GoodTable Top Photography Book

[craig_murphy]

Hello,

I just started practicing table top photography with my view camera and 210mm Schnieder lens. Focusing is my biggest challenge. Has anyone come across a good table top technique book(s)? Thanks! Craig Murphy

[bob_moulton1]

Try Using the View Camera by Steve Simmons. His

explanations/illustrations are clear, free from jargon. You can

duplicate the techniques he discusses

[david_munson]

The books by Simmons and Stroebel are both excellent. I'd like to

throw in three additional titles.

 

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"Photo Know-How" (Carl Koch, Jost J. Marchesi) is a good text. It's

based entirely around the Sinar view camera system, but what's in it

is good info and it applies to any LF system. It's set up in a

workbook layout which, once you get into it, is a nice arrangement.

It covers all kinds of stuff, but it has lots of information that

should be useful for tabletop photography.

 

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The second book, while not specifically about tabletop photography,

should be useful. "Professional Lighting Technique" (Jost J.

Marchesi) is, as the title suggests, about lighting technique. It's

based around the Broncolor system, but again, the information should

be applicable to any lighting system.

 

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"Secrets of Studio Still Life Photography" by Gary Perweiler is a

great book with all kinds of cool techniques. Numerous photos are

provided and then dissected in terms of technique, desired end

result, etc. All the information is well laid out and easy to

understand. Lighting diagrams abound and clearly illustrate the

creative process from beginning to end.

 

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Just a thought...

[ben_snyder1]

One more book on the physics of lighting: "Light-Science & Magic" by

Fil Hunter. This explained several points for me. What is 'specular

light'? Reflections from metal and mirrors doesn't obey the inverse

square law. How to use this to advantage. How to photograpy

paintings - 45 degree lighting doesn't always work and why.

 

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Fil Hunter is very good at tabletop photography.

[ben_snyder1]

Hi Craig,

 

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For problems with focusing, take a look here:

http://www.f32.com/Articles/art011.htm

 

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This gives the 'hinge' rule. I don't really understand it. I

thought I would print out the diagrams and then set up a table top

with a softbox and try to figure this out.

 

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I know the Sinars are set up in such a way as to make laying this out

easy. Something about base tilts.

 

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Since you are already set up, give it a try. Let me know how it

works.

[ben_snyder1]

Here's more info on the hinge rule, Sinar base tilts and probably

more then you would ever want to know about focusing a view camers:

http://fox.nstn.ca/~hmmerk/HMbook18.html

 

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There are even antimated videos. I think your answer is somewhere on

this website.

[david_munson]

One more title I forgot to include in my previous post. "The

Photographer's Studio Manual" by Michael Freeman, Amphoto. It's an

excellent book- lots of illustrations, clear instructions, and well

laid out.

 

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Just a thought...