Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Discuss cameras, settings, composition, or anything related to photography - cactus or other subjects.
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fanaticactus
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Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by fanaticactus »

In the winter or other inclement weather conditions, I often found I had to photograph indoors with incandescent lighting. Photographing by a window is much better but not always practical for the best angles or background. Today I experimented and photographed a Turbinicarpus which just opened. My third choice was to take some pictures under the new-ish CFL bulbs labeled "DAYLIGHT". What a difference! I'm glad I've found my newest and best option for indoor natural looking photography. Here are some photos for comparison. Incandescent light
DSC02708.JPG
DSC02708.JPG (39.73 KiB) Viewed 4714 times
Natural light
DSC02712.JPG
DSC02712.JPG (43.96 KiB) Viewed 4711 times
Indoor CFL "Daylight" bulb
DSC02716.JPG
DSC02716.JPG (48.39 KiB) Viewed 4714 times
Catch a falling star--but don't try it with a cactus!
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SnowFella
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by SnowFella »

Depending on what camera you have you should also be able to do the same by changing your whitebalance. I get a slight red/orange tint to most of my photos if I leave the camera on auto just because the area under the awning is surrounded by brick walls, so I generally either change the camera setting or change the whitebalance my editing program after taking the pics.
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Christopher Howard
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by Christopher Howard »

Congrats on the flower! Turbinicarpus is my favorite genus.
DaveW
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by DaveW »

There's certainly a slight difference in colour from the daylight to the CFL bulb, though obviously much better than the uncorrected tungsten bulb.

I just looked CFL colour temperature up and found:

"As color temperature increases, the shading of the white light changes from red to yellow to white to blue. Color names used for modern CFLs and other tri-phosphor lamps vary between manufacturers, unlike the standardized names used with older halophosphate fluorescent lamps. For example, Sylvania's Daylight CFLs have a color temperature of 3,500 K, while most other lamps called daylight have color temperatures of at least 5,000 K."

http://www.nolico.com/saveenergy/daylig ... e_cfls.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Colour temperature of daylight varies due to conditions and the time throughout the day, but the standard daylight used for photography is 5500K

The thing about fluorescent lamps is they are not usually full spectrum like daylight so lack some colours of the spectrum, so hard to colour correct.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/techn ... ting.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
fanaticactus
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by fanaticactus »

@SnowF - Strangely enough, I never thought of the white balance settings, mainly because I don't like messing with many basic camera settings once they're done to my liking. I, too, would find it just as acceptable to adjust through my editing program. I'm just not that exacting a photographer anyway, except I've always objected to the orangey cast caused by incandescents (and they're being phased out of use here anyway!)
@Christopher - Thanks! It's all the more special for me because if I hadn't gone into the GH to rescue my cacti from the severe cold, I never would have seen the bud. It formed while in the GH at temperatures generally in the mid-40's, thanks to a portable heater, which was probably running almost constantly. It just couldn't maintain that temp when it reached below zero outside; it probably sank to somewhere in the 20's inside the GH--and the Turbi did its thing anyway!
@DaveW - Thanks for the info on color temperatures. You're right about the different spectrum values; I definitely notice a slightly "blue-er" tint to the photos with the CFL. But I much prefer that to the very unnatural orange/red glow of incandescents.
Catch a falling star--but don't try it with a cactus!
DaveW
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by DaveW »

As you say colour temperature can usually be adjusted in most post processing software, the problem with fluorescents though is they often have some colours missing in their spectrum which makes colour correction difficult. If you want to use automatic white balance on the camera and correct colour balance in post processing, if you are not already doing so, I would shoot RAW, not in camera JPEG's

You can get daylight balanced CFL's though:-

http://store.tabletopstudio-store.com/lightbulbs.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I am not sure whether your plant is the same, and of course individual plants flowers differ but this my Turbinicarpus schmiedickianus ssp. rubriflorus taken in daylight using a diffuser between it and the sun, just using auto white balance with no additional colour correction in PP.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickianus rubriflorus.jpg
Turbinicarpus schmiedickianus rubriflorus.jpg (54.53 KiB) Viewed 4657 times
fanaticactus
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by fanaticactus »

