That is exactly the information I needed Ray, thanks! I knew it was a simple fix - I am way too close to the parts. I need to back up and zoom more. I also shouldn't worry if the lights on the side or any other unnecessary items end up in the shot - I'm cropping and editing in PhotoShop anyway. I'll try to back up on the next round of parts. I bought different lamps at Harbor Freight - the new ones are designed to hold a light on a tool like a band saw (magnetic base). They hold their position better than the first lamps I had (they drooped). I would like to find a different lamp shades for them though, more like the white umbrellas you see on a photo set. Some of the parts show less shadow and some show more. The longer an item the more you see the variations due to 3 separate light sources. >>Depth of field. Use as small an aperture as possible. The smaller the >>aperture, the deeper...etc. Another way is to use a relatively long lens and back way off from the subject..well, not WAY off, but if you think if depth of field in ratio and proportion, when the distance between the subject and the focal plane is short, the DoF shortens proportionately. When you back off a foot or two, the depth of field can expand as well as the distance to subject. It looks like you've done real well at eliminating shadows. Funny thing. I was just reading a FaceBook post by Bret Kepner. Any tv drag racing fans will prolly recognize his name. I met him earlier this year in Portland. He's been trying to do the same thing with cars and bikes. Here's he web site: http://bretkepnerphotos.com/ The photo he showed was this one: http://www.raytherat.com/kepner/32098_1487699474691_1300072411_1342200_1327744_n.jpg He was bitching about the shadows on the walls. He used "numerous slave units at many different settings." That's all I know. His previous post on the subject was this one: http://www.raytherat.com/kepner/12301_1460886324379_1300072411_1280429_7658894_n.jpg A pretty damned good job if ya axe me. hth, r On 5/18/2010 7:13 PM, Chris Lindh wrote: I'm barely hanging on the edge of the list... (I'm on digest mode, miss out on the attached photos) Sales are growing, which is good, but margins are shrinking, which I expected... Quickbooks will let me know how I'm really doing when I make the time to enter all my sales. I'm not a good one for coming up with a nickname. I've been called Linder (from the last name Lindh). I have been taking more photos, of family events and of parts, the attached is a photo I took today. How do I make more of the item in focus? (I think John mentioned it but I can't recall the solution).
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