shooting artifacts

[catfish]

as mentioned here http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=95504 , I work at a museum...

Part of what we're working on is to digitally record all of our artifacts here. I've got a small space set up with a proper backdrop, have the cameras and tripod.

What kind of lighting would you recommend that will properly illuminate the artifacts without creating any issues - either with the artifacts themselves, which can range from photographs to furniture to everything in between? Don't like to use flash if I can help it with the artifacts to begin with, and it just creates hot spots anyway.

Looking at setting up some very, very simple studio lighting and I'd appreciate any input.

Existing lighting now is UV free flourescents. We also are using tiffen color scale with photoshop in our museum collections software, which helps to some degree - but I'm losing out on a lot of detail without enough light. Images taken with a flash are MUCH clearer and have better resolution than the ones w/out....

thanks!

[jkderby]

Might post this is the Lighting area of the forum. More may see it.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Maybe you can find a room with good available sunlight that can be moved around with reflectors. ( reflectors are relatively cheap and easy to pack away).

Also don't forget to take some shots with a polarizer, say on pottery or other objects with painting on them or if you have carved stone items.

[CaptainTom]

I'd recommend you invest in some Solux 3500K bulbs. They can be put in your standard lamp stands and do not emit UV.

[bondarnes]

I would think that a light tent would be your best solution then you can use hot lights or strobes or whatever works best. The flash duration of a strobe is so short that I doubt that UV would be an issue. Most museums don't allow flash photographs so that you have to buy their books and post cards, not because of the UV. I bought a 4'X4' tent for about $60.00. If you need something bigger, build a PVC frame and drape white bed sheets over them.

[catfish]

thanks folks - I'll look into your suggestions, I appreciate it!

Don - that's a new one for me, first time I've heard that particular view about Museum gift shops and flash photography, at least in the 18 years I've worked in museums. If that were indeed the case, we wouldn't let you take photos with no flash to your heart's content.

[humminboid]

As Don said, a light tent will solve most of your problems for small to medium size items. Next, you need more light, in whatever form.

However, Copying photos and sheets of documents area a whole different area, and have their own unique needs.

Furniture, being rather large will present another challenge, and requires different lighting.

Study light, and keep it as simple as you can.

You NEED as much light as you can beg, borrow, or steal. You can do lots with off-camera flash units and reflectors.

[catfish]

Thanks Carl - I'm worried about setting up a tent if there's lots of heat created as a result of all the light inside the tent.... from what's been described, it sounds like there is a good chance for things to heat up inside the tent.

photos and docs we've got covered with a massive, museum quality scanner.

The other stuff, though, I believe you are spot on - I just need to figure out how to do it within the confines of my collections area.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by catfish

Thanks Carl - I'm worried about setting up a tent if there's lots of heat created as a result of all the light inside the tent.... from what's been described, it sounds like there is a good chance for things to heat up inside the tent.

photos and docs we've got covered with a massive, museum quality scanner.

The other stuff, though, I believe you are spot on - I just need to figure out how to do it within the confines of my collections area.

The only thing inside the tent is the artifact. The lights are outside the tent and use the cloth material as a light diffuser..

We need to talk.

[catfish]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

The only thing inside the tent is the artifact. The lights are outside the tent and use the cloth material as a light diffuser..

We need to talk.

Ah, so! I do a lot of things well, and have a lot of experience with a wide variety of things - but taking quality images isn't one of them and I'm learning. Drop me a line any time, I'd love to talk and I listen pretty good.

most of the time.

[MT Stringer]

Catfish, I think you need some help!
So, here ya go. Check out the DIY lightbox in this thread over on the Canon photo Forum (POTN). Note The thread is over 2 years old and still active. Lots of good info in the many pages. Somewhere in there should be the answer to all of your questions about light box, lights, mounts, etc.

I use a white sheet from Walmart covering a PVC frame with white poster board as a backdrop. I can dismantle it and put it away in under 5 minutes. Plans are here.

Hope this helps.
Good luck
Mike

[catfish]

Originally Posted by MT Stringer

Catfish, I think you need some help!
Mike

Mike - you have no idea.

[Steelsun]

About 2 years ago, one of the major photo mags had a large article about museum photogs - mostly based on one in NYC I think. Had a list of all the equip he uses and everything. Wish I could remember which mag it was.

[CaptainTom]

Someday when you hit the money wagon, THESE are the lights that you should be using.

We all have our dreams.

[humminboid]

Originally Posted by catfish

Thanks Carl - I'm worried about setting up a tent if there's lots of heat created as a result of all the light inside the tent....

...photos and docs we've got covered with a massive, museum quality scanner. .

Yo, catfish;

That is a relief; copywork of documents is a real PITA...like the night I went into the base post office with OSI Agent to take pixes of a kid's harmless mail. Chamber of Commerce type photos and brochures of the Moscow subway system with a Graflex 4X5. But, that was the '50s, and they were almost as paranoid then as Homeland Security is now. They came out VERY underexposed, and useless for evidence. hee hee!...lack of experience on my part. But...that's another story.

Anyhoo: Cheap and simple: Large fluorescent bulbs, 100W or higher,(it's really hard to get too much light) a clamp-on reflector give good light. Heat is less of a problem than with incandescent bulbs, especially photofloods, which are HOT! Move 'em really close to the diffusion material, lest the damned Inverse Square Law bite you on the buns. Get the daylight balanced ones ... ~5600 Kelvin or so...at BORG (Big, Orange Retail Giant), Set your WB to whatever looks best, and photo merrily away!


Yes, as Captain Tom said; lights outside the tent. Lights on the outside, shot through the diffusion material spread the light, effectively making the tent surfaces the light source. For diffusion material, use thick VisQueen. One or two thicknesses will provide very nice diffusion.

For smaller objects, one guy I know got a translucent plastic tub from WalMart, cut the front out of it, put a background inside, then pointed two small strobes at the sides...MARVELOUS jewelry pictures! Translucent, or nearly clear tubs and buckets have lots of application here.

Electronic flash works really well for applications of this sort, too.

Have fun! It sounds like you have enough challenges to keep you busy for a week or two!