Still photography experts...Photographing a sculpture PICS ADDED!! Many thanks guys!

Hi guys, ive never been into still photography but I need some advice on how to/setting for shooting one of my sculptures for promotional shots on my web site
 
The piece is a full size replica of Han Solo frozen in carbonite from empire strikes back.
 
I want the shot to look like it was taken in a completely white room, like the matrix loading program.
 
If this were the case im guessing it should be lit evenly with white light/daylight (3500k). The room I have has plain walls and allows daylight to come in through the roof. plus there is one big door that can be opened at the front. There are also two fluoresant tubes. Would it be better done out in the open using only daylight
 
The background will be removed anyway in photoshop later.
 
I dont have a good DSLR, only a cheap bridge camera (finepix 8 mega pixle s5800). I have a decent tripod.
 
Any tips on iso/app/shutter
 
What are your thoughts guys?? any help would be grately appreciated
 
Thanks
tbip2001

show us :)

When ive got some good pics I will...
 
tbip2001

You want to make sure the subject is lit at a lower level to the walls. That'll help the walls over expose. The rest of the effect can be managed in photoshop or equivalent. Flourescent tubes are actually dull. Do it outside if you can. I've used white sheets to create the effect before (not good at p-shop).

Make sure your camera meters the light reading off the subject, not the background.

The problem you have is controlling the depth of field.

Keep the iso low. f stop number low, about 5-7 at a guess (aperature) and use the shutter speed to get the exposure right. You can 'bracket' the shots by using a range of different shutter speeds to achieve the look you want. Doing this allows you to work around the potentially poor metering on board the camera.

Just reread your post to make sure I've not missed anything and noticed you can achieve the results in p-chop anyway....


TAKE 2

Either do it outside when it's overcast and pump up the contrast in p-shop to pick out the depth, or use direct sunshine and have no control over how the shadows fall. Though this may provide a desireable effect (going on memory of the subject matter.) If doing in direct light, using early morning or late afternoon will allow for warmer less harsh results.

Normally this sort of thing would be done with studio lights and an infinity cove. As you don't have either the way I would do it would be to use daylight as the key light (light you set your exposure to) and use a white bit of card to bounce light back for filling in the shadows on the other side.

Have a look a this http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting/three-point/

Rather than using lights you are using the sun and white bit of card. (Forget about the back light in the diagram)

Set the camera up on the tripod and position the sculpture so that the sun is hitting it from roughly 45 degrees. Then set the camera on timer and use your white bit of card to bounce light back into the shadows on the other side. If you have someone to help you it would be even easier as you can get them to hold the white card while you tweak the lighting and composition of the shot.

The ideal day to do this would be a day when you have hazy sunshine and the light is fairly soft.

Play around with moving the sculpture and white card to get the best combination of shape/modeling to the light.

As the camera is on a tripod you can stop the lens down (use a smaller aperture) to about f11 and adjust the shutter accordingly.

Sorry for the delay in saying thanks guys,
 
I think this went really well.
 
Here are the pics of our full size Han Solo in carbonite from The Empire Strikes Back.
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48624713@N07/
 
The white background and lines have been added in PSP, but the photos of Han have been completely untouched.
 
Let me know what you think guys, and thanks again for the advice...
 
tbip2001

Looks quality mate. Well done

I wasnt expecting it to look like that

essex_chris


Looks quality mate. Well done

Big thanks mate!
tbip2001

Play


I wasnt expecting it to look like that

In what way mate? Good or bad?
 
Thanks
tbip2001

Looks good, especially the first one. Watch out for clipping (pure white areas) as these lack any detail. If your camera has a histogram function it's worth having a look when shooting.

Nice effort. The editing works a treat