Nikon CLS Test Shots: Wine and XO!

geoyip · 17th October 2004

Experimenting with CLS, comments welcome:

Gear:
D70, Kit Lens, Either 2 or 3 x SB800s, Light tent from EastGear:

Exposure:
1/60 sec at F16

01. Without BG light, 2 X SB800s

02. With BG light, 3 X SB800s

geoyip · 17th October 2004

03 Without BG light, 2 X SB800s

04 With BG light, 3 X SB800s

CaeSiuM · 17th October 2004

These are very good shots IMO. Good try and good takes.

Just a little suggestion you can try. For the 2nd shot, the light from the SB-800 caught the wine glass and the graded background is a little too harsh. Perhaps you can try angling to flash so that it doesn't catch the wine glass and also put a piece of tracing paper through it to diffuse it.

For the 3rd and 4th shot, maybe you can try a little double exposure technique of painting the bottles with a maglite(poor man's light brush) in the dark and then for the second exposure, expose it with your flash with a slight underexposure for the metered flash reading.

Just some thoughts. Well done!

espn · 17th October 2004

CLS

I think I'll use 3 SB800s this weekend for a studio shot

heehee... oops I need a D2H/D70 hehe...

geoyip · 17th October 2004

Originally Posted by CaeSiuM

These are very good shots IMO. Good try and good takes.

Just a little suggestion you can try. For the 2nd shot, the light from the SB-800 caught the wine glass and the graded background is a little too harsh. Perhaps you can try angling to flash so that it doesn't catch the wine glass and also put a piece of tracing paper through it to diffuse it.

For the 3rd and 4th shot, maybe you can try a little double exposure technique of painting the bottles with a maglite(poor man's light brush) in the dark and then for the second exposure, expose it with your flash with a slight underexposure for the metered flash reading.

Just some thoughts. Well done!

Thanks CaeSiuM 4 the feedback n tips

Had read about the light painting somewhere before, will give it a try sometime soon

Jed · 18th October 2004

Espn, there's nothing in these shots that illustrates the strengths of Nikon's CLS. Everything in here has been achievable for at least a few decades using standard photoslaves. Come to think of it, in the studio, you'd probably hardwire everything to begin with.

Nice shots btw.

showtime · 19th October 2004

the back lighting is not done well. i prefer the ones without the backlight.

geoyip · 20th October 2004

Originally Posted by showtime

the back lighting is not done well. i prefer the ones without the backlight.

Thanks for the feedback. Ya, the backlight is too harsh and not natural, need too experimernt more, not sure is it becoz of the limited space i had for the BG light.

Thanks again, appreciate the feedback

showtime · 20th October 2004

its more likely because the source is small(speedlight)... a larger source (softer light) might do the trick.

geoyip · 22nd October 2004

Originally Posted by showtime

its more likely because the source is small(speedlight)... a larger source (softer light) might do the trick.

Thanks again for the feedback

Was using 3 SB800. Perhaps i need to diffuse the back light more, but space really very tight

Noted your comments

will try out again next round.

espn · 22nd October 2004

Originally Posted by Jed

Espn, there's nothing in these shots that illustrates the strengths of Nikon's CLS. Everything in here has been achievable for at least a few decades using standard photoslaves. Come to think of it, in the studio, you'd probably hardwire everything to begin with.

Nice shots btw.

Correct me if I'm wrong Jed, perhaps like you mentioned, everything's been hardwired in studio for the photoslaves, but the CLS on the SB-800s are not done so. Everything's commanded by the main camera which does the respective calculations and then passing it to the 'slave' SB-800s. I'm just pretty awed by what CLS can do, by bringing out the 'ambient' lighting which makes the images look so natural.

Do correct me if I'm wrong, I've no chance to play with CLS, and for one thing is I'm pretty proud of what it can deliver

Also... if SB-800s can do these... why do we still want studio lights?

Just kidding

insomia · 22nd October 2004

interesting to note that the computer almost get it right in most cases. Exposure is about there but need tweeking to make it go from good to excellent.

Other areas really need work - it appears the tent is not as good as it could be or is it operator error.

Pictures are good starting point for really great still life work. Good effort for seting up.

geoyip · 23rd October 2004

Originally Posted by insomia

Other areas really need work - it appears the tent is not as good as it could be or is it operator error.

Hi insomia, Thanks 4 the feedback. Can u elaborate?

Appreciate yr comments

17th October 2004	#1
geoyip Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 943	Nikon CLS Test Shots: Wine and XO! Experimenting with CLS, comments welcome: Gear: D70, Kit Lens, Either 2 or 3 x SB800s, Light tent from EastGear: Exposure: 1/60 sec at F16 01. Without BG light, 2 X SB800s 02. With BG light, 3 X SB800s __________________ active media studio: Web ~ Photography Last edited by geoyip; 17th October 2004 at 08:15 PM.

17th October 2004	#2
geoyip Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 943	03 Without BG light, 2 X SB800s 04 With BG light, 3 X SB800s __________________ active media studio: Web ~ Photography

17th October 2004	#3
CaeSiuM Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Singapore, Bedok Posts: 660	These are very good shots IMO. Good try and good takes. Just a little suggestion you can try. For the 2nd shot, the light from the SB-800 caught the wine glass and the graded background is a little too harsh. Perhaps you can try angling to flash so that it doesn't catch the wine glass and also put a piece of tracing paper through it to diffuse it. For the 3rd and 4th shot, maybe you can try a little double exposure technique of painting the bottles with a maglite(poor man's light brush) in the dark and then for the second exposure, expose it with your flash with a slight underexposure for the metered flash reading. Just some thoughts. Well done! Last edited by CaeSiuM; 17th October 2004 at 08:31 PM.

17th October 2004	#4
espn Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Planet Nikon Posts: 22,045	CLS I think I'll use 3 SB800s this weekend for a studio shot heehee... oops I need a D2H/D70 hehe...

18th October 2004	#6
Jed Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,078	Espn, there's nothing in these shots that illustrates the strengths of Nikon's CLS. Everything in here has been achievable for at least a few decades using standard photoslaves. Come to think of it, in the studio, you'd probably hardwire everything to begin with. Nice shots btw.

19th October 2004	#7
showtime Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 996	the back lighting is not done well. i prefer the ones without the backlight.

20th October 2004	#9
showtime Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 996	its more likely because the source is small(speedlight)... a larger source (softer light) might do the trick.

22nd October 2004	#12
insomia Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 102	interesting to note that the computer almost get it right in most cases. Exposure is about there but need tweeking to make it go from good to excellent. Other areas really need work - it appears the tent is not as good as it could be or is it operator error. Pictures are good starting point for really great still life work. Good effort for seting up.