Mark Foster’s Photo Blog

My mother in-law wanted photos of some antique hat pins she is selling.  They are relatively small and quite detailed which begs for a macro lens.  I used my Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro.

I set up a black velvet background and shot with two pocket wizard triggered hot shoe strobes with umbrellas and/or snoots.  All the frames with no apparent background were shot by suspending the hat pin in the air with black thread.  The thread was later removed with Photoshop if it showed up in the frame.  I like the black background in this case because it helps the viewer focus on the item and creates a sense of drama.  I experimented with various lighting angles to reveal the detail of each piece.  Hopefully this will all translate into a better sale price for her.