Dave, very nice Turbi indeed! I think it is different (rubriflorus ssp), if only going by the greater number of petals on each flower on yours. I definitely bought mine as schmiedickianus ssp schmiedickianus. I don't quite understand it when you say using a "diffuser" between the flower and the sun in your photo. Is the diffuser a separate lens attachment?
Catch a falling star--but don't try it with a cactus!
DaveW
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by DaveW »

Perhaps I should clarify what is meant by diffuser in this case. There are several types of diffusers used in photography, from diffusion filters that go on the lens used in portraiture to give a soft effect and hide the sitters wrinkles! Also diffusers placed directly over lights and studio or camera flash. In my case I am using diffused natural sunlight, no flash or artificial light.

Basically in this case a diffuser is something like white tissue paper on a frame between the plant and light source or specially made photographic diffusers. Diffusers sold for photography are basically panels of white nylon, sometimes on a rigid frame, but usually on a spring steel fold up frame. This is the type I use:-

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototip ... hting.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can get cheap ones on EBAY, probably made in China at a fraction of the price something like a Lastolight or well known name one will cost. They also usually have zip on reflector panels so you can use them as reflectors as well.

The supposed ideal lighting for photography is a bright sunny day with the sun veiled with light white cloud, natural diffusion in fact, since direct sunlight produces harsh shadows. You can think of a white nylon diffuser or your white tissue paper one as a portable light white cloud to place in between the light source (the sun) and the subject (the plant) in order to reduce the contrast in the image and soften the shadows and also help stop the highlights burning out. This link shows diffusers in action. However unless you are using your camera on a tripod and with a cable or remote release you may need an assistant to hold the diffuser between the light source (sun) and the plant, watching no shadows from the diffusers frame fall on it:-

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/ ... -digest/4/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Of course you could get a diffuser holder as they have, but I'm too mean!

My diffuser/reflector kit was one of these off UK EBAY, but the same thing is sold on many countries EBAY's under different names since I think they must all come from the same factory in Asia:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lencarta-80cm ... 4cea6a53e9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
fanaticactus
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by fanaticactus »

Dave, thanks for the great explanation and those links that show the diffusers. They definitely look like something I can use once my cactus photography season starts again. Actually, they look useful enough for many situations anytime, anywhere. I appreciate the time you took to send the response and the embedded links. I'm sure I can find something very similar over here Stateside.
Catch a falling star--but don't try it with a cactus!
DaveW
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by DaveW »

Just had a look on your EBAY:-

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=rou ... &_from=R40" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

However you need the knack to fold them again!

http://www.lastoliteschoolofphotography ... -reflector" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Of course you can always make your own whatever size you want, but when you take into consideration the cost of the bits and time in this video you can probably get one on EBAY about as cheap and it will fold smaller too for carrying or storage:-

http://film-lighting.wonderhowto.com/ho ... ng-317277/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

These look the same as mine including the carrying bag for when folded, depends what size you want 22" or 32":-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/JS-Photo-Studio ... 2211624%26" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Julius-Studio-3 ... 2211624%26" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
DaveW
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by DaveW »

Should have added you can also use these in front of lights to produce a larger diffused light source rather like a softbox, or even put off camera flash behind for the same result for many photographic uses:-

http://www.lastoliteschoolofphotography ... e-panelite" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you want a reflector/diffuser holder there are plenty of those cheap on EBAY too:-

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid= ... &_from=R40" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
DaveW
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by DaveW »

A couple more diffuser example videos:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVV4mcfygQo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmb_kDFYgfw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
fanaticactus
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by fanaticactus »

Wow! So much information. I really do appreciate all the "legwork" you've done, Dave. I suppose many of these items would be available through a photography/camera store?
Catch a falling star--but don't try it with a cactus!
DaveW
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by DaveW »

Yes but you will probably pay more getting a brand name rather than buying on EBAY or off the Web.

Just had a look and the Lastolite 30" circular diffuser alone at Adorama is $28.80 whereas they are about $12 post free on EBAY for a 32" one having zip on reflectors too.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Julius-Studio-3 ... 2211624%26" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
fanaticactus
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Re: Just discovered something which you may know anyway!

Post by fanaticactus »

Good point! Thanks, Dave.
Catch a falling star--but don't try it with a cactus!
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