2011

You have chosen some very hard things to shoot. They are round, the goblet is almost spherical, and they have properties of direct reflection (they are shiny). The thing with object characterized by direct reflection, is that any light source within the 'family of angles' will show up as a reflection/highlight. And since your are round, the family of angles is basically everywhere but behind them. So in other words, you won't be able to get rid of the reflection if you want to light the front of your objects (which you pretty much have to do, if you want to see them). So the choice you have to make, is how you want that reflection to look (since you can't get rid of it). The position, size, shape etc. of your light source, will determine how the reflection looks. I actually think that what you have here, is pretty good, considering the circumstances. Maybe find a way to light it so that the reflection isn't so big on the goblet.

Partinobodycular · Mar 27, 2011

My current setup is a cardboard box that I cut the top and sides out of, and covered with white paper. For this shot I found that lighting only the top was the best option. So that's my main light source. Under the white paper, in the box, I suspended a piece of tissue paper to help soften the light. I also suspended a MagLight flashlight in the box which is shining down on the marbles in the goblet. For lights I just have normal household canister lights with 75 - 100 watt bulbs. I also have a 500 watt floodlight.

If I use the side lights I can illuminate the lower part of the objects, but I also introduce some major reflections. I tried putting a "bounce card" or a light in front of the setup, but to be effective it requires adding a great deal of reflection. I'm not totally against adding a light in front, but when I do it's completely obvious that it's there, and I was trying to have as few reflections as possible. I'll keep experimenting, and see what I can come up with.

The backdrop is actually a piece of black poster board, although it looks grey in the shot.

Big Mike · Mar 28, 2011

Another option would be to light it as best you can, then just deal with the reflections in post. In some situations, you can just clone out the reflections...but some situations will make this very difficult and it may take a lot more time than just lighting it better/correctly in the first place.

KmH · Mar 28, 2011

There are some technical aspects to lighting and reflections, known as the 'family of angles'.

If you want to learn how to light for photography I recommend you get the a good lighting primer like: Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting