- Joined
- Feb 24, 2015
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- 1,382
This is a rotating rig to photograph skin care products. The photography has to be highly repeatable and some studies go on for months, some for years. It is important that they be able to position the subjects exactly as was photographed before, for scientific comparisons.
The camera and lights are on a stand and everything is indexed so it can be returned to whatever position is was used in the previous shoot. It takes consistent photos from 5 positions, front, 45º left and right and 90º left and right. The camera and lights must rotate on an axis a little forward of the center of the head.
The base has track rails I made from arcs of glued up plywood and skinned with formica. The trolly under the camera and light stand has a system of wheels, much like a roller coaster that locks on the track rails to guide the stand in an arc around the center. I could not use a simple pivot point because of the wide swing arc.
A cable mechanism operates a brake rod to lock the rig in the five positions. There is a head holder on the back of the chair that is adjustable to accommodate all different size and height of heads. A cable management system raises the power and data cable to the ceiling and anchors at the center point then across the ceiling and down the wall to the computer and power outlets. It isn't visible in the photo.
It took nearly a year to design and finish and was delivered a few months ago. Tubing is crafted from stage speaker stands and the heavier light supports were .125 aluminum tube and is black anodized. The stand is baltic birch plywood coated with truck bed liner paint, which has a good texture and is very durable.
Camera elevation and positioning hardware is a combination of existing hardware and machined parts.
Unfortunately, the coolest work is under the platform, where spring loaded skateboard wheel fixtures make contact with the semi-circular rail.
The camera and lights are on a stand and everything is indexed so it can be returned to whatever position is was used in the previous shoot. It takes consistent photos from 5 positions, front, 45º left and right and 90º left and right. The camera and lights must rotate on an axis a little forward of the center of the head.
The base has track rails I made from arcs of glued up plywood and skinned with formica. The trolly under the camera and light stand has a system of wheels, much like a roller coaster that locks on the track rails to guide the stand in an arc around the center. I could not use a simple pivot point because of the wide swing arc.
A cable mechanism operates a brake rod to lock the rig in the five positions. There is a head holder on the back of the chair that is adjustable to accommodate all different size and height of heads. A cable management system raises the power and data cable to the ceiling and anchors at the center point then across the ceiling and down the wall to the computer and power outlets. It isn't visible in the photo.
It took nearly a year to design and finish and was delivered a few months ago. Tubing is crafted from stage speaker stands and the heavier light supports were .125 aluminum tube and is black anodized. The stand is baltic birch plywood coated with truck bed liner paint, which has a good texture and is very durable.
Camera elevation and positioning hardware is a combination of existing hardware and machined parts.
Unfortunately, the coolest work is under the platform, where spring loaded skateboard wheel fixtures make contact with the semi-circular rail.