More Pottery

Simple composition but very effective. I really like the lighting and the texture of the pottery.

Thanks, Howard. I used to do flower arranging and so had collected quite a few pieces of Mexican pottery when we would go to Laredo. I didn't realize I had so many until I started looking for subjects to shoot with my new lights!

I really like the lighting ... the way you did it created very effective shadows against the backdrop. Nice pottery!! :-)

Nice shot. Nice mood given that it's just pots.

 

I'm sure you've already said elsewhere but what lights did you finally go with? Whatever you chose, have fun...

I have Alien Bees - a B400 and B800. My husband helped my employer pick them out for an employee appreciation gift for me and he didn't even tell me!!

 

A friend also gave me a Photoflex Multidome HV3 softbox. I just need a backlight and I'm set! I'm very happy with these lights. I shot some jewelry shots today for someone and she was very pleased with the results. I'm going to purchase one of those little EZcube things for shooting small objects next. Any advice you can give me is more than welcome as I learn what all I can do with studio lighting.

Suggestions welcome as I learn studio lighting. Thanks!

Kim, great still life. The black bg is perfect. Textures and patterns on the pottery is wonderful. Nice work.

Kim, that's cool. The AB's will serve you well I'm sure. The Photoflex light modifiers are far superior to those offered with the ABs (Lightgear USA). My only problem with the Bees, or any lights for that matter, is having the room to use them and leave them up. Have fun!!!

 

Let's see the last employee appreciation thing I got, I believe, was a can of peanuts. Hmmm, maybe I should take the hint.

Thanks, Sondra!

 

Jamie, I have the lights set up in this large room where we have our computers - we call it the "den". It's about 18'x26', so is big enough to leave the lights set up. However, the room is a rebuilt barracks (all wood walls and ceiling), with 11 windows, making it a little more difficult to have a good set up. I'm thinking of blocking the windows at the one end where I have the lights set up.

Hello Kim!

I?m also on learning about studio light techniques. Your photo is very beautiful I think you have managed the light very good and composed the vases in perfect way. The BG you use is a clothe or paper black? is really nice :0)

The background is cloth, but very thin. I have to work with it in PS to completely darken it. I'll be interested to see what you are doing with your lights!

After seeing Chris Appoldt's results with black velvet I went to the fabric store to get my own black velvet background. Turns out something called velveteen works well too and is less expensive. The velvet is also very nice when you use one of your ABs to put some light on it using colored gels. Of course, along with the velveteen I bought one of those tape-based lint rollers.

I was thinking velvet would be a good background - good to know velveteen is cheaper. How wide is it - did you have to put some strips together to get it wide enough??

I won't take any pot shots at this one, excellent light and texture!

I LOVE doing studio shots - just ordered a mannequin, so will try to learn lighting with a (sort-of) model. Thanks for visiting, Jason.

I love the intensity of the colors and the detail of the vases. The texture almost jumps out at you. Best Regards, Marty

I use to like doing outdoor shots the best, now I love playing with the lights to get different effects, so much fun!

Thanks, Marty & Jason! Jason, you're lucky you have live models - I had to BUY a model! :)

Nice to look thru your experiments. I like this one too. I like how the left edges of the pots are fading away into black bg. Your black bg. is working very well. Looking forward to your expts with soft box too.

 

Chitra