If in Australia you were to depend on sunlight it is far too bright, then there is the wind and your shadow taking pics is inconsistent. Indoors fixed is heaven when you get your white balance. What I did was ring a guy in Sth Australia who said send mre an image he then told me the correction needed so I fixed two filter sheets one in front of each side light,magic. My top light is only a strip fluro of 8watts but tricolour or the nearest to true daylight. I fitted a bar about a third higher than the pen sits,made a 1/4 inch whitworth stem fitted half way along the bar to hold the camera latest version sits on a smallish 4 drawer cabinet that holds camera and odds and sods. It is in a corner of our dining room,unobtrusive and ready to go 24/7,takes but 5 minutes. Be wary of strip lights that hold many lights they can create a dotted line appearance on the pen etc. Also what I consider a pain is the small camera I use for pens has its memory card under the base that sits on the bar.
Bear in mind mine is a open box I found using diffusers required searchlights to make up for the loss of light when diffused. My side lights are a separated pair as used by tradies on a tripod on building sites. Around each one I cut and fitted thin foam cardboard shields to keep the light in the picture not showing or reflecting into the camera. I photograph manual focus even in my old age,I have a folded large print lettering I place in front of the pen to focus on.So I have done away with three tripods ie for the two side lights and the camera also a stand for the pen and use an 11 inch by 14 inch photocopy paper that ream is thirty years old now sat on a slow curve to give an endless back ground.
Another hobby of mine is Carnivorous Plants just setting up in the Lounge this terrarium that will house Albany Pitcher plants from Western Australia. the Larger stand (When I was welding the frame I went out front of the house and had an involuntary fall onto the 4 wheel drive mirror that buried deep as the spleen, I came back through the house simply said to Wilma I think I busted a couple of ribs and went out and finished the frame welding,next day ambulance to hospital could not move) outside next to my workshop has the taller Saracenia Carnivorous plants so I get my kicks as I go to my workshop,when we settle inside in the evening with my plants and pens amongst other passions. The deafening silence and lack of pics of successful picture takers should cease and be revealed,as for me from now on I will refer to this and other posts.
Kind regards Peter.
