Mbirdsley Posted March 10, 2015 Report Share Posted March 10, 2015 Just wondering what every bodies oppion is on this. I been trying to figure out a eye pleasing way of taking a picture of my lures to post on the web. Obvious considerations would be lighting, making sure clutter is out of the picture, and keeping the flash out of the back ground. I was thinking of taking a old shoe box and putting black constrion paper in the back ground so it really make the lure stand out. But, I dont know if i can enough light in to the box or keep the camera from flashing and having it show up in the back gound. what do you guys do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gone2long Posted March 10, 2015 Report Share Posted March 10, 2015 Make a cheap light box use white background not black do YouTube good basic designs over there and on the cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 10, 2015 Report Share Posted March 10, 2015 Just wondering what every bodies oppion is on this. I been trying to figure out a eye pleasing way of taking a picture of my lures to post on the web. Obvious considerations would be lighting, making sure clutter is out of the picture, and keeping the flash out of the back ground. I was thinking of taking a old shoe box and putting black constrion paper in the back ground so it really make the lure stand out. But, I dont know if i can enough light in to the box or keep the camera from flashing and having it show up in the back gound. what do you guys do? We must be on the same wave length. I just made a light box out of foam board . I want to take better pics of my jigs for my website and my catalog. Light is definitely the most important thing. I believe three light are needed to get rid of shadows. Top, left and right. A white interior inside the box is a must for brightness. If you want a black background, you black poster board as your backdrop. Compose your object to the way you want and a camera on a tripod is a must. Use white tissue paper to soften the light, low ISO speed and you are good to go. I will post a pic of the light box I just made. Cost me $9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 10, 2015 Report Share Posted March 10, 2015 (edited) Attached are some pics of the light box i just made this past weekend. It is 16" x 16" x 16". You can make it any size you want. You do want holes on the top, left and right for lights. If you try to put only lights from the front, you will get shadows and it doesn't look good. Best light I found to use were labeled daylight lights. A little more expensive, but you get a more natural look when the light bounces off. Also if you choose to use tissue paper, don't put the lights too close as the tissue paper will ignite. The camera I took the pic this morning with is a cheap $100 Canon.I took the pic in total darkness with a flash. The Canon would be more than adequate for my catalog with the proper lighting, however even with the zoom feature, I want to get really close. I am going to use a Nikon D7100 for my picture with a macro lens. You don't have to get so elaborate, but I can get as close as 6" to my subject. That is why lighting is so important. You can't use a flash 6" away from anything. It will overexpose and wash out. Finally, I will be using 100 watt bulbs. More light is always better, if you have too much light you can always move the lamps further away from the light box. Hope this helps. Edited March 10, 2015 by cadman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted March 10, 2015 Report Share Posted March 10, 2015 This is all good advice. My preference would be for outdoors, slight overcast conditions and flash to bring out the colors. Choose an interesting backdrop, something not too intrusive; Jagged rock, driftwood etc. These kind of backgrounds will soak up and disperse any excess light and the drabness will contrast your bright colors. You can also use the background prop as a prop for your lure. Many expert photographers would frown on this advice and would never use the built in flash of their cameras. Personally, I do bug photography and more than 90% of my shots, even in bright sunlight, are taken with flash, but only the keenest of eyes would be able to tell. This image is an example taken in bright light with flash. Yes, the shiny top coat of the lure is going to catch a point of light, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. What is more important is that the background object will break up the shadows to the point that they are no longer a distraction. If your camera is capable of focus, always focus on the eyes. Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 10, 2015 Report Share Posted March 10, 2015 (edited) This is all good advice. My preference would be for outdoors, slight overcast conditions and flash to bring out the colors. Choose an interesting backdrop, something not too intrusive; Jagged rock, driftwood etc. These kind of backgrounds will soak up and disperse any excess light and the drabness will contrast your bright colors. You can also use the background prop as a prop for your lure. Many expert photographers would frown on this advice and would never use the built in flash of their cameras. Personally, I do bug photography and more than 90% of my shots, even in bright sunlight, are taken with flash, but only the keenest of eyes would be able to tell. This image is an example taken in bright light with flash. Yes, the shiny top coat of the lure is going to catch a point of light, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. What is more important is that the background object will break up the shadows to the point that they are no longer a distraction. If your camera is capable of focus, always focus on the eyes. Dave dragon 4042.jpg Wow great photo. I do a lot of exterior insect shots as well, and nothing like the sun to capture true colors and a flash to highlight the shadows. I only mentioned a light box, because I have 100 jigs to take pics of for my website and catalog, and it is not feasible to take these outside and make them all consistent, so when you flip the pages they all look similar. This may look staged (which it is), but I can't shoot all of these outside as I would never get the same sun, shade and composition as I would in a set up environment. For one or two pics no bigee. Just my opinion. I guess the question to the OP is are you doing one or two lures/jigs or are you doing a series for a catalog or website. then you will have to go from there. Edited March 10, 2015 by cadman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted March 11, 2015 Report Share Posted March 11, 2015 Dave, How long did it take you to train that dragonfly (damselfly) to hold that pose? Sorry, couldn't resist. That is a beautiful photo! It's amazing how colorful nature really is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted March 11, 2015 Report Share Posted March 11, 2015 Actually, I am glad you asked - I have been working with Hubert the dragonfly for about ten days. Kidding aside, they often adopt this pose when the sun is high, pointing their abdomen at the sun, to reduce the surface exposure. A kind of temperature control. I have been shooting dragons for about 3 years. In the early days, my success rate was about 2%. My success rate is now around 70% for