Flash positioning help!

BigLoada

BigLoada

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Dean
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I built a light tent recently so I could take photos of stuff that my girlfriend is selling on Ebay (mainly about 60 pairs of shoes:cuckoo:)

For lighting I am using two Vivitar 285HV flashes, one either side of the tent. The sides are cut out and covered with white ripstop nylon. The problem is no matter how I position the flashes or whatever zoom setting I use on the flash I am still getting these grey patches at the edges. I have posted a couple of shots below as an example. I know it doesnt have to be perfect for Ebay but I still want to make it look good.

Any ideas about getting it more even would be a massive help. The following pics were taken at f16, ISO 100, flash power 1/4 with the widest angle set on the flash.

DSC_0006.jpg



DSC_0018.jpg


Thanks folks:)
 
the grey doesn't encroach on the main body of the pic much, it would be simplish to potatoshop it out, not the best solution but ought to work.
I don't know enough about light to help you properly
 
I agree....for what it's worth, just fiddle in photoshop! They're not for artistic purpose :)
 
You could add another light or two to take the shadows out, or as suggested above Photoshop it, or even leave them,I don't think they detract from the pics really
 
Thanks guys. Its not the shadow I was bothered about, its the slight grey bit top left on the first photo. I dont really know much about photoshop and wouldnt know how to get rid of that.

After some experimenting last night I added extra layers of diffusion and increased the flash output and it actually seems a lot better now. Thanks for the input :)
 
fwiw if they're ebay pics you want to crop them much tighter.

That way you'll lose that grey top left
 
Cheers Richpips, the stuff I will be selling is much bigger items (pairs of shoes). I think that grey area is where my background curves. The other problem is that I can actually up the flash output to get it super white, but that overexposes the subject. This flash lighting lark is more complictaed than I thought but its fun learning!
 
rdh said:
This book will be invaluable to you...

Light: Science and Magic

... it has a lot dedicated to getting excellent product shots. Very good book indeed!
Click to expand...

Thanks! I have just ordered it now. Cheers for the reccomendation, it gets lots of good reviews. As more of an outdoor person I never thought I would get excited about doing stuff indoors using flashguns, but its becoming quite addictive and far more interesting than I would have thought:thumbs:
 
If you have a lens hood for that lens try putting it on and retaking the photo. I'm no expert but have been reading that book and I think the grey patches in the corners are caused by flare, as unwanted light enters the edges of the lens. The book says if the lens hood doesn't completely get rid of the grey patches, try extending it with a piece of cardboard.
 
RichardA said:
If you have a lens hood for that lens try putting it on and retaking the photo. I'm no expert but have been reading that book and I think the grey patches in the corners are caused by flare, as unwanted light enters the edges of the lens. The book says if the lens hood doesn't completely get rid of the grey patches, try extending it with a piece of cardboard.
Click to expand...

In fact, the grey areas are simply caused by not enough light reaching them. You could put it right in PP but the simplest and quickest answer is simply to put more light on the subject. Just put an extra flashgun behind the light tent, so that it lights the background. You'll need to experiment a bit
 
Garry Edwards said:
In fact, the grey areas are simply caused by not enough light reaching them. You could put it right in PP but the simplest and quickest answer is simply to put more light on the subject. Just put an extra flashgun behind the light tent, so that it lights the background. You'll need to experiment a bit
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip Garry I'lll give it a try. Also, the front of the tent is wide open so I might try oputting a white reflector at the front to put some light back into the light tent. I have loads of stuff to try out, its all very exciting!
 
My first post on here so forgive me if I'm sticking my nose in where its not wanted but I had a 2 minute play with one of your images:

Open image and goto levels, choose the white eyedropper and click on the grey vignetting you speak off. Then choose the black eydropper and click on the blackest point on your image. I then pulled the left *black side) slider over slightly.
Now draw a rough marquee around the subject leaving around 30 pixels of white background. Then feather your selection by 20 pixels, invert your selection and then fill with white.
2 minutes work if that, this is what I got, hope it helps:
dsc0006bz3.jpg
 
Why not buy yourself some white and black perspex, and loose the light tent.

With the white stuff you can light it from underneath, I also use my white sheet as a big diffuser. I got mine from a sign maker for a fiver for a 3 foor by 4 foot sheet

Alternativley - loose the light tent and shoot in a conservatory - mine has lovley bright difuse light most of the time. You can then use your flash to punch the image up a bit., or if you wany more soft light, bouce your flash off the curtains (i have sort of opaq thin roof drapes which are ideal for that
 
Slipwave said:
My first post on here so forgive me if I'm sticking my nose in where its not wanted but I had a 2 minute play with one of your images:

Open image and goto levels, choose the white eyedropper and click on the grey vignetting you speak off. Then choose the black eydropper and click on the blackest point on your image. I then pulled the left *black side) slider over slightly.
Now draw a rough marquee around the subject leaving around 30 pixels of white background. Then feather your selection by 20 pixels, invert your selection and then fill with white.
2 minutes work if that, this is what I got, hope it helps:
dsc0006bz3.jpg
Click to expand...


Thanks Slipwave, that really looks great! I will have a go of that myself. At the moment Photoshop seems like a mysterious black art to me.

Richard, good idea, I'll will certainly give it a go with the perspex. I like trying out new ideas like this:)
 
Have you tried moving the right-hand flash (as you look at the screen) slightly to the right or adding an overhead flash? Adjusting aperture as required.

Or zoom in closer to the subject so that you don't photograph the grey area. Quicker to fix it in camera than in post-processing :)
 
mhuk said:
Have you tried moving the right-hand flash (as you look at the screen) slightly to the right or adding an overhead flash? Adjusting aperture as required.

Or zoom in closer to the subject so that you don't photograph the grey area. Quicker to fix it in camera than in post-processing :)
Click to expand...

I am gradually trying out lots of different things. I think you are right, an overhead flash would be useful but I have only got two at the moment. I think I will ditch the light tent and try a better set up.
 
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