Can you help me with two seperate techniques using a DSLR?

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ColinB

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Hi everyone.

This is my first proper post, so I apologise if this is in the wrong sub-forum.

I've recently bought a Nikon D40 + kit lens. I need to take a picture of a piece of furniture for a magazine; it needs to be light, show no horizon and be evenly lit. In the past using my manual film camera's I would set a high f/stop and shoot with a natural light and a reflector (on a tripod).

With the DSLR I have no external lighting, and the only natural lighting I have at hand is from a french door in the kitchen. What is the best way and the best settings to use for this type of shot? Are there any home-made ways of getting nice even lighting? Or if I use the on-board flash, is there a way of using it to pop a little light on - using the flash compensation for example?

Lastly, a completely seperate issue: without having a standalone flash unit and brolly how can I take a 'low-key' photograph of a persons body using the onboard flash - or is that impossible?

Any advice gratefully received!
 
When using the flash you can turn down the flash exposure comp to make it a little less harsh, but bear in mind that your photo will come out underexposed if the subject is too far away. You can't get the same effects using an in-built flash as you would get with external, they just arn't powerfull enough and don't have the extra features.

If your taking a photo of a piece of furniture for a mag, i'd try and get hold of some descent photographic bulbs (5000k) and use something to diffuse the light (perhaps wax paper or something similar if you don't have the money to buy the proper equipment). If you use lighting try and get a nice evenly lit white (or whatever colour) background, like a plain white wall.
 
ColinB said:
In the past using my manual film camera's I would set a high f/stop and shoot with a natural light and a reflector (on a tripod).
Any advice gratefully received!
Click to expand...

The main difference between film and digital is the medium used to record the light. The techiniques you used with film re lighting still work on DSLR. It's what happens after the image is taken that is the difference. Rather than using transparences, you use a digital file which you can have easier control with.
 
Pretty much whatever you could do with a film camera you can do with a digital one - so I don't get the first question - try explaining what you mean differently?

Pop-up camera flash is useful in the event of having no other light source and needing to take a pic, but film or digital you wouldn't normally use it for a low-key shot surely

Sorry, this has been no help whatsoever!
 
If you're taking photo of something that's not moving, don't forget you can slow the shutter speed down, get the camera on a tripod, use a remote trigger and correctly expose in quite low light...
 
Thanks for the info so far. I confused the issue a little I think with my first statement, what I was meaning to say is that previously I used to it that way (reflector, lighting etc..) but now that I have the DSLR whether there was any modes or settings or DSLR specific techniques that I should consider to help me achieve a nice result in regards the even lighting and whether the little flash would be worth using.

Dave - you were helpful mate, at least I can rule out the flash for low-key shots, i'll have to invest in a separate light I think.
 
I didn't get the first question - I thought you were saying you'd done this sort of product shot before in 'natural' light i.e. daylight, in which case the DSLR will do the same job in the same way if the ISO number is the same as the film you were using, then even the exposure should be the same

If you meant you had previously used some form of artificial lights i.e. an anglepoise lamp, again it's still the same - only your white balance needs altering

So it's this bit I would set a high f/stop and shoot with a natural light and a reflector (on a tripod) I didn't understand
 
Dave - the more I read the original post, the more I don't understand what I wrote :-) I'm still getting over the excitement of the Rugby.

Basically, in a nutshell; is there a specific setting/mode I should consider when shooting with natural light for the product shot that utilises the flash, or as previously mentioned just use a long exposure with whatever level the natural light is at the time of shooting..
 
Cheers dave, i'll suck it and see! I've got all day to play about tomorrow, so hopefully the sun will be out and I can get some light into the kitchen!
 
ColinB said:
Cheers dave, i'll suck it and see! I've got all day to play about tomorrow, so hopefully the sun will be out and I can get some light into the kitchen!
Click to expand...

If the furniture ain't movin' (...), and if you're working with the selftimer and the cam on tripod, the quantity of light is not important, Colin! The shutter speed will simply be a little faster or a little slower.
However, the quality and the distribution of the light are VERY important. In fact, a couple (D-I-Y) reflectors may come in very handy!

Good luck!
 
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