Hello, I'd like to request for help in light balancing.

File: DSC09487.jpg (1MB, 2400x1597px) Image search: [Google]

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Another picture, to let you feel its size.

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Camera Software	GIMP 2.9.4
Maximum Lens Aperture	f/3.5
Focal Length (35mm Equiv)	27 mm
Image-Specific Properties:
Image Orientation	Top, Left-Hand
Horizontal Resolution	350 dpi
Vertical Resolution	350 dpi
Image Created	2017:09:05 23:20:40
Exposure Time	1/30 sec
F-Number	f/3.5
Exposure Program	Normal Program
ISO Speed Rating	500
Brightness	1 EV
Exposure Bias	0 EV
Metering Mode	Pattern
Light Source	Unknown
Flash	No Flash, Compulsory
Focal Length	18.00 mm
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File: IMG_20170210_140602.jpg (340KB, 1920x2560px) Image search: [Google]

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The setup in action:

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Camera-Specific Properties:
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Camera Model	A3500-F
Camera Software	custom software
Image-Specific Properties:
Image Orientation	Top, Left-Hand
Horizontal Resolution	72 dpi
Vertical Resolution	72 dpi
Image Created	2017:02:10 14:06:03
Exposure Time	7497/250000 sec
F-Number	f/2.8
Exposure Program	Not Defined
ISO Speed Rating	163
Exposure Bias	0 EV
Metering Mode	Center Weighted Average
Light Source	Other
Flash	No Flash
Focal Length	3.50 mm
Color Space Information	sRGB
Image Width	1920
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Exposure Mode	Auto
White Balance	Auto
Scene Capture Type	Standard

File: DSC06893.jpg (3MB, 3229x2152px) Image search: [Google]

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My problem is:
from shoot to shoot it seems to vary in terms of light. Here is an example of shoot made:
The white is kinda grey and I got some noise in the brown color.

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Camera-Specific Properties:
Equipment Make	SONY
Camera Model	NEX-5
Camera Software	darktable 2.2.4
Maximum Lens Aperture	f/5.0
Focal Length (35mm Equiv)	70 mm
Image-Specific Properties:
Image Orientation	Top, Left-Hand
Image Created	2017:09:05 23:10:41
Exposure Time	1/125 sec
F-Number	f/14.0
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO Speed Rating	800
Brightness	4.8 EV
Exposure Bias	0 EV
Metering Mode	Pattern
Light Source	Unknown
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Rendering	Normal
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File: DSC07229.jpg (4MB, 3628x2418px) Image search: [Google]

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And another shoot in the same day, with the same setup.

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Camera-Specific Properties:
Equipment Make	SONY
Camera Model	NEX-5
Camera Software	darktable 2.2.4
Maximum Lens Aperture	f/4.5
Focal Length (35mm Equiv)	63 mm
Image-Specific Properties:
Image Orientation	Top, Left-Hand
Image Created	2017:09:05 23:27:53
Exposure Time	1/125 sec
F-Number	f/13.0
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO Speed Rating	800
Brightness	4.9 EV
Exposure Bias	0 EV
Metering Mode	Pattern
Light Source	Unknown
Flash	No Flash, Compulsory
Focal Length	42.00 mm
Color Space Information	sRGB
Image Width	3628
Image Height	2418
Rendering	Normal
Exposure Mode	Manual
White Balance	Auto
Scene Capture Type	Standard
Contrast	Normal
Saturation	Normal
Sharpness	Normal

File: shot-2017-09-05_23-29-26.jpg (1MB, 3840x2160px) Image search: [Google]

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And here is a screenshot of my Darktable browsing screen. You can clearly see there is difference in white from pictures to pictures.
You can also see my manual setup for Camera.
F/13.0 Aperture
1/125 Exposure

My question is, how can I smooth that difference to having the same white in the background at the time of shooting. Is is a problem of light ?
I currently have 3 LED strips Above, Left and Right, a Flash above the Camera.
Should I install a slave remote flash and some light diffuser behind the camera ?
thank you for your help.

File: fghr474.jpg (1MB, 1600x967px) Image search: [Google]

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Well primarily you have no frontal light source. You need to get some soft light (at the same temperature as your LEDs) coming from the front/above.

I literally use three desk lamps and a big softbox light tent.I invested in a huge roll of 200 gsm paper which I hang down the back and under the subject (gives a flat pure white finish).

You need to manually set your white balance to a cooler level - either in-camera or in RAW processing.
Then make your exposures longer and lower your ISO.

