What lights do you use?

Jim-R wrote on 12/14/2011, 6:16 AM
I am producing a small product demonstration video (smal desktop product) using my Canon HF10 kamera.

As I had no special photo lamps or other professional gear I took a couple of halogen 'building site' 300 W lamps and pointed them upwards to a couple of large white paper sheets taped to the ceiling.

It gave me a lot of diffuse light with no hard shadows on the table. I put a large white sheet of paper on the table too.

On the Kamera I adjusted the exposure a couple of steps brighter too to get the backgound as white as possible.

It did not get all white though and I would like to work against having a small setup for photo and video recordings of small products with enough diffuse light to get a perfect white background and sharp details too.

Any good, practical ideas?

Thanks

JimR

Comments

richard-amirault wrote on 12/14/2011, 6:23 AM
On the Kamera I adjusted the exposure a couple of steps brighter too to get the backgound as white as possible.

If you are shooting on "auto" this was a good idea as all that white will "fool" the auto sensor in a camera and underexpose your subject. Better yet is to shoot on "manual" and set your exposure using a "grey card"

You didn't say how small your subjects are, and (since it is a video) you didn't say if you need to interact with those subjects while shooting (picking them up or turn them over or around)

A common tool for small items is a "light tent" However this is mostly for still photography. You can purchase complete set-ups or you can jury rig something.
Jim-R wrote on 12/14/2011, 6:45 AM
The objects are hand size products that we make instructional 'how-to-use' videos of with a person handling proctucts while shooting over his shoulder.

I always struggle to get the backgounds white enough not to look like an old newspaper :-)

JimR
musicvid10 wrote on 12/14/2011, 11:44 AM
Something along the lines of the Z96 might do the trick for you.
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=770991
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=775574

"I always struggle to get the backgounds white enough not to look like an old newspaper :-)"
Once properly lit, all you need to do is drop the clip point and/or raise the Gamma using the Levels plugin in Vegas. Familiarize yourself with the controls.
Jim-R wrote on 12/14/2011, 1:17 PM
Thanks, I'll try working with it.

JimR