Croc Attack!

[WhiteHexagon]

Or maybe it's an alligator?

(theres also a 7m pix version replace 'small' with 'full' for those with dsl/cable: whitehexagon.com/mocs/emergency-full.png)

Anyway I'm looking for tips on how to photograph Lego. It seems that there is never enough light, but when I use flash the bricks are just too reflective!! I'm not a camera expert so any tips appreciated. I took the above using macro mode, but that only seems to work well really close up (as it should I guess). But without macro everything is a bit grainy. I'd really like to show some more of my village but all the other pics look really rubish at the moment, or maybe it's the poor quality subject matter :)

Cheers

Peter

[casewindu]

that poor man why is no one helping him! :'-(

i have this same problem i have to go quite far away and then zoom in to photograph mine.

(this probably doesn't help you at all i'm affraid! ;-) )

[Asuka]

Lightning is indeed a little difficult....

To get propper results you

[Starwars4J]

An easier way is to just use a tripod and turn down the shutter speed or F-stop some :-)

[Brainbox]

i have this same problem i have to go quite far away and then zoom in to photograph mine.

(this probably doesn't help you at all i'm affraid! ;-) )

I have to go quite far away and then zoom in on the computer using a selection/crop tool. :-|

I tend to just photograph on my windowsill, because I get a nice amount of outdoor light and a ready made white background (unless it's a tall MOC). It's the brightest place I can find, but it's by no means ideal. You can look at the results in my Brickshelf (how's that for self-promotion ;-) ).

[alex54]

It's hard to have a good light when you don't have the equipement that Asuka proposes.

Personnaly, I wait for a sunny day, open the windows and take 5-10 pics just for having one good... :-|

[Rayden]

Turn of your flash and use a cheap desk light. I have one mounted on my Lego table that I can move around over the table. Usually I get the results I wanted.

[JoeMI6]

Although you can find yourself racing against time in a long shoot, I find daylight is the best lighting solution. I keep macro on at all times, it's just a must have. So, if the weather is good, take your set outside for what I think are the best results.

[Hinckley]

I think your photo looks pretty good!

I use a shadow box. You can look it up online and there are websites that show you how to build a pretty simple one using foam-core. If you're using the techniques that Asuka suggested, the shadow box helps to reflect more light into the scene. If you have photoshop, you can alter the layer mode to "Screen" Which does a good job and lightening the highlights and keeping the shadows bold.

[zeki]

When I take the photos of I usualy use saturation (hope it is the right word *wub* ) effect. It makes the colors more lovely and it looks much better.

Anyway i think you picture looks well enough. *y*

[WhiteHexagon]

Thanks to everyone for the tips. A few more sunny days and I'll try and show some more of the town. Currently though that's the only good photo out of about 50 tries.

[Mister Phes]

Lightning is indeed a little difficult....

To get propper results you

[SavaTheAggie]

My opinion doesn't seem to matter much, but if you want it, here it is:

Three point lighting is the best option, but don't use a flash. Use a light box.

But most of my creations are too big for a light box. The solution?

I built three of those for $75 - $15 for each lamp, $7 for each bulb, and the remainder going to everything else. I bought three identical clip-lamps that have a metal guard over the bulb area, and I covered it with a white pillow case, using rubber bands to hold it in place. I used normal PVC pipe (very cheap) for the stands themselves, and replacement furniture feet for the ends to make them stable on any surface. I didn't glue them, but you could certainly do that.

The pillow cases help diffuse the light, creating very uniform lighting, and the metal bulb guards keep the fabric from touching the bulb.

The bulbs I used, and this is extremely important, are flourescent bulbs, the curly ones, NOT incandescent. This is important for two reasons - 1) flourescent bulbs don't heat up like other blubs do, so there's no risk of fire with the cloth so close to the bulb. 2) the bulbs I bought are 5500K in color - this is the ideal color for a bulb. Most incandescents look too yellow or reddish, and most flourescents look too blue. 5000K or 5500K is just right.

You WILL find it difficult to find this color of bulb, but they are available if you're willing to look. You will probably have to look on the bulbs themselves, through the packaging (hopefully its clear). Most 'daylight' bulbs are around 6500K, which is way too blue for my tastes. Be sure to read the packaging and the text on the base of the bulb carefully. So far I've only found them at the Home Depot.

The clip light can be adjusted to any angle and any height, and when you get three of them together you can get some really great results:

Notice the three points of light reflecting off the red domes on top of the train's boiler.

But of course your mileage may vary.

--Tony

[Starwars4J]

Why wouldn't your opinion matter? This is fantastic advice! I've always been rather lost on lighting...but I might have to make some of those light stands now, they're brilliant (pun intended). Hm, this information might be worth making a tutorial out of! Would you consider making one?

[WhiteHexagon]

My opinion doesn't seem to matter much, but if you want it, here it is:

Three point lighting is the best option, but don't use a flash. Use a light box.

--Tony

Err, thats really helpful actually. I was a bit put off by the thought of the cost of getting propper lighting, but your solution makes me want to run out to the DIY store right now and check what bulbs they have :)

what wattage are the bulbs you're using?

Oh and I agree a tutorial on Lego photography would be a really useful resource :)

Cheers

Peter

[alex54]

SavaTheAggie, you give us very good advice! And your pic is very nice! The colours are perfect!

Now we wait a tutorila from you! This is the "punishment" of your brilliant idea! :-D *y*