Improving Product Shots and Lighting

[biggerry]

I recently did a few shots for a mate to promote his business on his new webbie, I am keen to get some additional ideas and thoughts about how to approach this type of photography.

These are basically product shots of the interior reconfig/refurb of light aircraft (metro), the product is the seat covering, aisle carpet and to an extent the lap belts.

The biggest problem is space, I have partially overcome this with the Tokina 11-16mm which really allows me to get inside most aircraft and at least capture a fair portion of the product, in this case seats. The next issue is lighting, in this particular case I was fortunate that the interior scheme is dead boring dull grey, which permits quite an amount of reflected light, I used a single off camera flash and bounced it to the roof or away from the scene, this worked with reasonable results. Would there be any benefit in using multiple lights or would just complicate the issue? possibly two might even out some the compostions in this case.

I went to quite some effort to prep the aircraft in this case, doing up all the belts and making sure there were no stray panels hanging around (note, its in the middle of the refurb!) one thing that probably would have helped would be a broom to even out all the carpet.

Thoughts? any other avenues you would take for this kinda of product imagery??

On a side note, I have noticed that the Tokina 11-16mm with the hood on cops alot of shadow in this kinda of scene, all of these were shot without the hood which then opened a few more issues with flares...but was better than having that dreaded hood shadow in every shot.

[surenj]

Firstly you have a mate with a plane?????? When are we getting a ride?

I think you have done reasonably well with a clinical/sterile looking scene and light.

First improvement would be for your friend to change lighting to a nice tungsten ambient. Is that allowed? Was the light ACTUALLY white like this.

Second improvement would be beautiful green pastures or sunset in the windows. (Either you have to use one of your panos outside the window and light with seperate flash or use photoshop (I'd like to see that one!)

Thirdly, try a little light painting to make the light very very softish.

Fourthly, could you get a shot which frames the inside with a window and looks out the other?

Fifth, Does he have any air hostesses handy although this would distract from the leather.....

Lastly, remove that yellow life jacket and tape the red string out of the way.

HTH.

[Matt. K]

Gerry
Who are you kidding??? That's the back a Toyota Hi-Ace.

[aim54x]

Gerry
Who are you kidding??? That's the back a Toyota Hi-Ace.

Now that you mention it, those seats do look strangely similar to one of those Toyata HiAce SLWB mini-bus conversions...

[Mj]

Gerry.... here's my 2c worth... given that you are attempting to promote the seat covers, belts and carpet, not the actually plane itself, are you able to take some shots with the product not installed in such a space restrictive and monotone setting? That way you have much better control of layout and lighting to emphasise whatever the key competitive features might be. Many (if not most) product shots are best not taken in their intended location for any number of reasons.

Also for the in place shots I'm guessing that taking some daylight shots might help overcome some of the harsh shadow images... failing that try using some lighting modifiers on the flash e.g softbox, umbrella etc to soften the light (although space is probably once again your enemy there).

Michael.

[natskis]

First thing I noticed is that there's a very flat light you have in there.

Personally I'd look at doing something about the lighting.
Don't know if you have the cabin lights on and they're producing the flat light or if it's the strobe.
Maybe use a gel and warm the light?
Dunno... not really all that good with lighting... still learning

Another thing I could suggest would be a shot from a very low angle looking up... might give a different perspective and make it look even roomier.
And yeah, a nice sunset in through some windows would be nice

Oh and to be reallly pedantic... there are a lot of marks in the carpet with the fibers being moved in different directions. Maybe even concider taking a vacume cleaner over the carpet in one direction so that it's all the same?

[biggerry]

Firstly you have a mate with a plane?????? When are we getting a ride?

trust me, there are some aircraft ya don't want to fly in, the metro is also known as the 'death cigar', 'the pencil' and plenty more...

well with a clinical/sterile looking scene and light.

there was basically no usuable light, a poorly lit hangar and an aircraft with only half the seats installed..the sterile white light was all from the single SB600

beautiful green pastures or sunset in the windows.

lol, yeah I will have to have a go at that, all the real pictures of planes etc have those amazing scenes out the windows..

Thirdly, try a little light painting to make the light very very softish.

hmm, i thought about that, it would have to be with the flash i reckon, and/or with a small softbox, I did have mine with me but it was just too hard to manoeurve inside teh cabin.

Fourthly, could you get a shot which frames the inside with a window and looks out the other?

that is entirely feasible with some serious PP, shooting from out on the wing you could do this, more so since access to the wing via the emergency exit was available

Fifth, Does he have any air hostesses handy although this would distract from the leather....

could be a good thing can you imagine how much attention I would attract tailing behind a cute hostie on an airport dominated by 99% males

Lastly, remove that yellow life jacket and tape the red string out of the way.

done.

ta suren.

Who are you kidding??? That's the back a Toyota Hi-Ace.

do you need your hiace refurbed? can be done and will meet all the flammability requirements for the FAR's (Federal Aviation Regs)

given that you are attempting to promote the seat covers, belts and carpet, not the actually plane itself

its actually a bit of both, in this case it is primarily the covers etc however the multiple seats and the fact that it is commuter category aircraft is also required.

are you able to take some shots with the product not installed in such a space restrictive and monotone setting

thats a good idea and would really compliment the suite of images, whilst a studio is out of teh question, a couple of off camera flashes ad more room to move with a less distorted lens would be a goer.

Also for the in place shots I'm guessing that taking some daylight shots might help overcome some of the harsh shadow images... failing that try using some lighting modifiers on the flash e.g softbox, umbrella etc to soften the light (although space is probably once again your enemy there).

true, i think a small form factor softbox would have definitely helped with those shadows.

I have both space and time constraints, these aircraft have guys working until 8-9pm every night, the time it sees daylight is for ground runs and then its gone.. However I do think things would look alot better if the windows had something interesting in them...

ta for the suggestions guys, definite food for thought...

[biggerry]

Maybe use a gel and warm the light?

yeah, given the dull grey that might have been a better option, maybe a second flash gelled to work with the main one (which was the only light source in the aircraft).

Another thing I could suggest would be a shot from a very low angle looking up... might give a different perspective and make it look even roomier.

ahh man, thats gonna equate to me lying on the floor in that tiny 15 inch aisle.. the things I do to get a decent shot

there are a lot of marks in the carpet with the fibers

yeah should have given it a quick sweep to get it all nice and even

ta for the comments Natski!