Backdrop for photography

[Gb64c]

Recently I shot several pictures of an AFV, and most came out very dark and I want to correct this.

I used an automatic digital panaonic that typically takes stunning photos and has done pretty well so far with the AFVs.

My backdrop (3 sides) was a white sheet and I had my Daylight flourecent lamp over it over it for the first time, There was plenty of light.

So, I am wondering if white is was too bright and the appature was reduced due to the white bright.

I noticed several fellows use a light blue and Mike uses a blue and white mix, is that becouse they prefer blue or does it make for a better picture, light wise.

If any one has suggestions on a backdrop or camera settings, let me know.

Thanks and Merry Christmas from the desert kingdom of Bahrain

Greg

[Paul]

Yep it'll be the white effecting it, I get better when I just photo on my cutting mat

[Whizzo]

Always remember that an automatic setting on a camera will make it try to balance the scene to the same as a "gray" card. If the scene is bright (I.e. White) the camera's internal algorithm will adjust it to the darker side to mimic the standard neutral gray making the shot darker. Take it from a Canadian, that's why you over expose outdoor winter shots to prevent the snow from ending up gray rather than white.

Fred

[CJSomerset]

yep every one above is correct, if you can select the spot where your camera meters the light ( called spot metering!) you can put it onto the model. This will help but probably won't give a perfect result. You need to put your camera into manual mode and then adjust the exposure to taste.