DIY Product Photography with a Tiny LED light

[subhsen]

Do you smoke?

Might sound most irrelevant as far as product photography is concerned, but, if you do, and use those lighters that have a LED torch at the bottom of it (just like the one I have), here's a lighting solution (mostly free) for product photography. If you don't smoke, well, you can buy one from a fag shop for 25 cents or so.

My objective for the experiment was to attain a full white background with a tiny LED light, just like the ones we get by using 2 or 3 lights along with some reflectors.

BEFORE (No PP)



AFTER (PPed)


F-stop: 11
Shutter: 15 sec
ISO: 100

Here's How I Did It

1. Switched off the laptop and kept it in open position

2. Put an A4 photocopy paper, resting the top part resting on the monitor and bottom part on the keyboard to get a seamless effect in the photo

3. Placed the pen diagonally

4. Set-up the tripod.

5. Switched on the camera and set the frame in Aperture Priority mode.

6. Switched off the light, stretched the curtains of the window, closed the door to make the room pitch dark.

7. Switched on my lighter's torch.

8. Put the torch at a height, so that the pen is dimly lit.

9. Set the focus and the exposure was locked. I noticed a 15 sec shutter speed was selected.

10. Selected a 2 sec self-timer and clicked.

11. While the camera was waiting for 2 sec to click, I took the light down closer to the pen and started to paint the entire paper with light by moving my torch.

12. Towards the end of time, I started painting towards the shadow areas, like the front and side lines of the pen, so that the shadows become softer.

13. In RAW editor, changed the exposure, fill-light, brightness and added white vignette and masked out the dark areas of the bg in PS.

That's it!!

[subhsen]

Don't know, if this thread is generating any interest. Till now 33 visits, but, no reply or post about trials.

Here are two more photos taken using the same method:

#1 In White Background:


#2 In Black Background:


Would love to have your feedback.

Thanks.

[cameramouse]

Interesting....not my thing but interesting.