Do any of you use a light box?

[HoldyourfireAl]

If so, do you feel it's necessary with a black background?

[Merlose]

Originally Posted by HoldyourfireAl

If so, do you feel it's necessary with a black background?

What kind of light box are you talking about Al?

A soft box?

The quality of light with a soft box is what you're going to notice, if it hits the black background its probably not going to go black you need some distance between your background and your figure. Also never use it directly in front of the subject like a flash, but use it to the side and then bounce additional light to the opposite side of the subject using a reflector.

[HoldyourfireAl]

Originally Posted by Merlose

What kind of light box are you talking about Al?

A soft box?

The quality of light with a soft box is what you're going to notice, if it hits the black background its probably not going to go black you need some distance between your background and your figure. Also never use it directly in front of the subject like a flash, but use it to the side and then bounce additional light to the opposite side of the subject using a reflector.

Can you achieve this by pointing two lights at each other?

[HoldyourfireAl]

Also, is it a good idea to turn off the rest of the lights in the room?

[Merlose]

Originally Posted by HoldyourfireAl

Can you achieve this by pointing two lights at each other?

Yeah however you'll find that just making the light even will make the image look kind of flat, having a different ratio of light on one side even if its marginally lower will create shape with the light and define the curves and lines of the sculpt better.

[Merlose]

Originally Posted by HoldyourfireAl

Also, is it a good idea to turn off the rest of the lights in the room?

YES!!!! Especially if you're photographing something shiny. IF you're using flash units it won't matter because the flash burst will overpower any ambient light, however if you're not using flashes other lights in the room will change the color quality of your image depending on how long your exposure is.

[HoldyourfireAl]

Thanks!!!