This is a photo from The Bride’s Guide, the Martha Stewart wedding blog. Associate Editor Jennifer Miranda snapped a photo of associate Style Editor Britni Wood doing prop styling on a large white piece of wood. The camera is mounted directly overhead aiming down perfectly. I saw this photo and went “OOOOOOOOO! So that’s how they do it!”
I guess the concept is pretty basic, but I had never figured out how it was done, and it was something I’ve always wondered about. Duh! Now I have to figure out how to mount my camera directly over a large flat surface without using thousands of dollars worth of equipment. My only tripod is rickety and will not stand up if I have the camera facing down directly. I’ll have to think of something else. Time for fun experiments!
i’d rig a couple of tight ropes to hang the camera, or a couple of rigid sticks of some sort to set the camera on (lens face down) right above your subject to keep it steady. just an idea but i’d do it over something soft in case it doesnt work out…
G.
26 Jan 09 at 1:35 am
Notice the way the “table” is set up? They can slightly light it from underneath that way, to make sure the white is bright and the shadows are nearly nonexistent.
Brianne
28 Jan 09 at 2:52 pm
I did notice, but I didn’t think it was significant. You’re right! That would eliminate shadows.
theambershow
28 Jan 09 at 3:07 pm
There’s also this great article on how to shoot small things in a $10 DIY studio: http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html
Kristan
28 Jan 09 at 10:42 pm