INDOOR EQUIPMENT

The obvious advantage here is that weather is never a problem and you can stop for lunch whenever it suits! In a controlled environment there are very few subjects that cannot be photographed indoors, from every day objects (still life) to people and pets. The former, whether in situ or by careful 'set ups', can provide excellent photo opportunities. Try using various angles of view to create unusual effects. People and pets are a totally different discipline and can sometimes try the patience of a saint but either candids or posed shots can prove very rewarding. Whatever subject you choose try using natural light where possible as this will produce softer warmer results than artificial means.

Lighting Kits:

The lighting of your subject can be as simple or as comprehensive as you want. For a short 'burst of light' a ringflash or a softbox or diffuser attached to a flashgun will enhance your object or model but if you want to rely totally on artificial light, the 'studio' set up is the way to go. A basic portable lighting kit for the home studio may comprise of one head (constant light or flash), a reflector, umbrella, stand and a sync lead to connect to your camera. For the more advanced system, the kit may contain two or three heads, several umbrellas and stands, a couple of reflectors and several sync leads and connectors or triggers for wireless operation.In addition there are many accessories that can be added to your lights such as 'barn doors', 'honeycombs', 'snoods' and softboxes which can all alter the effects of light. Umbrellas and reflectors are used primarily to diffuse or direct light onto or away from your subject. An important part of indoor photography is the background and these are available in a multitude of materials, colours, effects and sizes although with a little imagination you may find what you need from everyday household items! Whatever background you choose, try to position your subject a suitable distance form it or you run the risk of producing unsightly shadows but you can overcome this with the use of backlighting.

ACCESSORIES

A valuable addition to the studio kit is a light meter and while the flash meter is adequate.....Logo for studio work it is desirable to have a dual light meter as this can be used for reading .......SEKONIC (johnsons-photopia.co.uk both artificial and natural light. For photographing smaller objects, there are some ingenious items to be found such as light tents and domes ( for shadowless results) or try experimenting by placing your subject above a lightbox, leadlight or torch. A copy stand can also be utilised for this kind of work. For those who want to duplicate slides on to negative film there is a zoom attachment available called a slide copier - it not only allows straight copying but you can also crop the picture, remove casts with filters or 'sandwich' slides together to create new compositions. No matter how you choose to use your camera indoors, initially getting it right will be trial and error but as with all other aspects of photography there are excellent books and websites available to assist you.

Projectors & Viewers

The culmination of all your efforts is looking at your pictures. At this point you will either feel a great sense of satisfaction or disappointment - I tend to blame the latter entirely on my camera, the weather, the subject, the light or anything else that springs to mind! A lightbox and loupe (or magnifier) are ideal for examining your slides and negatives in detail. The lightboxes vary greatly in size and the price reflects this. They can be both battery or mains operated but in either case a colour corrected model is preferable for more accurate interpretation. A good quality loupe, no matter what the magnification, is essential to avoid distortion and an interchangeable opaque or translucent base is useful for lightbox or daylight viewing. There are several methods for looking at your slides - the viewer or the projector. The viewer can be either a small hand held battery operated type or a desktop mains version with the magnification and quality dependent on price. The projectors 'project' the image onto a screen or monitor thus allowing you to view your pictures at much greater magnifications. Slides are loaded into 'magazines' or 'carriers' which are then fed through the projector either manually or automatically with or without a remote switch. A handy gadget is the light or laser pointer which can have a range of up to 50m!

Cleaning & Storage:

All of your photography equipment should be stored in conditions that are not subject to extreme temperatures - damp can cause condensation or mildew and is an ideal environment for tiny bugs to breed while heat can dry out lubricants. Ensure that cameras and lenses are allowed to stand for a few hours before being packed away as this will allow any natural moisture that may have accumulated to evaporate. If you have been unfortunate to get your equipment wet, pat dry thoroughly with a soft cloth and again allow it to stand before storing in a cool area away from direct light or heat. A good practise is to remove all batteries if storing for long periods without use as these can leak and cause damage. Periodically, wipe all your camera equipment with a cloth but never use abrasives or cleaners especially on the elements of a lens. There are impregnated cloths and tissues especially for this use but even then these ensure that there is no dust or grit on the elements before use and always rub in a gentle circular movement to avoid scratching the surface. There are pressurised cans of air available to blow away dirt from mirrors or lenses but these should also be used with care and ALWAYS keep the can upright when spraying to avoid blasting out liquid propellant. It is equally important to handle and store your photographs correctly - fingerprints or exposure to temperature and light on any photographic medium will cause irreparable damage. Prints can be stored in albums or boxes and slides and negatives in storage pages. The professional storage systems have pages made from heavy duty lead free material or acid and chlorine free paper to guarantee a long storage life.