Rob Jones, Firearms Photographer | GUNS Magazine Podcast #21

Firearms photographer Rob Jones shares expert tips on creating professional-looking firearm photos with limited resources. He details improvised lighting techniques using common household items and explains how to manage focus, color balance, and backgrounds. Jones emphasizes that creative use of light and understanding its behavior is more crucial than expensive gear for achieving compelling firearm imagery.

Quick Summary

Firearms photographer Rob Jones shares expert tips for achieving professional firearm photos on a budget. He advocates for creative lighting using DIY diffusers like dog cones, bouncing light off white surfaces, and utilizing household lamps. Jones also covers techniques for managing focus on long guns, creating seamless backgrounds with paper or tiles, and preventing unwanted reflections.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Guns Magazine Podcast
  2. 00:34Podcast Episode Numbering Change
  3. 00:50Importance of Firearms Photography
  4. 01:10Rob Jones' Photography Background
  5. 02:26Rob Jones: Firearms Photographer Extraordinaire
  6. 02:57Starting in Studio Firearms Photography
  7. 05:18What's Interesting About Firearms Photography
  8. 06:18Beyond Magazine Shoots: Catalogs & More
  9. 06:51Swimsuit Edition Photo Shoot Experience
  10. 08:05Medical Photography Background
  11. 08:44A Typical Day for a Firearms Photographer
  12. 09:09Making Carry Gun Photos Unique
  13. 09:37Rob's Prop Closet: Wonderland for Gun Enthusiasts
  14. 10:14Daily Schedule: Shooting, Business, Retouching
  15. 11:18The Importance of Test Shots
  16. 11:46Style: Photography and Photoshop Combination
  17. 12:03Description of Rob Jones' Studio
  18. 12:29Shooting Tables and Lighting Setup
  19. 13:08Using Diffuse and Hard Lights
  20. 13:21Gear vs. Vision in Photography
  21. 14:18Lighting is Everything
  22. 14:49Film vs. Digital Photography
  23. 16:36Technical Setup: Go-To Gear
  24. 16:51Lenses Used: 24-70mm and 105mm
  25. 17:19Stopping Down for Sharp Focus
  26. 17:46Lighting Equipment: Flash Heads
  27. 18:00Composite Images for Covers
  28. 19:03Lighting Barrels: LED Borescope Setup
  29. 20:08Favorite Lighting Tricks: The Dog Cone
  30. 21:12Clarifying the 'Dog Collar' Diffuser
  31. 22:14Using House Walls and Ceilings for Light Diffusion
  32. 23:14Improvised Photo Studio: Low-Resource Lighting
  33. 24:14Improvised Photo Gear and Backgrounds
  34. 25:03Using Ceramic Floor Tiles as Backgrounds
  35. 26:40Seamless White Backgrounds
  36. 28:01The Challenge of Focus on Long Guns
  37. 29:09Focusing Plane and Depth of Field
  38. 29:36Perspective Control Lenses
  39. 29:59Color Balance in Photography
  40. 31:33Dealing with Color Casts on Black Firearms
  41. 32:32Shooting in Shade vs. Direct Light
  42. 33:05Color Reflections and Dealing with Them
  43. 34:39Contrast and Field Photography
  44. 35:00Using Fill Flash in Bright Sunlight
  45. 36:07Improvised Field Tips for Gun Pictures
  46. 37:13Post-Production: Don't Overdo It
  47. 37:46Photoshop Work on the Gun Itself
  48. 39:33Post-Production: Cleaning Up and Masking
  49. 40:07The Importance of Cleaning Firearms for Photos
  50. 41:13Keeping Firearms Clean Between Shoots
  51. 41:46Tools for Dust Removal: Hand Bulb Blower
  52. 42:49Securing Guns and Ammunition
  53. 43:09Using Plumber's Putty for Stability
  54. 43:43Using Credit Card Sticky Residue
  55. 44:30Hot Glue Guns for Standing Guns
  56. 45:04Concluding Tips and Thanks
  57. 45:17Podcast Outro and Subscriptions

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some cost-effective lighting techniques for firearms photography?

Firearms photographer Rob Jones suggests using a clear dog cone spray-painted translucently as a light diffuser, shooting through the neck hole. He also recommends bouncing flash units off white ceilings or walls and using household lamps with diffusion for soft light.

How can I achieve seamless white backgrounds for firearm photos?

Seamless white backgrounds can be created using rolls of seamless paper from photo supply stores. The paper is unrolled and curved from the floor up the wall to eliminate visible seams, providing a clean backdrop for your subject.

What are common challenges in firearms photography focus, and how can they be overcome?

Achieving sharp focus on long firearms is difficult due to limited depth of field. Photographers should carefully select the focus plane, often placing it mid-length on the firearm. Backing up and cropping the image later can also increase the depth of field.

How do you prevent unwanted reflections in firearms photography?

To avoid reflections of yourself or your surroundings on a firearm's surface, use your camera's timer mode and step away while it shoots. Strategically placing white or black foam core panels can also control reflections by providing neutral surfaces.

What are some DIY tips for securing firearms and ammunition for photos?

Plumber's putty or the sticky residue from new credit card mailers are effective for securing firearms and ammunition, preventing them from rolling or sliding. Hot glue guns can also be used to stand up firearms on their base pads.

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