Product photography

Have you ever thought about what it takes to produce pictures of commercial products? It is much more than simply placing an item on a table and taking a snapshot of it.  Of most importance is the lighting of the subject. This will vary depending on whether the item is specular metal or glass, made of a textured or smooth material, or a food item. Each category requires a different approach in achieving a well-lit scene. Of equal importance is presentation. This can be a challenge in that you want to add interest to your photo without distracting from the subject. The next time you see advertisement, look past the product and into the scene. Producing that picture was no small task.

What I Like to do

What I like to do is learn new things. I’ve taken advantage of being stuck in the house (because of all the snow and ice) and using my time to learn some new Photoshop techniques. Here is a couple of things I’ve been working on:

3D Ancestry Ball with Reflection

Zebra at the zoo in Dawsonville, Georgia

 

Atlanta – First snowfall of 2011

We don’t get snow in Atlanta very often so it’s a big deal when we get even one inch. Well, this time we got 6 inches on my side of the city and it is beautiful. I went for a walk through my subdivision earlier today to document the event.

 

DSC04840, originally uploaded by Images by Willina.

Douglasville – Train Derailment

In the early morning hours of January 4, 2011 a freight train derailed in Douglasville, Georgia. My decision to go to the site was last-minute. I only had my camera (2.8/28-70 lens) and my flash with me but there was no time to go home for my other equipment. [side note: NEVER leave home without additional lenses, video camera and tripod]  The cleanup had already begun by the time I arrived but I still managed to get some interesting pictures. Damaged containers were being removed from the track and placed on the right-of-way. Some of the containers were crushed before being lifted out of the ditch where the derailment occurred. Plenty of people were there taking pictures and there are several videos posted on youtube.com detailing the cleanup. Here are a few of my photos:

Damaged containers were set off to the side and the twisted rails were replaced with prefabricated track.

This area was the lowest part of the ditch that the train track went through

4 Photographers Describe Their “Social Media Workflow” – A Picture’s Worth | PhotoShelter

I found this article very interesting. It gives real-life examples of how to use social media to expand your business.

4 Photographers Describe Their “Social Media Workflow” – A Picture’s Worth | PhotoShelter.

Lunar Eclipse, 2010

To begin with, the sky was clear with just a few passing clouds but heavy cloud cover began to move in just before 2:00 am. I was glad to get the pictures that I did. Here is a composite of some of my images.

NGS Photo Contest Winner: Does It Look Real to You? | PDN Pulse

NGS Photo Contest Winner: Does It Look Real to You? | PDN Pulse.

It’s a great image but should it have been chosen for 2010 National Geographic Photography Contest grand prize? Maybe NGS needs to add an additional category for photoshopped entries.

PIX Digital Imaging Contest 2010

PIX Digital Imaging Contest 2010.

View the winning images! Interesting and inspiring!

Need Links? | Ashley Arnold Photography

Need Links? | Ashley Arnold Photography.

Kudos to you, Ashley! Wonderful idea!

Looking back and Reflecting. Pt2

Looking back and Reflecting. Pt2.

Great job, Chris!