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Note: You should read this story on our Web site at http://www.auctionbytes.com/Yellow_Pages/Pictips/pictips.html in order to view the interactive diagrams. (Some browsers will not be able to view the diagrams.)
One of the most important aspects of any successful online auction is the image that you attach to the item's description. Think about it. If you're shopping in a store, you can pick up your potential purchase, examine it, and get a pretty good idea what kind of shape it's in. With electronic shopping, you're at the mercy of the seller's ability to describe size, shape, and possible flaws. You want to present the best pictures for your auction that you possibly can, and a good image can go a long way toward dispelling any doubts a prospective buyer might have about your item!
Scanners versus Digital Cameras
If you're going to be primarily selling flat objects, such as comics or baseball cards, then maybe what you need isn't a camera, but a scanner. There are many inexpensive (under $100) flat-bed color scanners that can capture an image in 600 or 1200 dpi (dots per inch) mode.
If you're planning on selling antique furniture or computers or any other three dimensional item, then you'll need a digital camera. Check with your local computer retailer or http://www.cnet.com for reviews and prices of the latest peripherals.
Basket Case-Study
Assuming that you have a digital camera (or a camcorder hooked up to a digitizing card), your first step is to arrange your item in a manner that shows it off to its best advantage. These two pictures, http://www.auctionbytes.com/Yellow_Pages/Pictips/basket1a.jpg and http://www.auctionbytes.com/Yellow_Pages/Pictips/basketa.jpg, were both taken of the same porcelain basket using the same camera.
Basket1a.jpg was taken with available lighting, not clearly focused, with the basket taking up about 10% of the frame. You'd be amazed at how many poor images like this you can find on auction sites.
Basketa.jpg is a photo of the same basket, clearly focused, with a much brighter light source and a black background to make the object stand out. Note that when you have a 3 dimensional object like this one, you have to make up your mind which part you want to show in sharp focus.
Professional Method: 3-Point Lighting
In order for you to understand how to use light effectively, let me give you a little background on how the "pros" do it. When professional photographers shoot products, often they'll use a technique called "3-Point Lighting". You can see an example of 3-point lighting at
http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/lightgraph.JPG. (This is a Javascript demonstration; not everyone will be able to play with this demo due to browser compatibility issues.)
A Key Light is the main source of illumination. A Back Light helps emphasize the contour of the object, and also separates it from a dark background. A Fill Light helps to soften some of the shadows thrown by the key light and back light.
Tips for the Amateur
Unless photography is either your occupation or your hobby, you're not likely to have professional lights lying around the house. Make the most of what you have available. If you're shooting a larger object, try and direct a couple of lamps or lights toward the front of your item. A great, inexpensive way to light is to buy a couple of clamp-on lights with reflectors. These can be found in most hardware stores. Place them around your item in roughly the same positions shown in the diagram illustrating 3-Point lighting. If you have two lights, then put them in Key Light and Fill Light positions. You can use natural light from a window as well, but don't put the item in front of the window and shoot into the daylight. Too much backlight will make your item look dark and indistinct. The idea is to illuminate the front of the object as much as possible.
If you want to spread an even light across the front of your item, wrap aluminum foil around a piece of cardboard and reflect some of the light from the lamp so that the shadows are washed a bit. A piece of white foam-core or cardboard next to your item will also work wonders in filling out some of the shadows cast by your main light source.
Glass Presents a Challenge
Some objects are more difficult to photograph than others. Clear or colored glass objects fall into this category. One way to bring out the brilliance of colored glass is to place a light behind the object and direct it through the glass, out of the camera shot. Be sure to use a white or light background so that the color of the glass stands out.
These are just a few ideas and examples. Don't be afraid to experiment. There are no hard and fast rules to lighting. The point is to make your auction item look its best. One great method of getting tips is to search auctions and critique some of the pictures. Try to figure out how they've lit their items, or if they have at all. Does the seller's picture entice you to bid on the item? Chances are, you'll find that the items with the best pictures are bringing the best prices!
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