Approaches To Studio Lighting
Assignment #2 – Light Tent


Please hand in your unmounted print in a polyethylene or polypropylene storage bag together with conservation board and this sheet.

Assignment Description:
Use a 4x5 view camera to photograph a metal object using tent lighting, i.e. completely diffused light. Hand in either an 11 x 14 inch silver-gelatin black and white print, or an archival color ink jet print of similar dimensions. If working digitally, it will be necessary to use the Imacom scanner.

Assignment Objective:
Metal objects present a particularly challenging situation to the photograper in that they reflect everything around them like a mirror. This assignment offers a clear solution that will prove useful to the still life and product photographer. Other strategies for photographing metal will be discussed, but we will focus on this.

Suggestions:
Nowadays many photographers rely on Photoshop to mask their lack of understanding of light and lighting. First we must learn to recognize the qualities of the materials we place in front of our lens, and how they absorb, reflect, and react to different qualities of light. With metal objects in the studio we must eliminate all reflections by surrounding the object to be photographed from all sides except below with a semi-transparent pure white material. Three or four lights should surround this circular tent, creating a diffused light passing through the white material. Only an opening large enough for the lens should be left open. This may cause a relection that can then later be retouched, if necessary.

Evaluation Criteria:
Craftsmanship - Sharpness
Exposure (full shadow and highlight detail)
Contrast (a solid black, a bright white, and a full range of gray values)
Value (appropriate lightness / darkness)
Needs dodging and/or burning
Cleanness (no dust, water spots, scratches)
Print damage
Aesthetic / Conceptual refinement (accomplishes assignment description and meets objective)

Grade ___________


Student Name_______________________________


Teacher Comments: