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Category: Digital Photographic Discussions - Imaging Basics

Photography Question 

Joe Hudspeth 		 

Settings for indoor lighting


 
  Candy counter
Candy counter
F3.5, 1/13, 18mm, ISO 320 No flash

Joe Hudspeth

  
 
I am shooting a candy store inside and the lighting is very bright. I have about 10 feet before my focal point (which is a counter with a glass front case) and in back of that is the huge display of glass jars of candies. My problem is what settings to use. The lighting is three regular bulb drop lights over the counter and 6 small high powered spot lights for the candy display. Could I use a 4 stop ND grad to cut down on the glare on the back portion? Or would it be better to use a circular polarizer? The shot is out of the camera and resized for posting. Settings are F3.5 1/13 sec ISO 320 No flash and 18mm.


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December 12, 2011

 
- Carlton Ward

BetterPhoto Member
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Carlton Ward's Gallery 		  Hi Joe,
I would use HDR imaging myself for this image. Use a tripod and set to f/16 or f/22 to get more detail and take 5 (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2) exposures. This will give you a deeper & detailed look for the image. I use PhotoMatix by HDRSoft but Photoshop also has Merge to HDR feature.
Slower shutter speeds & more DOF :)
my .02,
Carlton


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December 12, 2011

 

Joe Hudspeth 		  Thank you Carlton. I figured that way the only way to really capture this scene, but I hadn't thought about that high of apture setting. Makes sense. Thanks again.


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December 13, 2011

 
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

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Chris Budny's Gallery 		  PS---your first thought for using a ND filter wouldn't help you here---as it reduces light to the sensor, evenly, for the entire image. So while you would render the bright shelves darker, you'd also make the already dark lower cabinets even darker still. (All of which you could do without an ND filter, too ;) The circular polarizer wouldn't help either--thought it would likely change the way the glass reflects in your image.

Carlton's right on---given the huge swing in lighting/contrast here, HDR could help you get a balanced image. Or simply two shots (one exposed for back shelves, one for lower shelves) and layer them carefully in PS. If you shoot RAW, you could also try a middle exposure of the scene, then in RAW editing, bring up the shadows and tone down the highlights (rather than just do global editing across the entire image.)


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December 13, 2011

 

Joe Hudspeth 		  Thanks Christopher. I will probably try the HDR on this shot. I do use the Lightroom 3 and have Elements 9 for the post processing. I appreciate both of you guys suggestions. Thanks again.


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December 14, 2011

 
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