Softer Shadows

[Felix_Nights]

I'm quite new to tabletop photography, and getting half decent results - but my shots are not quite there.

My shadows seem quite harsh - how can i soften them?

See my shot:

And here's what im aiming for, including brightness and contrast.

My equipment is 2 x 60x60 softboxes generally angled at 45 degrees onto the table from either side. My camera is a Nikon d3100 and i us a Nikkor 35mm and a 60mm Macro.

Thanks

 

[tiler65]

A few options to try;

Buy a better softbox, move the light closer to the subject, use a fill light/reflector for the shadows, use a bit of PP work (although not my preferred choice)

 

[Garry Edwards]

My shadows seem quite harsh - how can i soften them?

Move the light closer and/or use a bigger light source

 

[treeman]

Get your lights as close as you can, so they're literally just out of shot. That should do it

 

[London Headshots]

A "better" softbox isn't going to make a difference, they all offer roughly the same diffusion. I shoot with Profoto softboxes, and the only difference I notice between them and Calumet, or even interfit is colour cast.

What I do to soften the light is create more diffusion. Either do this by making your own diffusion panel out of 216 paper, or add more 216 paper to the inner baffle of the softbox itself.

I prefer the first method, personally.

If you do it right, you can get light so soft the darks don't even have a gradient.

 

[Al Brum]

Look carefully at the shadows in the image you want to emulate, they are much shorter than the ones in your shot, suggestive of a higher light. Use one light directly above the subject and as close as possible.