Building my own... - Page 11

**djtoast** · 3rd July 2009, 6:48pm

i use a shelf clamped onto a cymbal stand and put an umbrella one side and a flat reflector the other, and fire flash into the umbrella. that way shiny things aren't reflecting the actual flashgun back into the lens. you could use a window and a sheet in a similar way, you'd just have a little less control.

if you have a macro mode you'll notice when you use it that you get a very shallow depth of field so you probably want to use a pretty small aperture (ie a big number). also, it can be much easier sticking the camera on a tripod and moving the object rather than the camera to frame and even focus, with very little things.

*edit* also - seven months since your last post?! if you're not careful they'll start discovering new ones quicker than you're collecting them

**Shannow** · 3rd July 2009, 7:00pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesMTS

Silver

Bismuth

I'm looking to take a bunch of decent photographs of each of my collection so far. Any tips from the forum photographers? Like what sort of lighting to use, backdrops, technical stuff and whatnot? And especially tips for photographing really shiny things?

Angle of incidence = angle of reflection is a worthwhile bit to remember.
Avoid built in camera flash if at all possible.

*LesMTS* · 3rd July 2009, 7:03pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by djtoast

i use a shelf clamped onto a cymbal stand and put an umbrella one side and a flat reflector the other, and fire flash into the umbrella. that way shiny things aren't reflecting the actual flashgun back into the lens. you could use a window and a sheet in a similar way, you'd just have a little less control.

if you have a macro mode you'll notice when you use it that you get a very shallow depth of field so you probably want to use a pretty small aperture (ie a big number). also, it can be much easier sticking the camera on a tripod and moving the object rather than the camera to frame and even focus, with very little things.

*edit* also - seven months since your last post?! if you're not careful they'll start discovering new ones quicker than you're collecting them

They've already discovered a new one since I last posted!

Also, cheers for the advice. I tried photographing the Bismuth with a flash, but it just came out as a white blob (and pretty much the same thing when I photographed it with natural light hitting it from the front), so many hundreds of differently angled reflecting surfaces I guess, so I just stuck it next to the window and took the picture with the light from behind and it turned out alright but I'd like to get really, really nice photos of them all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shannow

Angle of incidence = angle of reflection is a worthwhile bit to remember.

What about when you're photographing something like that bismuth which has loads of reflecting surfaces pointing all over the proverbial shop?

**djtoast** · 3rd July 2009, 7:12pm

Here's an example of one done with my set up.

The short answer is spend a whole day on it trying every conceivable angle through three dimensions til you find what works least worst

*Potatojunkie* · 3rd July 2009, 8:26pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesMTS

I'm looking to take a bunch of decent photographs of each of my collection so far. Any tips from the forum photographers? Like what sort of lighting to use, backdrops, technical stuff and whatnot? And especially tips for photographing really shiny things?

This is the sort of thing that entire chapters get devoted to in books.

In fact, next time you pass a large-ish bookshop have a ruffle through Light, Science and Magic if they've got it.

In better fact, I'll post the appropriate bits tomorrow when I dig the book out of wherever it's fucked off to.

*LesMTS* · 3rd July 2009, 8:34pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Potatojunkie

This is the sort of thing that entire chapters get devoted to in books.

In fact, next time you pass a large-ish bookshop have a ruffle through Light, Science and Magic if they've got it.

In better fact, I'll post the appropriate bits tomorrow when I dig the book out of wherever it's fucked off to.

Coolio.
You fancy heading over one day soon and taking some pics while giving me an informal tutorial? I'll do some molecular biology for you in return. Or, alternatively, buy you boozes.

I really want some fancy, show-offy pics of each of the things in the collection. Some of them are really quite nice objects. Especially silicon, gallium, bismuth and the tritium.

*Potatojunkie* · 4th July 2009, 6:31pm

Sounds like a plan.

Wish I knew where that fucking book is.

Dec · 4th July 2009, 6:40pm

Link will get deleted, but there's a copy of Light: Science and Magic for download ***edit*** in the private message i'll send you when i see that this link got deleted

Puppy · 4th July 2009, 6:46pm

I just bought some gallium off ebay for the boy to play with due to this thread.

Thanks Les for the gallium info.

*LesMTS* · 4th July 2009, 11:07pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Potatojunkie

Sounds like a plan.

Wish I knew where that fucking book is.

Ace! We'll sort something out soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dec

Link will get deleted, but there's a copy of Light: Science and Magic for download ***edit*** in the private message i'll send you when i see that this link got deleted

'scool, I can see the edit history.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puppy

I just bought some gallium off ebay for the boy to play with due to this thread.

Thanks Les for the gallium info.

Takes quite a while to melt it in your hand, 15 minutes or so, but it's worth it. Playing with the molten metal is pretty cool.
Also, mind and find a decent container for it - something appropriate for the size of the piece you've bought - and scoop it up into that after playing around.

*LesMTS* · 5th July 2009, 7:40pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Potatojunkie

This is the sort of thing that entire chapters get devoted to in books.

In fact, next time you pass a large-ish bookshop have a ruffle through Light, Science and Magic if they've got it.

In better fact, I'll post the appropriate bits tomorrow when I dig the book out of wherever it's fucked off to.

I got the book through ENTIRELY LEGITIMATE MEANS, not at all through any link Dec may or may not have posted.
Had a quick look through it, looks pretty useful.
What parts would you suggest I concentrate on? Chapters 3, 4, 5 and 6 look appropriate. Anything I should pay particular attention to?

Puppy · 5th July 2009, 7:44pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesMTS

Takes quite a while to melt it in your hand, 15 minutes or so, but it's worth it. Playing with the molten metal is pretty cool.
Also, mind and find a decent container for it - something appropriate for the size of the piece you've bought - and scoop it up into that after playing around.

I'm rather excited about this. Its a present for the husband. Which I also get to have a wee go of. Bonus.

*Potatojunkie* · 5th July 2009, 8:19pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesMTS

What parts would you suggest I concentrate on? Chapters 3, 4, 5 and 6 look appropriate. Anything I should pay particular attention to?

The chapter on metal, in particular.

Also the chapter on how to photograph glass, just because it's fucking fascinating.

Old Man · 5th July 2009, 9:20pm

Say the word and I'll invade fucking anywhere to aid in the endeavour!
Omm

*LesMTS* · 5th July 2009, 9:21pm

Fannied around with the bismuth and a lamp and different angles. No manipulation yet. Ideas for improvement?