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Exposure Program	Aperture Priority
ISO Speed Rating	100
Lens Aperture	f/9.0
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Slow the shutter speed, 1/125 is too fast to pick up the level of ambient light.
Drop the ISO, slow the shutter, open the aperture

What specific kinds of light are you using? Looks like you're getting 4000k or so light out of that monstrosity of a light tent and around 5000k out of that shitty speed light. You need to fix that.

You're also creating incredibly boring and flat light with that thing. Rethink your approach. You've way overcomplicated things.

File: DSC07271.jpg (4MB, 4608x3072px) Image search: [Google]

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Thank you for your tips and replies. It's really helpful.

>>3145546
>Drop the ISO, slow the shutter, open the aperture
I went on this,
ISO 200
F8.0
1/30

It seems better.
The flash remains a bit too hard for my taste. It makes the leather a bit glossy, too shiny, even with a diffuser on it. Should I reverse it on a silver umbrella or something ? Maybe should I separate it from the camera.

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Camera-Specific Properties:
Equipment Make	SONY
Camera Model	NEX-5
Camera Software	darktable 2.2.4
Maximum Lens Aperture	f/5.6
Focal Length (35mm Equiv)	82 mm
Image-Specific Properties:
Image Orientation	Top, Left-Hand
Image Created	2017:09:06 11:35:02
Exposure Time	1/30 sec
F-Number	f/8.0
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO Speed Rating	200
Brightness	4.6 EV
Exposure Bias	0 EV
Metering Mode	Pattern
Light Source	Unknown
Flash	No Flash, Compulsory
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>>3145824
Move the flash to top right, shoot through a large diffuser close to the shoe. That'll create some large and less harsh hilight and brings the shape out a little bit better.

File: IMGP0376.jpg (3MB, 6000x4000px) Image search: [Google]

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>>3145432
>>3145434
>>3145435
>>3145438
1. If you want the background to be the same colour between shots, you need to manually set the cameras white balance. This can be fixed in post through lightroom if you've been shooting in RAW.

2. You're shooting a dead static scene, yet you are using a 1/160th sec shutter speed forcing your camera to bump the ISO up to 800. The resulting chroma noise is visible on the two leather shoes, and it doesn't look good. Turn the ISO down to 100, and shoot with a long shutter speed. This will get rid of the noise and probably make the shot look better.

3. I'd say lose the front flash, and just rely on reflective material to bounce the light onto the front of the subject. In fact if you bounce the light around the box well enough you could probably get away with a single light source. Nice diffused light is key.

Pic related is a test shot I took with an improvised setup in my wardrobe after seeing this post. I used a single torch pointed at the wall for diffused light, and a book to reflect some light onto the front of the subject. Exposure time was 8 seconds with f/6.3 at ISO 100.

I hope some of this helps

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I don't even really know why but this looks comfy as hell
So nice and tidy and simple, good job on the diy OP
My only observation is that the contrast or colors, I dunno what it is, they look kinda flat, or maybe underxposed. I'm used to this kind of pics having more 'pop' if you know what I mean

>>3145824
Post an image of the results you would like to have and we can help you achieve those results

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>>3145919
To let you compare, here is a picture from the professional team of one of my shoes supplier and on the same family and color as the low model already >>3145824 pictured in the thread.
It's maybe a bit too glossy there btw.

File: GHOST_625_280_DIV_07196.jpg (241KB, 1000x1000px) Image search: [Google]

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>>3145919
Here is typicaly the quality I'd like to achieve.
Not necessary for the white color background, I'm not necessary for Ultra White background. But for the shoe itself that'd fit my whishes.

>>3145917
Thank you.. The Yankee Workshop was a great source of inspiration.

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Image Created	2017:09:06 16:23:02
Exposure Time	1/125 sec
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Exposure Program	Manual
ISO Speed Rating	200
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>>3145925
When using flash (generally speaking) shutter speed controls the ambient light (in your case the LEDS).
There are many ways you can get these results.
You are going to have to keep dropping the shutter speed until your background goes white (without blowing highlights on your shoe).
Your flash light is too hard, that little diffusion box on your flash is doing almost nothing.
Try this, turn the flash off, turn the LEDS on, and meter. Keep your ISO at 200 and your aperture at f/8, just keep dropping the shutter speed until the shoe is well exposed. Even if the exposure time is like 10 seconds it is not a problem because the subject is not moving and you are on a tripod. Make sure you use a self timer so the camera does not shake when the shutter opens from pressing the release