My wife and I are starting to get our ceramics business up and going in Portland, and we need to get a decent photo setup for taking pictures of pieces to sell on the internet.
The standard that everyone in ceramics does is the black on top, white on bottom gradient.
I have a 1/2 decent camera (Panasonic Lumix), but we need some kind of table top system we can setup on our kitchen table.
Should I go with an actual graduated background? Should I go with a white background and use lights to get the gradient? I used to have a graduated background but I didn't like it because it very easily got scratched up where I set things down on it.
What should I use for lights? A tent? Reflectors? Alot of our stuff is quite shiny so I don't think straight lights will be very good.
Thanks
Personally, I've always hated the full black to white gradient. But that's just me.
For small stuff, I use this small shooting table. http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/calumet_portable_shooting_table/rm1018
24" wide, with a built in infinity curve, it's quite handy. And does break down so you don't need to have it up all the time.
It looks like they have a tabletop one as well:http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/calumet_tabletop_studio_kit/rm1017k
Several other companies make them in various sizes. If you are regularly doing pieces much bigger than 12-16" high, you might need a bigger table.
For the gradient, you can control it just with light. If you have a totally dark room, and well controlled lights (grids and barndoors) and lots of time.
I'd probably just get a graduated background again: http://setshop.com/photo-backgrounds/gradations
Poke around Calumet and B&H, and Setshop... and you should be able to put together something. I don't really have a clear enough picture of your specific space and needs (or budget) to know what will work best for you, but if you want my opinion on something before you buy, let me know.
For lights, I would get a couple of softboxes (at least 2) of some sort. I use strobes, but those are spendy. General rule of thumb for product is at least 2 times taller than your object - so 12" vase = at least 24" softbox. That said - you're going to have more spill to deal with, which will make you gradient harder to manage. A softbox with a grid on the front, will help. Also flags to cut the light off the background.
Budget is going to be the killer here. You could probably get started with this:http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/westcott_ulite_two_light_kit/hl5025
But I know I would quickly get annoyed with a few things in that kit. Whether they would grate on you, its hard to say. I have pretty high expectations for my equipment.
I don't recommend a tent. Not enough control. You could probably get away with a single big softbox on one side (45 degree) and a big curved reflector panel on the other side.
I don't really have a clear enough picture of your specific space and needs (or budget) to know what will work best for you
Space: Not much, stuff that breaks down and is easily stored is a plus. Most of the time, we'll be shooting an a big batch as we fire kilns or whatever.
Needs: We basically make functional ware, so plates, bowls, cups, bottles, jars, etc. From tea cup to large serving bowl is the usual sizes we're talking about.
Budget: Preferably under $400 for everything but the camera (already have that).
The table top kit actually looks just like what I'm looking for. It looks like it comes with black and white but you can just get a gradient? I agree that hte full white to black isn't the greatest, but it's what everyone does. :
As for lights, what does the grid buy you? Also, I'm looking at soft boxes with grids and they all have different "degrees", what does that refer to? Why would you choose a 20degree over a 60 degree or vice versa?
By "flags" do you mean barn doors? Or just cardboard or something that we can mount at various heights?
How do you think this was lit?
That shot looks like it was two lights. Primary slightly front (mostly above) broad source or beauty dish - the wide highlight we're seeing on the interior back lip (and primary hardish shadow). Secondary /overall looks like a large scrim with a bounced soft source behind it. That gives the flat overall highlight reflection we're getting on the main face of the plate (and softer shadow). Maybe a third source via a reflector somewhere. Hard to say.
Is that Heath ceramics?
I'll ponder your other needs and see what I can come up with.
the calumet tabletop is only white and black - gradient backgrounds are not standard for most set ups, and I don't know any shooting tables that come with them.
I agree that hte full white to black isn't the greatest, but it's what everyone does. :
There is something to be said for not looking like your competition. shrug
A grid on a softbox (or reflector can) controls the light spill off. Its usually louvers or a honeycomb that keeps light from spreading wider - the degrees are the amount of spread. 10 deg is a very narrow pool of light, 60 deg is a very broad pool of light (at the same distance).
Flags are more like the cardboard you would clip to something to prevent light from hitting something else. I use black foamcore mostly for mine.
Do it all Terry Richardson and take polaroids.
Well, it's a thought, anyhow.
Originally posted by: arigato Do it all Terry Richardson and take polaroids.
Well, it's a thought, anyhow.
We make sexy work, but I"m not sure that even I would fap to them.
Well do show off your work once you get those photos taken & all.
I'll be the judge of whether or not I can fap to it.
there are few things you wouldn't fap to.
Looking forward to seeing the results.(not of the fapping, of the photog)
Looking a bit more into this, lets say I had a removable lens camera, what kind of lens do you use for this kind of stuff? Would a 50mm work well?
I used to really be into photography, but a decade of cheap digital point and shoots has completely ruined me. :
alright r_d, what about this for a starting place to go with light:
A softbox with grid like this:http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/500490-REG/Interfit_INT426_24_x_32_Softbox.html
And I light with stand like this:http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/391723-REG/Interfit_INT110_Interfit_Fluorescent_Flood_Light.html
And a reflector & stand like this:http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/283646-REG/Impact_CRK_32K_32_5_in_1_Reflector_with.html
This would go with a shooting table like you suggested.
Thoughts?
I have not forgotten this. A touch swamped. I'll try to read through the pieces you linked and share my thoughts later tonight. Sorry for the delay.
You can build a surprisingly effective light tent from PVC tubing, white muslin sheets, and posterboard.
You can swap in any color of posterboard you'd like.
Originally posted by: rogue_designer I have not forgotten this. A touch swamped. I'll try to read through the pieces you linked and share my thoughts later tonight. Sorry for the delay.
No worries. 
I"m not in a huge hurry anyway.
Originally posted by: Candy Beard You can build a surprisingly effective light tent from PVC tubing, white muslin sheets, and posterboard.
You can swap in any color of posterboard you'd like.
That is basically what i've been doing for a few years and I'm ready to move up to the real thing.
Bump?
Sorry. All I got is the bedsheets. :shrug: Have you thought about using lasers? Lasers are cool.
I used a long table and paper with 2 lights, one behind one in front. worked pretty well:
Lovely.
Nice - the mysterious reflections add mystery and character. I like it.
Originally posted by: RobotDeathSquad alright r_d, what about this for a starting place to go with light:
A softbox with grid like this:http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/500490-REG/Interfit_INT426_24_x_32_Softbox.html
And I light with stand like this:http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/391723-REG/Interfit_INT110_Interfit_Fluorescent_Flood_Light.html
And a reflector & stand like this:http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/283646-REG/Impact_CRK_32K_32_5_in_1_Reflector_with.html
This would go with a shooting table like you suggested.
Thoughts?
All good - my only concern is making sure the softbox fits on the light... but that's relatively minor. If possible - two lights and boxes will make your life easier - but one will definitely work to begin.