TOOLS AND POWER TOOLS
This is a strong niche, and lots of different ways to shoot. From editorial to drop-n-pops, power tools are in demand and we need to have a couple of killer shots in our books as product shooters.
Buy me a tank of gas and a taco and I will send you 4 exclusive 5x7 prints from the trip. Printed at Artifact Uprising, they will be signed and numbered and EXCLUSIVE to only the people who participate. Available only from now to the end of the ride, August 17.
Stein Tool on location.
This is a sizable product, but notice how well it is lit. Good blend of ambient and strobe (softboxes) give the tool a comfortable feel in the surroundings. Note how the ambient light is soft as well as the light on the tool itself. Careful use of large white cards all around make every nuance of this tool come alive.
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A very modern hammer
Shot from the top down we see all the features of the tool. From the thin handle with a grip, the the very tapered claw, and rounded hammerhead. The light is the thing here, giving us highlights on all the major parts of this hand tool. Look at the highlights for an idea of how it was done – single light above, and controlled white cards for edges and shape.
Lansky on Location
Industrial knife on location – or at least styled and shot to look like location. Clean highlights from a top down softbox or scrim gives detail to every part of this small tool. A white card up front keeps the edges from going dark and helps open up the shadows.
Cutters
Feeling ambitious? This shot of a large set of tools is very well done. Notice how all of the tools are angled to catch the softbox reflection and make the tools pop. Looks like a very large light source (scrim) above, with white cards staged strategically around the set (note the tips of the tools facing out). There is also a very nice highlight area in the center of the set to give it a natural vignette. All in all, a good shot overall.
Audi
OK, so I thought this was a fantastic ad, and it includes tools. So I used it here. For inspiration. For ideas. For a quick trip outside of the box. How can you create this sort of whimsical mood to your shot? You can, of course, but you have to come up with a concept that works. Take from this image what you see for yourselves, and if you choose to make an image that is built on a concept, make it rock.
