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100 in 100, Part II: Still life tent buying guide

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100 photography tips in 100 days: Day 19

By Fred Singer

March 13, 2008

For more tips, go to the 100 in 100 Part II Homepage

We’ve looked at effective ways to improve backgrounds, composition and lighting when shooting products to look great for online auctions; now, here’s a product that can make this process simpler: The still life tent.

Still life tents consist of a white translucent fabric supported by an internal “snap-to” support system. They offer a white or blue seamless backdrop against which you can photograph objects as small as a ring or as large as a laptop or toaster, depending on tent size. Tents range from 10 inches of shooting space to over 30 inches. They collapse into a small pouch or disc for easy carrying, weigh next to nothing, and can be set up anywhere. Some even come with lights and a tripod.

Ideally, two light sources should shine directly on the outside of the tent on either side. The light bounces around inside the tent, bringing out wonderful details even in very dark items. You could, in a pinch, use a tent outside in direct sunlight; the sun’s harsh rays will be diffused enough to create good lighting in the tent as harsh shadows are eliminated.

I use the Westcott Photo Basics 30-inch DigiTent and a pair of inexpensive incandescent studio lights and reflectors. I set it up on my kitchen table and shoot away with my Canon 40D DSLR and kit lens. I always keep my camera on a tripod to eliminate camera shake.

The Interfit 36-inch Pop-Up Box Still Life Tent Outfit comes with a pair of 500-watt tungsten lights and stands. You’ll still need to supply your own tripod and camera, but at around $280 you’ll have basically everything you’ll need. (What’s up with the blue background? It’s a Chroma key. In Photoshop, select the blue background and use the paintbucket tool to replace it with white.)

If the Interfit outfit is too rich for your blood but you prefer a self-contained kit, SP Studio Systems’ Mini Portable Still Life Shooting Tent has two small continuous lights and a small tripod and costs under $80. This is fine if you’re using a compact camera and just want something quick and easy. Another option is the Adorama DeShadow Box, which includes a 16x16-inch soft light box, halogen lamps, blue background sweep, and tabletop tripod.

If jewelry is your thing, you may be better off with a dome, such as the Adorama Plexiglass Light Dome I, instead of a tent. It’s ideal if you’re shooting down on a small item. One light source shining on the side of the tent will provide sufficient illumination.

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