Tangents

photography tutorials, reviews & workshops

tangents photography blog
learn : discuss : share
subscribe today
  • Tangents
  • Tutorials
    • Flash Photography
    • Wedding Photography
    • Studio Photography
    • Posing People
    • Understanding Your Camera
    • Exposure metering
    • BFT
    • Best Photo Books
  • Workshops
    • Info: Workshops
    • Tutoring sessions
    • Online tutoring sessions
    • Video tutorials
    • Personal Workshops
    • Workshops in New York
    • Studio Workshop
    • Workshop results
  • Books
    • On-Camera Flash (revised ed.)
    • Direction & Quality of Light
    • Off-Camera Flash Photography
    • Lighting & Design
    • On-Camera Flash (1st ed.)
  • Reviews
    • Nikon
    • Sony
    • Canon
    • Fuji
    • Profoto
    • lighting gear
  • Projects
    • Two Perspectives
    • B&W Infrared
    • Vintage lenses
    • Time-lapse photography
  • Info
    • About
    • Contact
    • Newsletter
    • Join us on Facebook
    • Books by NvN
    • Acclaim
    • Success Stories
    • Photo Gear
    • Photoshop Actions
    • Support this Site
  • Forum

video: Product photography – two perspectives

March 26, 2020 Neil vN 2 Comments

video: Product photography – two perspectives

Another in the series of Two Perspectives videos — this time with my friend, David Patino, a commercial photographer also here in New Jersey. The challenge this time was product photography. We both photograph two items (in our respective studios), with different approaches.

The product photography that I do, is generally catalog work done on a white product table and only requires this simpler way of shooting. David has a more creative approach, and it is fascinating to see him work with an idea.

I mostly use the Manfrotto large still life shooting table  (B&H) in the studio. It makes it really easy to get that white “infinity curve” look for catalog work such as product listings on Amazon. There’s a way of shooting with it that gives good results quickly. The adage that “if you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail”, is quite true. With this challenge I defaulted into thinking in terms of the shooting table / product table. David’s creativity took him further, and this makes for (I think) a fascinating video, even if the video is somewhat longer than usual.

When I photographed the two items, I relied on things I have learned over time, including from David. For the first item, a clock with reflective surfaces, we constructed a translucent cone with a roll of Savage Translum backdrop (B&H / Amazon) that I had in the studio for just such occasions. Over time you accumulate these items in a studio, including the black perspex I had on hand to photograph the second item – a flashlight.

David uses a medium format camera mostly – the Phase One XF with the IQ3 trichromatic back. This camera (with the Helicon Focus software ) allows focus stacking – you can shoot sequences of images which have a slightly different focus points, and any of these sequence of images can then be compiled in software to a single image which then appears to have much bigger depth-of-field. (Photoshop does this as well.) He used Capture One software to concert the RAW images to TIFF files. (In the video he said JPGs, but he concerts to TIFF as his regular workflow.)

More of David Patino’s work:  Website  |  Instagram  |  YouTube   |  Podcast

 

 

Photo gear used during these photo sessions

Neil vN’s studio:

  • Nikon D810 (affiliate)
  • Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR macro lens  (B&H / Amazon)
  • Manfrotto large still life shooting table  (B&H)
  • (2x) Profoto D1 500Ws studio flashes  (B&H / Amazon)
  • (2x) Profoto 2×3 RFi softbox  (B&H / Amazon)
  • Savage Translum backdrop (B&H / Amazon)
  • C-stands

 

David Patino’s studio: 

  • Phase One XF with the IQ3 trichromatic back
  • Schneider Kreuznach 150mm f/2.8
  • (3x)  Profoto B1 flash (B&H / Amazon)
  • Profoto 2×3 RFi softbox  (B&H / Amazon)
  • Profoto RFi 3×4 softbox (affiliate)
  • Matthews Solid Frame Scrim White Artificial Silk (48 x 48″) (B&H)
  • Lee 216 white diffusion filter  (B&H)
  • C-stands

 

Related articles

  • For more Two Perspectives videos
  • More articles on Studio Photography
  • For more videos, follow me on Vimeo / YouTube

 

Filed Under: product photography, studio photography, two perspectives, video shoot, video tutorial Tagged With: photography video tutorials, product photography


 

Help support this website

If you find these articles of value, please help support this website by using these B&H and Amazon affiliate links to order your photo gear.

I also offer photography workshops and tutoring sessions, whether in person, or via online video tutoring sessions.

Stay informed via the monthly newsletter.

Please follow me on Instagram for more.

You can also join our thriving photo community in the Tangents group on Facebook, where we show our photos and discuss all things photography.

Thank you,

Neil vN

Books by Neil van Niekerk


 




2 Comments, Add Your Own

  1. 1Valent Lau says

    May 24, 2020 at 1:54 am

    Those perspectives are awesome. It’s great to see what goes into a product shoot that may seem simple to the untrained eye.

    Reply
  2. 2Volen says

    September 1, 2020 at 2:05 pm

    A wonderful video. Photography is not a math and every approach is unique for every photographer. It show how we see the things different from each other. Thanks guys!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

categories

Articles & Tutorials

  • • About myself & this site
    • Books by Neil vN
    • Best photography books
    • Black foamie thing
    • Spinlight 360
    • Photographers’ success stories
    • email newsletter
  • • Flash Photography Techniques
    • Natural looking flash
    • Flash + Ambient light
    • Dragging the shutter
    • Bouncing your flash
    • On-camera flash outdoors
    • Exposure metering
    • Flash exposure compensation
    • Bounce flash examples
    • Which is the best flashgun?
    • Flash brackets
    • Off-camera flash photography
    • Flash photography basics
    • Using video lights
    • Flash photography tips
    • Photography books
  • • Photography workshops NJ / NYC
    • Models @ photography workshops
tutorials:
flash photography
Photography
Workshops

Recent Comments

  • Neil vN: Hi there Michael — the easiest might be to post it in the Tangents Facebook group. There’s an...
  • Michael Taylor: Hello Neil, I am a 71 year old retired ambulance paramedic and a keen photographer. I own a Canon EOS...
  • Matt: There’s a beautiful quality to the light in these portraits. Good advice from you here. I’ve often...
  • E: Ugh I did this too with Chase just today. Are you still waiting for it to hit your account? Or has anything else...
  • Neil vN: Just remember, there is no producer or a client. Just the scammer … and you. Do not give a single...

All rights reserved. Copyright © Neil van Niekerk 2021 · Customization by The Traveling Designer

Copyright © 2021 · NvN on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in