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Techo
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06-NOV-2007 Techo

1st Place
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Techo

Light study. Trying to emulate a softbox from behind (which I dont have). Backlit: bouncing light off a big piece of white cardboard. Regular 200w lightbulb. Would've liked to get faster shutter speeds to really freeze action but satisfied with this for the first time around. I'm more of a tea drinker, but do enjoy coffee now and then.


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Canon DSLR Challenge14-Nov-2007 02:24
Techo:k Thank you for sharing your valuable information with others here in this challenge forum. I'm sure some have learned something from your helpful behind the scenes setup info.
I bought one of those small ( 18 x 18 inch) folding product shot setups but, ended up being more successful with my "home made" version that is exactly as the one you described here ( a box etc.). It works well with small objects.

Your work here proves, that you do not necessarily need to own hundreds of dollars of backdrop equipment to create the effect you have shown here.... excellent!!!

Markjay
Canon DSLR Challenge12-Nov-2007 16:08
Hello and thanks again for your comments :)

When I usually tried backlighting before, the light was position exactly behind the object and I diffused the lamp with paper material. That left the paper texture being seen and I had to set it far back to get it partially unnoticable and then boost the whites really high in photoshop. I also tried using my big pc monitor as a background sometimes too (with white wallpaper set), but with CRT's it's a heachache (not capturing the flicker at certain shutter speeds and the shutter speeds aren't good enough).

That all worked for shots when the object was completely still but not for this. So here the light is being bounced off a big shiny white coardboard. If I would pan the camera some 6" lower you would've seen the light with the silver reflector around it, right under neath those drops, and maybe some rag towels too ;) I tried using those silver reflectors from work lamps. Tried different sized ones too. It would be pointing at an angle right up to the spot that needed the most illumination and a less powered lamp pointing at the top to give a smoother background helps too, but not used in this case. That's a rough setup. For being tidy, which I should be doing... You could setup a big box, plaster the inside with the cardboard and the closing panels with aluminum foil. Closing the side flaps a little inward and taping them so they should bounce back some spilling light. Very important to leave enough distance between the light and the paper, fire hazard ;) At the right angle and making sure the bulb doesnt touch the paper it'll be fine. Just please dont leave it unattended. This would work even better maybe with an ext. camera flash with perhaps even a home made light modifier on it, instead of using regular lamp bulbs.

Hope this helps and doesn't sound too overcomplicated because it's quite quick to setup :)

-Techo
Guest 12-Nov-2007 05:15
I really love this picture it looks worthy of very expensive glossy magazine advert. I like it also because a lot of thought and effort has gone into doing this photo. Certainly not a case of pointing in the right direction and snapping. I'm going to try and build a box like that one day the effect is really nice.

Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge11-Nov-2007 12:59
You did a great job on this, Techo. See if I understand (and explain for others who are new to photography so they can learn as well) you as you describe your setup?
You used a 200 watt bulb to create the back light. Is the light behind and above or behind and below your subject or, directly behind? If it's directly behind the subject, whatever light fixture you have it in, is invisible to the eye... is that because it's a large reflector shade, large enough to not be seen? And the white board, is it in front of the mug (on the camera side)? BTW, you not only did a great job on your setup, you did a great job of emulating a soft box! Markjay
jnconradie11-Nov-2007 07:56
Totally fantastic!!
Canon DSLR Challenge10-Nov-2007 14:54
WOW!!!Very professional image!!
Elena
Guest 08-Nov-2007 23:24
A dynamite image. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge08-Nov-2007 08:30
This is beautiful. Well worth the effort! I love the lighting you got. Jim H.
Canon DSLR Challenge08-Nov-2007 01:14
Oh! This is fascinating! I like this series. The drips just make this perfect. ~Lydia
Canon DSLR Challenge08-Nov-2007 00:39
Thanks folks. Really glad you like this one :)
-Techo
Canon DSLR Challenge07-Nov-2007 20:48
This is my fav of your 3 Techo......I think, as they are all great! So, no light box but backlit? I'll have to try this - the results are terrific! :-) CJ
Guest 07-Nov-2007 17:06
This is cool techo.
Canon DSLR Challenge07-Nov-2007 12:10
Great set up Techo and very well captured. Of your three very fine entries, this is for me the most exciting. Thank you also for the behind the scenes narrative - it gives me courage to try it sometime. - Kelly
Vikas Malhotra07-Nov-2007 08:45
A beautiful clean lovely shot Techo, very very well done indeed. I really like it. Cheers, Vikas.
Canon DSLR Challenge07-Nov-2007 03:51
Well, you should be satisfied with it....very, very nice, with movement and action, things happin`, if you know what I mean. Good colors...I'd like the lemon to be a little brighter, but that just may be me. I'll vote for this regardless. Best Wishes, Traveller