How to: photograph your teaware. A beginner's guide.

[debunix]

Tripod.

Without a tripod, though, you can often cobble together some books to prop up the camera, and then use the self-timer so you can hit the shutter button, step back, and then the camera will give you a nice long exposure without that first vibration of you pushing the button.

And you don't really need a macro lens for most photos of teawares, at least not for the entire piece at one view. It's needed when you want to get closer and closer like this....


Seigan blue by debunix, on Flickr

But not for things like this


In Praise of Shadows by debunix, on Flickr

[Seeker]

Adam - just want to say - I really like that second shot. Really nice.

[Seeker]

Debunix - your second shot rocks for me too.

[bonjiri]

here's a quick image i made using a LED light my friend rogvon gifted me

its wonderful. color temperature is amazingly accurate.

[Seeker]

As some may have read in the "your first chawan" thread - my camera died.

It was my Canon S2IS, and the shutter has become stuck.
So, I went to get a new camera.
I did look at the EOS Rebel T1i, but I must say that the size of the thing intimidated me. Seemed like too much camera for me.
So, I ended up with a new Canon Powershot SX30 IS.
I think it's probably the latest model of the same camera.

Any thoughts, experiences about this camera?

[Brirvg1]

Just shot this the other night in my living room and I thought I would share it. It is nice and simple, only one light.

[woozl]

All my shots are natural light, no shopping.
Matcha would be nice here. Emerald green foam.

[Geekgirl]

Here's a trick that helps with natural light shots. Natural light is directional, even when you have a great light source, like bright indirect light coming in through a big window. You will still have one bright side, and one shadow side.

Try this: using an ordinary piece of white printer paper, angle the paper around and facing the shadowed side to bounce some of the light back into the shadows. It will brighten things up, is cheap and easy.

My paper here peeking out of the left side of the image, you can see that it is curved to reflect back into the contour of the teapot:



The original setup with no white paper "reflector" was very dark on the shadowed left side.

If I really wanted to get fancy, I could make little paper go-betweens to try and shield the light from making the little "hotspots" that you can see just to the left of the handle. I've seen people put little paper tabs on kebab skewers, and position them (like lincoln logs) until they cover the right spot. But this is fancier than I want to get for a quick shot.

[Seeker]

Beautiful GG - thanks for the tip, and gosh but that's a stunning teapot!

Wooz - yeah! agree - matcha would look great in there...
(beautiful bowl!)

[debunix]

First, set up your teaware, carefully positioning it against the background, considering how the lines and tones of the surroundings play against the teawares, avoiding distracting background features



set up the lighting, and then remove the cat who has wandered into your frame



but be sure to handle this gently so no teaware is knocked over or worse, off the shooting surface. Then adjust the composition a little more, checking the focus is on the desired feature of the teaware



remove the cat



one more time, adjust the aperture to give the desired depth of field, take your shot


Teacup by debunix, on Flickr

and remove the cat



and then put the teaware safely away, out of reach of the cat.

[Geekgirl]

Ha! so true! I find cats don't understand why you are photographing bits of roasted clay and not them!

[debunix]

And she really doesn't mind the flashes, walking right into the middle of them.

[fdrx]

Excellent!!!

[debunix]

That is one of the better fuzzy paw shots she's let me take.

[fdrx]

it's a great shot, it automatically puts a big smile on my face, thanks!