RE: [photoshop-beginners] I have a lighting problem

I should also have suggested that for liquid surfaces (soups, etc), you might use only ambient lighting - no flash.  Compensate with higher ISO (film speed) and larger aperture.   It may take some experimentation to get the right angle on the light to avoid reflections, but with a digital camera, immediate review of the results is possible.  If you have a threaded lens on that camera, a Polaroid filter can be used to cut reflections at certain angles, but it will also absorb some light.

 

From: photoshop-beginners@yahoogroups.com [mailto:photoshop-beginners@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Garden Gnome
Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 11:36 AM
To: photoshop-beginners@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [photoshop-beginners] I have a lighting problem

 

 

Thanks so much for your help!  I will try these ideas to see if I can get some better results.  From what you've said the white tile combined the camera flash is causing some of the problems.  I'll report back on the results.

 

Garden Gnome
http://momskitchencooking.blogspot.com
http://gardengnomewanderings.blogspot.com

 

 

From: Pieter Litchfield <pieter_litch@yahoo.com>
To: photoshop-beginners@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, January 18, 2010 3:27:47 PM
Subject: RE: [photoshop-beginners] I have a lighting problem

 

In looking at a few of your images, there are harsh lighting circles on the food, or bright reflections from liquid surfaces.  Other images look good to me.  In the attached image (editedtwst_ fg), there are some reflections in the foreground, bright subject center, shadows left.  A bit less light on the front and maybe some added fill lighting from the left might have helped.  Overall I would say its not a bad job at all.

I'd suggest:

Don't use shiny white backgrounds.  These often fool the camera's light meter.  I'd use an flat (not shiny) off white or colored cloth background.

Try using lighting other than the camera flash.  I often use ceiling bounce or reflector bounced flash or even ambient lighting.  Direct flash can be harsh.

To facilitate this, turn the ISO "film speed" setting up to a value that won't create noise, and use the aperture that gets the entire subject in focus.  This ISO value varies from camera to camera, but might be 800 or 1600, for example.

You can experiment with levels to avoid the wash outs in Photoshop as well, of course

 

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