By Katherine Meeten
Object Type or Collection: Archive material, documents or flat items
Number of Lights: 2 flashes
Lenses Used: 24-70mm, 50mm, 100mm macro
Brief Summary
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Symmetrical setup for archive material: letters, notebooks, newspaper, magazines, photographs etc.
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Used for top-down images with camera mounted on a copy stand. Set up on a table with standard black paper as a backdrop.
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Two 60x60 Softboxes set up either side of copy stand to distribute even light across the object, both aimed towards each other at 90-degree angles to copy stand. This reduces any glare off reflective or glossy surfaces.
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With our Kaiser 800x600 baseboard copy stand, we can comfortably shoot A2.
Example image
Lighting Setup
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Two 60x60 Softboxes are mounted either side of copy stand. The left Softbox is hanging off a C Stand, connected by a grip arm, 2 grip clamps, and a short arm.
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The lights are mounted 515mm above, 380mm across from the edge of the copy stand base.
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Power output is 5.8 for both lights (Broncolor Siros 800S)
This setup allows us to also photograph small objects, the lights can be adjusted as needed to create shadows and contrast.
For doing archives and other 2D work, smaller 60x30 Softboxes or LED panel lights can also be used.
Note, using a narrow light horizontally reduces the chance of reflections on the document being photographed. LED panel lights are cheaper and take up much less space, but require slower shutter speeds. We need to use flash as our building is located on an active wharf which moves and vibrates.
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The C Stand is pushed as far as possible into the corner to make room for the workstation.
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The light is connected by a grip arm; a grip clamp is connected to the grip arm and attached along a short arm. A second grip clamp holds a short arm which is attached to the C Stand. This lines the light up correctly while giving us room to work underneath.
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The Softbox can be swung towards the wall to make headspace at workstation.
Extra Tips:
Anything that is curled, we keep flat by using:
- Small glass blocks
- A sheet of Optiview Scientific glass
- Clear Acrylic “fingers” and strips
- Mylar polyester film and cotton ties
Our setup is heavily space constrained, but we have placed the monitor and controlling laptop in a position that reduces twisting and turning movements by the operator. The camera is triggered with a foot pedal, and a small number pad is used to enter object record numbers and operate live view on the camera. The wall behind the copy stand and the ceiling above it is now covered with a length of black fabric to better control reflections and any colour cast from light spill. Ideally these surfaces would be painted pure black or a dark neutral grey.