Better lighting for Starline miniature pictures

[trynda1701]

I usually just set up minis for pics with room lighting at night, and use either my phone camera or a 5MP digital compact camera without flash. Usually they work out not bad, like below (the focus could be better!).



But what is a better lighting setup to eliminate harsh shadows like on the SL2200 Sparrowhawk below when photographing the Starline miniatures?



I don't want to go too expensive with this. I have access to an adjustable table lamp for example. I would like to hear peoples thoughts on the matter. What would be the best setup using that style lamp with some sort of diffussion/reflection on the above Sparrowhawk picture layout?

Mark

[bluebirds38]

cool minis.

[Mike]

I'm wondering if your table lamp is using a fluorescent bulb? They often give a yellowish hue in pictures. You might try bright incandescent light against a flat black background.

[Jack Bohn]

I may be the wrong person to speak, because I don't think the shadow is too harsh. (If you couldn't see the painted "lights" of the windows in it, that would be bad.) What you might want to do is shine a little -- a very little -- light at it from the front, close to the place where your camera is. You don't want to wash out the shadow, it gives shape to the sparrowHawk. You migvht not need a second lamp if you have a mirror you can stand up to bounce light in... or even bright white paper, depending on how close you can get.

The great thing about digital cameras is you don't have to pay for, or learn how to, developing the prints. Experiment!