My Christening gifts

[readingr]

Still playing with my christmas toys and learning about lighting. How could I improve this composition, lighting, DOF...?

Roger

[jbaldocchi]

I think the composition looks good but I might try coming down with the camera angle a little and possibly back lighting the subject slightly.

Jim B.

[Greg McCary]

Nice job with the lighting. The black background works as well.
Greg

[Herriot]

I like the composition of the objects, the angle from which you have taken the photograph and the choice of background. I think you are displaying your christening gifts to full effect but the lighting overall is just quite dark, there are a lot of reflective surfaces and potential to bounce light so some back lighting may well help to add some clarity to the overall result.

Herriot

[gahspidy]

Roger, it all looks pretty good, but the thing that bothers me here is the ring being lit so brightly. I think that could have been reduced by angling the ring a different way, or I guess adjusting the lighting. It's just too dominant in the image compared to the softly lit surfaces of the other items.

[readingr]

Gary, Herriot, Greg, Jim,

Thanks for the comments.

I couldn't get a picture with the lighting I was happy with. The main light source was directly above the items with a flash coming in from the right on this picture. I am wondering if it would be better if I used more light from both rear/sides instead of the two sources.

Gary you hit the nail on the head with the ring being so bright and therefore the reflection in the cups which was bothering me.

Jim, Herriot, Couldn't easily backlight because of the black background so will be revisiting this.

Greg, The tent came with a white, blue, red, and black backgrounds which are fun to play with, I just need to understand how to use lights with it on difficult subjects which reflect so much.

Back to the tent tonight for a reshoot to see what I can do. I'll try Jim's idea of a lower angle and see how it works.

Any other suggestions let me know.

Roger