Shoule I use the flash when using a light tunnel/light box?

[AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER]

Hello, I recently discovered the step by step instructions for building my own light tunnel/light box (How to Make An Inexpensive Light Tent – DIY). I followed the steps and it works great! I know next to nothing about photography so now I am looking for advice! I took a few pictures using my new light box. I can't tell if I should be using the flash or not! I have the box lighted with a desk lamp shining through the top part of the box. I took some with the flash, some without. I see pros and cons of using the flash or not using the flash! I am just interested in finding out what other people who are into photography would suggest! That way I will learn the proper way to use my light box! I have a Canon Rebel XT, EOS 350D digital camera. I purchased a remote switch for it so I would not move or shake it when the pictures were taken. I bought 2 tripods (one desktop, and one that stands on the floor to further stabilize the camera). I hope to go through my entire collection of football memoribilia and photograph everything. Before I start down that road I wanted to get this advice from everyone who is into photography so my pictures will turn out as nice as possible. Thank you in advance for your advice, suggestions, and input. Your knowledge will in turn, teach me! Have a nice day!


*** Also, how would you suggest I take pictures of the items that are too big to fit into the light box (flags, signs, banners, etc)? ***

[zona5101]

Hi and welcome.
Most likely you would not want to use your flash because it will make hot spots on shiny objects. If you like the look of the flash because it makes everything look brighter or whiter then you can achieve similar results by either increasing the power of the light bulbs you are using or leaving the shutter open longer. To achieve the white white you will need to adjust your color balance either in camera (preferred) or in post.

[inkista]

Funny. I'd actually say the opposite, especially if you have flashes that can be dialed down into the 1/32 - 1/128 range (or you've got ND gels), if you're going to be working in really close.

I'd say try both, and see which one you like. Just don't mix the two, as that will make white balancing harder. I prefer using my flashes, because I've got more light to work with, and it's a bit easier to experiment with placement, since they're uncorded battery-powered lights.





I've also used cheap Ikea plastic bins to do this kind of stuff with speedlights. This used an Ikea Sortera bin and a pillowcase:

[AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER]

I have one light from the top. Perhaps I should try two lights lighting both of the sides instead of the light being from the top only! What is the most common way to light the light box? Top, Sides, or Both?

[zona5101]

I agree with you inkista on using strobes, that is the way I would go ...but I made an assumption and that is rarely good...i assumed the OP was using his built in flash straight on and not diffused like your illustrated setup. I need to seek clarifying questions or explain my assumption.

On lighting the box...it going to depend how you want the shadows to appear. The more omni-directional the less shadow. Shadowless isn't necessarily the "best" way to light objects...we need the shadows to give things dimension. It your choice how to balance the detail and the shadow.

[AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER]

I position the camera on its tripod pointing into the open (front) side of the box. The top, sides, and back are covered with a white sheet. If the item is small enough, I will try to get the lens into the box too (unless I can't fit the item into the picture that way). I have attached a couple of pictures I have taken so far. If you see something I am doing wrong, please let me know! As Zona5101 pointed out, the pictures with the flash have a lot more color (which I like a lot), but the flash kind of ruins a small part of the item being photographed because of the flash on that particular part of it. I believe that is a hot spot? If I could get the colors to pop out like that without the "hot spot" that would be great! I appreciate everyones responses so far. I am beginning to learn a little!

[inkista]

zona: the first line of the OP's post stated he made a DIY light tent. Having done a similar project, I was able to interpret.

AP: the flash reflection you're getting is because you're using the on-camera flash, and the light is getting into the box from the open side, so it's undiffused by the sheet. The reason I wasn't getting that in my shots above, is because I'm using off-camera flash, with an on-camera master that doesn't emit light (a Canon ST-E2, but it could also be (cheaper) radio triggers). The problem with the pop-up flash is that you can't control the direction of the light. If you're going to use the pop-up flash, you might want to get a piece of paper to diffuse light, cut a hole in it for your lens to stick through, and then use liveview to compose.

In terms of where you want to put the lights, it depends on what direction you want the light to come from and the shadows to go. If you look again at my origami shot, the texture of the little paper crabs is actually defined by the shadows and their direction. You can put the lights wherever you want. Experiment and see what you like best.

[AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER]

Would a piece of copy paper work to diffuse the light? I still have some of the sheet material left over from making my light box would that be better? Thank you to you and everyone who has helped me so far! Your adivce is really helping a lot!

[inkista]

Copy paper will work as either a diffuser or reflector if you've got nothing else. I used tracing paper as my diffusion material (turned out to be unsuitable for origami, damnit). The sheet material might be best, since then you'll color match the other sides of the tent.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by inkista

zona: the first line of the OP's post stated he made a DIY light tent. Having done a similar project, I was able to interpret. .

I got the light tent part. OP never mentioned if he was or was not diffusing the flash, you assumed yes, i assumed he was using built in flash and no diffusion on the flash portion. Nether here nor there but you inferred an ability (or inability on my part) to interpret, but both were assumptions.