Photographing stainless steel products?

[wippers]

Hi - I'm currently in the process of photographing some products for our works new website and some items are stainless steel. I'm trying to get something like this in terms of colouring:

Do I just put a blue gel over my strobe flash?:shrug:
I've also seen some done with what look like UV lights? I like the look as it's hard trying to make something so bland look interesting.

Treat me as a complete amateur as only get my light last week so it's a huge learning curve!

 

[Garry Edwards]

Yes, a blue gel would create that effect if that's really what you want.

Generally though, you get much more interesting results by using a very large diffused light source with no gel, to create diffused specular highlights and then use a number of gelled effect lights from different angles to create interesting colours.

 

[wippers]

Yes, a blue gel would create that effect if that's really what you want.

Generally though, you get much more interesting results by using a very large diffused light source with no gel, to create diffused specular highlights and then use a number of gelled effect lights from different angles to create interesting colours.

Cheers Gary, but can you put that into basic laymans terms please. I'm a beginner in the lighting department.

The kit I have is a twin head 250w set-up. One silver & black umbrella and one large rectangular softbox.

 

[Jelster]

Gareth,

Just an idea, but have you (or anyone at work) got one of those blue plastic things that business cards often come in ?

One of those over the flash will give you the blue effect you're looking for (I know as I played with one the other day). However, Garry's idea sound very good.

Steve

 

[wippers]

I've ordered some clear gel sheets from ebay for £20 so will see how they look, but might have a scout around the office for the clear coloured wallets. That could work well.
Cheers

 

[HoppyUK]

With shiny objects there's a big problem with specular reflections. They pick up everything like a mirror, including the photographer! In the pic you've posted it looks like there's a large softbox on the left, creating that big plain and even highlight.

An easy way with small objects might be to put them in a light tent, so they are completely surrounded, then gel the flashes either side.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Cheers Gary, but can you put that into basic laymans terms please. I'm a beginner in the lighting department.

The kit I have is a twin head 250w set-up. One silver & black umbrella and one large rectangular softbox.

Something like this for the gels

Specular highlights are reflections of the light source. Diffused specular highlights are where are sufficiently large light source is used, creating soft reflections that you can see through to the product beneath.