Photoflex Community Discussion

Wrinkled LiteIgloo backdrop showing up in photos even after steaming the background

2013-05-28T16:37:51Z

Digital photography lenses have far more depth of field than film camera lenses, so it does make it harder to drop the background out of focus in this application. Though using a more telephoto lens will help for this and is the most common choice for small product photography.
If your object is larger than a few inches, like a wine bottle, and you are putting your camera close to the igloo, so the front curtains can be closed, then background information will show up & the current common practice is to remove it in Photoshop & concentrate on the quality of the light on your subject. For larger items like this, most pro photographers will prefer to use soft boxes and reflectors, which give more control. The Igloo was designed to create a simple and easy lighting solution for small products.

A good way to achieve a smooth background without working in photoshop is to use paper. Commercial product photographers (primarily in the days before photoshop) had a roll of paper in a variety of colors and sizes. If you get a piece of thick construction paper (art supply store) & attach a few strips of sticky back Velcro to in the same location as the cloth included with your LiteIgloo, that may be your best solution.

Check out the equipment lessons tab of the http://www.photoflex.com/pls for Lessons using the LiteIgloo

I have a few stands from PhotoFlex (Medium LiteStands). Do you have any wheels I can use to move them around easily?

2012-06-18T22:36:31Z

We have discontinued the casters we used to sell and do not have any more available. There are other companies that make casters, so you would need to look for a set that is designed for the 22mm legs.

How much weight can the LiteDisc Holder hold when used as a boom?

2012-06-18T22:33:53Z

The LiteDisc Holder is able to support about 5 lbs. at full extension and would require a counterweight (there is a hole in the opposite end of the extension arm to facilitate a hook to hold a weight bag). It is not designed as a boom, but can fulfill that function for light weight applications. Also, it will be sturdier and support more weight when it is not fully extended.
For heavier applications we suggest our boom stand combined with our boom.

I am in need of a shooting enclosure that is good for glass picture framed art. What is your suggestion?

2012-05-18T23:32:46Z

To photograph a glass covered picture, you need two lights from each side at about 45 degree angles. The lights do not and should not be too close to the subject. In this way there will be uniform exposure over the artwork.
A shooting enclosure would be a nightmare.
The lens of your camera needs to be parallel to the artwork.
Unless you have a camera that has a lens shift function, like a view camera, your camera will reflect off the glass. Therefore, it is best to use a telephoto or slightly telephoto lens & cut a hole in black artboard or black felt like material, so just the lens pokes through, to minimize any camera reflection and block any light or reflective material from appearing in the glass, as it will act like a mirror.
A simple lighting kit like the first Studio kit would be fine, and you would not need to use the umbrellas for this application, just the light heads. Then at another time, you could use the umbrellas for a portrait or similar.

How do I collapse my Igloo shooting tent?

2012-05-18T23:18:57Z

They need to be first collapsed from the correct direction. Try placing the box on a surface with the opening flaps facing up, then push one side down into the opposite corner (as shown in the illustration in the pop up instructions.) If it does not collapse well from the side you chose, try it from the adjacent side, & it should work.
For the large Igloo only, with the collapsed unit, it needs to be folded in 3rds just like our LiteDiscs. The illustration for this is at the very bottom of the instructions.
To make it easier to fold it, start with your hands in an opposite configuration on each side of the unit.
The best way I can think to illustrate this is to start with your left hand grabbing the left side of the folded igloo & turn the unit upside down by rotating the far edge upward and over [if you are doing this right, your left elbow will go up.]
Then grab the right side of the igloo with your right hand, so your right palm is on the opposite side of the unit as your left palm.
By twisting your arms/hands in this fashion it makes it easier to twist your hands back while holding the unit, to fold it into 3rds.
(see the illustration in the instructions for the visual)