New to macro need mucho help!

[nathank]

We have embarked on a macro adventure, shooting shots of jewelry for a local business.

We have absolutely no idea what we are doing, so please help us!

We are using a Canon Rebel XT with a Canon 50mm macro lens.

As far as our lightbox setup; we got the instructions online. It has cutouts with tissue paper over the sides and top which we are shining the lights through.

http://www.wikihow.com/Create-an-Ine...raphy-Lightbox

I am sure there can be improvements upon it. We have been playing with the light setup, but we obviously have not found a good way to do this. Feel free to offer advice about the setup.

Here is the best image we have been able to produce from this setup.



Or click for large version

http://www.nathank.com/images/107large.jpg

Is there a way to make the background appear white instead of yellow or blue? We have tried using halogens, and fluorescent bulbs, but all of them end up with a tint to the background.

[nathank]

Here is our lightbox setup

[nathank]

One of our issues lies in the fact that for some reason when we shoot with the apature set at 32 we get a blurry image



and if we kick it over to 10, we get a somewhat focused image

[superstang]

Also, the iso was 400 and in custom white balance mode metered from an expodisc...Shots were taken in aperature priority setting...Thanks in advance

[Taallyn]

You might be getting some diffraction effects with an aperature that small. As I understand it, cropped sensors like those in the consumer DSLRs reach their diffraction limits sooner than full frame pro cameras do. So, diffraction can cause some softness at high aperature values.

I'm not sure where the Canon DSLRs' limits are, but I have read that the Nikon sensors start to reach their diffraction limits between f16-f22 or so. Try using aperatures around that.

Also remember that with macro photography, you will be dealing with much smaller depths of field than you would in normal photography, even with high aperature values.

[hpebley3]

My first thought is you just have the wrong WB setting, but then you indicated you're using an Expodisk. Are you sure the camera is setup properly using it?

But then I saw your setup; it looks like you might have different temperatures of light, making white balance near to impossible even with the disk. Try turning off the halogens or incandencents (I'm assuming that's what you have) and just use a longer exposure to compensate. Or get a flash and a means to get it off camera (radio remote or extension cord). In a space this size, a single flash should give you more light than you need.

Hope this helps.

[clockdoc]

Harley and Craig provided some excellent advice. It appears that you have more than enough light as shown in your setup. You may also want to try shooting from a bit farther away as depth-of-field is so critical a closer distances. Use one light source and if your camera has independent color balance, run some tests using each setting. GE Reveal bulbs seem to have a "whiter" light than regular household bulbs which tend to the warmer side. As for your white background, have you tried lighting the background from below? This is best done shooting on a white plexiglass or other translucent material. Keep the light sources the same. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[Olivier H]

Not exactly what you are about, but those articles may give you some ideas with your settings regarding lighting.
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/03...ed-vodkas.html
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/03...impressed.html

Indeed f/32 is a bit too closed down to avoid diffraction. Depth of field in macro photography is always a problem.
What did you use for a lens?

[Joe Hoetzl]

Wow, that is some setup, however, it might be a bit overkill.

You color balance issues are most likely being caused by the mix of different light sources, and you didn't mention what the overhead lights might be, or other lamps in the room.

I like to use 100W CFL "Daylights" - in a little device I call a JoeGo which is a complete rip of a certain other expensive little product.

Also, I am not sure why you are going for ISO 400, but I would do this at 100 or maybe 200, tripod, and equally important, a remote shutter release.

Also, to reduce the reflections and to boost the lighting, you may want to craft a front shield/reflector so the camera and tripod aren't reflected off the front surfaces.

Lastly, those cymbals may be casting a bit of color into the shot - you may want to remove them.

[superstang]

Thanks for all the input guys..We have been playing with different shutter speeds and apertures and they are getting better but this lighting game is a hard one to figure out. I think our lights arent "white" enough..We ditched the over head halogens, reduced fim speed to 100 and are overexposing with shutter speed, but the background still isnt showing pure white...That is until we REALLY slow the shutter down, but then ofcourse the subject is way washed out.


P.S our lights are 5500k 27watt "daylight" pig tail flourecents....And i did take the cymbals down..LOL