While I was in Vegas shooting some stuff for the Tactical Invitational, I noticed Hiro and Tomo shooting knife photos with a single speedlight (the kind that mounts on your hotshoe) and a basic disc diffuser. I decided to give this a shot at home instead of my usual setup, which is bulky and a bit expensive.
Of course, you have to have a way to get the light off of the camera, but some of you with DSLR cameras may already have a speedlight or two and maybe even radio triggers. Its also come to my attention that the backdrop outlet and other stores like it are offering close range radio triggers for as little as $50. I use Pocket Wizards to trigger my small flashes, but one could use a cheaper radio trigger, another hotshoe flash, or a TTL cord like the OC-E3 from Canon to trigger the off-camera flash.
The disc diffuser I had was not the greatest so I switched to a white trash bag (that's something cheaper that you already have anyway right?). I also added some tin foil reflectors to bounce some more light back into the handle.
Surprisingly, I was able to shoot at f9 at ISO 200. I could have stopped the aperture down even more by bringing the flash closer or cranking up the power a bit (I was only at 1/2 power). I did it hand held at 1/30 just to show how the flash freezes the knife (no need for a tripod IF flash is your only light source, since the flash pops at about 1/1000). Thats the main thing I like about using a strobe- you can shoot hand held and not worry about blur.
Anyway here are some pics. I pulled out the built-in diffuser card on the flash head and hung it to my chandelier with a Justin Clamp. But you could always use a light stand or some duct tape or gaffer's tape. I also intentionally used my cheaper speedlight (a 430EX II). These are about $200 on the used market.
So if you have a DSLR, a speedlight, something to trigger it with, all you need is trash bags and tape, maybe a few A clamps, and some patience
Of course, you have to have a way to get the light off of the camera, but some of you with DSLR cameras may already have a speedlight or two and maybe even radio triggers. Its also come to my attention that the backdrop outlet and other stores like it are offering close range radio triggers for as little as $50. I use Pocket Wizards to trigger my small flashes, but one could use a cheaper radio trigger, another hotshoe flash, or a TTL cord like the OC-E3 from Canon to trigger the off-camera flash.
The disc diffuser I had was not the greatest so I switched to a white trash bag (that's something cheaper that you already have anyway right?). I also added some tin foil reflectors to bounce some more light back into the handle.
Surprisingly, I was able to shoot at f9 at ISO 200. I could have stopped the aperture down even more by bringing the flash closer or cranking up the power a bit (I was only at 1/2 power). I did it hand held at 1/30 just to show how the flash freezes the knife (no need for a tripod IF flash is your only light source, since the flash pops at about 1/1000). Thats the main thing I like about using a strobe- you can shoot hand held and not worry about blur.
Anyway here are some pics. I pulled out the built-in diffuser card on the flash head and hung it to my chandelier with a Justin Clamp. But you could always use a light stand or some duct tape or gaffer's tape. I also intentionally used my cheaper speedlight (a 430EX II). These are about $200 on the used market.
So if you have a DSLR, a speedlight, something to trigger it with, all you need is trash bags and tape, maybe a few A clamps, and some patience
(I chuckle every time a newbie is asked about taking quality photos, and the well-meaning respondents nearly ALWAYS point towards a good tripod. Ummm, not so fast...)
