Right equipment for Table Top shots.

[EdinburghGary]

Hello,

Would like to achieve this style of shots (some look like graphics, what do I know? ):

Guessing there is a lot of PP, however, what do I need to get as close to those shots as possible. Let's pretend I just have the standard D200 (and inbuilt flash) and 1 standard Lens. What next?

Thanks,

Gary.

 

[Jaykay]

You could make yourself a very cheap DIY lightbox, and take these shots yourself with very little PP involved, I think.

Take a look at this thread: DIY Light box Tutorial

 

[oldgit]

Yep thats the thread I was going to post...

 

[andrewc]

You can buy a cheap table top 'studio' from maplins for a tenner, although TBH I get just as good results with a piece of white card gently curved to make a miniature infinity cove, and light it either with diffused flash or anglepoise lamps.

 

[DinoS]

as has already been said use a protable studio, try not to use very powerful lights as you can get harsh shadows

 

[EdinburghGary]

How would one get the reflections as seen in the first image? I can replicate that in Adobe Fireworks no problem, but not sure how to achieve with the Camera.

 

[andrewc]

you can shoot on a piece of perspex. However I think those reflections were added later.

 

[frank]

How would one get the reflections as seen in the first image? I can replicate that in Adobe Fireworks no problem, but not sure how to achieve with the Camera.

Not sure about Fireworks but I did the reflection below although I only spent a few mins on it using Photoshop, I suppose you could do it in most photo editing software. I simply cut out a bit off the bottom of the phone,pasted it into a new layer flipped it horizontly and vertically then adjusted the opacity to what I wanted. Adjusted the position then flatten layers and hey presto.

 

[EdinburghGary]

Not sure about Fireworks but I did the reflection below although I only spent a few mins on it using Photoshop, I suppose you could do it in most photo editing software. I simply cut out a bit off the bottom of the phone,pasted it into a new layer flipped it horizontly and vertically then adjusted the opacity to what I wanted. Adjusted the position then flatten layers and hey presto.

I would normally feather away most of the reflected image too. Jut so you start to see it then it fades to white. Looks cool.

 

[Chappers]

A lot of the advertising images you see aren't straight shots. They've been through some image manipulation software.

I don't know if you've noticed but the lighting on all of your examples is very soft. Probably lit using soft boxes. Although I suspect the i-phone graphics were added afterwards. Well that's the way I would do it.

The lens and lights I would suggest have been cut out and dropped onto a white background.

If you can download Photoshop User TV episode 110, Scot runs through a couple of techniques for enhancing product shots