Light tent advice

I can't link from my phone, but if you do a web search for Lencarta tutorial specular highlights, you can read Garry's excellent tutorial.

Light tents are of limited use unless your aim is high volume and meh quality. If you're after high quality results, then each item will need a little more care. Garry should be along shortly to offer more help.
 
I would have a read of Light, Science, Magic. I am about half way through the book and its an eye opener and haven't used my light tent since!

That said I was never unhappy with results from the light tent, if you bounce your light off walls and ceiling (and use a light tent) you can get some very soft even results.
 
Phil V said:
I can't link from my phone, but if you do a web search for Lencarta tutorial specular highlights, you can read Garry's excellent tutorial.

Light tents are of limited use unless your aim is high volume and meh quality. If you're after high quality results, then each item will need a little more care. Garry should be along shortly to offer more help.
Click to expand...
Link here
Light tents have their uses, but that use is really just producing high volumes of images suitable for ebay sellers - shots that show what a product looks like but without showing any of its benefits, without making you want to touch it, enjoy it, buy it for the sheer pleasure of having it - light tents can be a good choice for people who produce large numbers of mediocre shots because they have to, but are generally a bad choice for people who want high quality shots or who are prepared to spend time on learning how to do the job well.

So, ideal IMO for photos of nuts and bolts, because the photos show the potential buyer whether it's the right type of nut or bolt - but you're going to photograph watches and watches are unnecessary aspirational items - people buy them presumably because they like them, and as a fashion accessory - a mobile phone in their pocket will tell them the time...
 
Pete, I bought one out of curiosity some time ago, about 600mm square I think, and to be honest I realy didnt like it mate.

If you would like it to try it out you are more than welcome to it. I will post it to you foc, just stick something in a charity box.

Steve.
 
If you want to try out a light tent can I suggest an M&S pop up laundry basket. Much cheaper than a "specialist" photo accessory version
 
To be honest, I simply could not find any advantage in the thing.

I bought a quite nice quality one with all the bits, which I am happy to give to anyone for free so long as they donate something to a charity like Sue Ryder etc...

Send me a PM with your address and if Peter dosn't want it, it's yours.:)

Steve.
 
Brazo said:
I would have a read of Light, Science, Magic. I am about half way through the book and its an eye opener and haven't used my light tent since!

That said I was never unhappy with results from the light tent, if you bounce your light off walls and ceiling (and use a light tent) you can get some very soft even results.
Click to expand...

I'd completely echo Brazo's post... LSM is a super book which takes you from lighting simpler objects with single lights through to multiple light setups for complex ones. Best of all, it explains WHY you need to do what you do, rather than just giving a stock set of arrangements (which you can't really, anyway)... so it's akin to giving someone a fishing rod and a lesson in fishing. A light tent is just a bucket full of fish by comparison, which you won't learn as much from, IMO.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top