getting a shot. It is all about the approach and knowing when not to bother. Dave 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted March 11, 2015 Report Share Posted March 11, 2015 The architecture of the wings is incredible. The vein patterns, the colors. Do you think wings developed from hairs on the back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbirdsley Posted March 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2015 Attached are some pics of the light box i just made this past weekend. It is 16" x 16" x 16". You can make it any size you want. You do want holes on the top, left and right for lights. If you try to put only lights from the front, you will get shadows and it doesn't look good. Best light I found to use were labeled daylight lights. A little more expensive, but you get a more natural look when the light bounces off. Also if you choose to use tissue paper, don't put the lights too close as the tissue paper will ignite. The camera I took the pic this morning with is a cheap $100 Canon.I took the pic in total darkness with a flash. The Canon would be more than adequate for my catalog with the proper lighting, however even with the zoom feature, I want to get really close. I am going to use a Nikon D7100 for my picture with a macro lens. You don't have to get so elaborate, but I can get as close as 6" to my subject. That is why lighting is so important. You can't use a flash 6" away from anything. It will overexpose and wash out. Finally, I will be using 100 watt bulbs. More light is always better, if you have too much light you can always move the lamps further away from the light box. Hope this helps. wow, thanks cadman that box is preatty impressive. Best way i have found ever messing around with it for the last day is to go into the bathroom, put lures on the sink andturn off the lights. This way the flash wont show up in the photo. It comes out nice and clear but not all the details show up. when I get time ill have to built that box. I cant get the photo to load because it is to big. I think we probally have the same cannon camera well, when i bought it 5 years go it was around 100 bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 11, 2015 Report Share Posted March 11, 2015 wow, thanks cadman that box is preatty impressive. Best way i have found ever messing around with it for the last day is to go into the bathroom, put lures on the sink andturn off the lights. This way the flash wont show up in the photo. It comes out nice and clear but not all the details show up. when I get time ill have to built that box. I cant get the photo to load because it is to big. I think we probally have the same cannon camera well, when i bought it 5 years go it was around 100 bucks. Thanks for the compliment. Once I put my background cardboard in there, I will experiment, with composition, and whether I want to just have a plain jig, or put it on some gravel, black mirror, or something else. I want to make my jigs stand out, but I don't want to make it too busy. I still have to buy three light-bulbs and reflectors for my lighting. Lighting is key. Like I mentioned You can take impressive photos with a $100 camera, if you light your subject well. If you need more help down the road, just send me a PM. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nedyarb Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Tissue paper around the sides of the box helps eliminate shadows 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Tissue paper around the sides of the box helps eliminate shadows That's what I use, the big sheets you buy during X-mas time. It works really well. You just have to remember not to get the bulbs too close to the tissue paper as it will ignite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bois d'Arc Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 We must be on the same wave length. I just made a light box out of foam board . I want to take better pics of my jigs for my website and my catalog. Light is definitely the most important thing. I believe three light are needed to get rid of shadows. Top, left and right. A white interior inside the box is a must for brightness. If you want a black background, you black poster board as your backdrop. Compose your object to the way you want and a camera on a tripod is a must. Use white tissue paper to soften the light, low ISO speed and you are good to go. I will post a pic of the light box I just made. Cost me $9. Great post!! I've been struggling to get good photos of lures for quite some time now. I made a box for the purpose of improving on photo quality but did not get the results I was looking for. This information filled in the blanks for me. Already bought a nice camera trying to get better picture quality so....I'll be building one of these light boxes as soon as possible. As always great information on the TU site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acuna Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Light boxes work, but be sure to have a light set up that eliminates shadows. I just use my iPhone and take pictures on an interesting background. Sometimes I will use Instagram for effects. Here are some examples: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
First Strike Lures Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 (edited) I've got a really expensive Canon camera, special lighting, tipod...you name it and I believe I get just as good pics with my cell phone. Much of the time more light is not better, especially if it's a shiny lure as the reflection is washed out and colors don't come out true. The blades in the attached pic are transparent paint over genuine silver plating but in bright light pics you can't see the metallic-ness of them at all. Only in really low light did that come though. No box or anything, just on my desk with cell phone and desk light turned off. GS/First Strike Lures Edited March 26, 2015 by First Strike Lures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikefishnfl Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 I use a light box also, similar to what Cadman uses. One thing I do inside my box is curve a piece of white poster board inside vertically. The reason for this is it will eliminate any shadows created by creases. Be careful putting a light against tissue paper! Like said, it can ignite. It can also create bright spots inside the box. You want the paper to diffuse as much direct light as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 I use a light box also, similar to what Cadman uses. One thing I do inside my box is curve a piece of white poster board inside vertically. The reason for this is it will eliminate any shadows created by creases. Be careful putting a light against tissue paper! Like said, it can ignite. It can also create bright spots inside the box. You want the paper to diffuse as much direct light as possible. Mike, I will take some more pics shortly. I also use a curved piece of cardboard inside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo Al Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 I don't take pictures of my baits but I wish I took one of the first fish I caught on my own lure. Anyone starting out should do this so they won't regret it like me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
