Bit the bullet and purchased the kit from B&H. Took 6 days to get to regional Queensland. Great product to use (mainly for silver jewellery). Having all 3 cones means my wife can also choose to use one for her photography. Will demo the mini-cone to friends who use their smartphone to capture their gemstone products for websites. Thanks for taking the effort and time to design the cones.
Definitely something I would consider using and buying for my jewellery and watch clients and household appliances. Thanks for offering this product! I think the cone products are well worth the cost.
I was presuming that this cone was only for objects that you could lay down. But there was a chrome tea kettle among your items, but I never saw where you showed how to photograph it with the cone. Would like to know how you use the cone on vertical subjects that stand up.
Hi Michael the kettle was also lying down and can be seen in one of the educational videos no V-Flats site. I will be making a video on how to use the cone for upright stuff as soon as I can. All the best Karl.
A must have product, I need at least one! Thank you Karl for offering us this product with these tips and tricks allowing us in turn to offer even more qualitative photos for our customers. Best regards from France 😊
Karl great idea. I purchased one of your first product DVD's which was fantastic but once you started building and placing homemade scrims you rapidly ran out space, this will be a fantastic space saver for those that don't have massive studios. I'll be getting a kit for sure.
Nice demos Karl, but I was hoping to see a photo comparison using the V-Flat cone versus the pet cone? Also, by using a 7-inch Bowen's mount reflector with a diffusion sock, this adds to the dispersion of the LED hotspot. Yes, lose a bit of light, but there is enough light in an 80 watt+ LED. While another form of the while light box, they are valuable for product photos.
Thank you for being brilliant with your answers and with the amazing knowledge. Let’s all remember that you are helping so many people to be better. Thank you 🙏🏼BTW I just ordered one.
Hopefully we see an Australian distributor soon (shipping from partner companies in US is extreme). Do you have any examples shooting bottles / cans in the Light Cone?
Hi Karl, I'd also like to see you shoot the Kettle using the cone. You've handled it a few times, but not shot it. I wonder if it's too big to shoot. . I've also ordered the cone from the UK supplier. They only had the large cone available, no kit. Good videos, but does need more vertical products imo.
Now I bought one the large one in B&H/ I hope it will answer my expectations about the shiny glossy chrome things I 'm shooting these days. I tried a lot of technics to assume something reasonable but it isn't simple although the technics to achieve a good result . I waste a lot of time to get a satisfied outcome.
I wonder if they made a cone with a variable density, like thinner on one side and thicker on the other, then we can turn the cones around to give different levels of diffusion to diff areas
@@VisualEducationStudio I took a look at B&H photo and and tried to checkout but it says 'Shipping not available for the selected address" so as I applied a UK address I am presuming it does not cater for the UK
Last week Canon send me an invitation to "salon de la photo 2022" in Paris, from october 6 to 9. All the players will be there. Maybe i'll see you there with the Light Cone
Hey Karl this is great - I recall the session where you used a cone of diffusion I learnt from that in the small amount of product photography I do and I like to challenge myself with jewllery and shiny objects just for the fun of it - Now this purpose product will be a great tool for pros and non pros and makes me want to buy it even though I dont currently "need" it for any current or upcoming projects work but would be great to experiment with for the potential of getting back into and pushing more the product photography side and offering!
@@VisualEducationStudio amazing ! i may hold on for eruopean distributer and use that time delay to get myself ready for it with more practice shoots for products - does it seem feasible this year could see uk/european stockists or more likely 2023
Would that also be a solution for shooting soft plastic lure that are made of highly reflective and oily material? Some even have translucency color but it is quite a challenge to get a picture that reflect the reality.
Hi, yes I think it would be ideal for that. I used to do a lot of bass fishing with lures so I know what you mean and if you are photographing them from top down I think it would be ideal.
Possibly I’m missing something here, but why not just angle your subject by 45 degrees? I’ve been shooting with cones for years (although horizontally, and not vertically). This product is clearly designed for small subjects that fit with the circumference of the large end of the cone. For smaller subjects it is way easier to manipulate the subject than it is the camera and lighting set up.
Just stumbled across this video. Very interesting, not least because I've been shooting watches with cones for many many years now. I have one question - not sure if this is answered later in the video (I'm only about 20 minutes in so far). Why is the cone at the lens end angled?
OK so I've got to the bit where you talk about this. I'm not sure I understand. In fact, as someone who has been shooting with cones for years, it makes no sense at all. If you're going to angle the lens, then you're going to have to decenter the object. But, the simple fact is you don't need an angled entry to the cone to do this even if it was the aim. There is one very good reason for angling it, but you don't mention it (and it's why the cones I use have angled entries).
HI Karl I love this product. Hopefully it will be available in Australia Soon. Don't like to pay high shipping price it is nearly similar to the product Price itself. Secondly you have use Jewellery words nearly 15 times but did not have any demo or example with that cone. I would be nice if you show working example with shinny Jewellery piece with cone on youtube
I thought "If that's V-flat plus with the Karl Taylor name it's possibly very expensive" Then I saw the price and was quite impressed at how affordable it is. Although I must confess that I have mixed feelings: first because it makes it easier to do things in small spaces; second because you guys made the task too easy and domestic, so there will be less paid jobs for photographers. Great product Karl.
It is *very* expensive for what it is. Actual *production* costs (excluding R&D, marketing, retailer markup, etc etc) for something like this out of China would almost certainly be under $1 in volume. And you could choose to make your own cone (the medium size) out of a sheet of Lee diffusion that is 70cm x 45cm in size. That’s 0.3 square meters. For context, a 48” x 25’ roll of Lee diffusion costs $170 (retail, not the production cost). That would be enough to make 30 cones. But that’s not the point. The point is, do you want to spend an hour of your time making this yourself (and trust me - I’ve done it, and to get it right for someone without the specialised tools and knowledge to cut cones from sheets of paper, it IS gonna take you at least an hour for the first one), or is an hour of your billable time worth more than 35 bucks? So yes, you are right. It is very affordable when you look at it from a real world perspective, regardless of any branding.
had to shoot welding helmets and failed miserably after trying for 2 days - large curved highly reflective surfaces - wonder how this would deal with welders helmets??
Really seems to make a chrome product look like brushed chrome. Even when you move the lights around, most of the product still looks like brushed chrome. I am sure it will be great for alot of stuff but not sure with the chrome.
It would be nice to see video from you from opposite viewpoints of your profession. By this I mean, all the difficulties, all the allegedly necessary gadgets, all the stuff what is constantly being pushed to you, to be trouble of yours. I have followed your videos, and I can see that some technical things you sometimes have to use, aren't always your strong point, and it would be really great to see if you can enlighten also this "dark side" of your profession, why there just is too much gadgets which do not serve the purpose, why things require stupid amounts of learning some engineer type codes or other stuff, why there is all that additional stress from things which do not seem to be at all the core work of photographer. Even calibrating display could be one, but I guess that has still quite strong reasons you have to master that also. Think this video like "what all the stuff pis*es me in my profession", leave the governing type of things like taxation stuff out, but look at all of these gadgets and requirements and whatnot, what are told to be important, but what you personally see they are just nuisance without real benefit.
Yes I've also been using my own home made cones for decades. I created this cone to give people something ready made and convenient. If that is 'just selling' then yes that's what's we're doing and they have been extremely popular.
Karl, I love your photography and I’ve enjoyed your videos for years…but I’m afraid to say I think you’re talking complete crap on this occasion, seemingly undermining your integrity for the sake of selling your new product. You even read out a few comments about the very obvious changes to the surface appearance of some objects featured, yet dismissed those comments after the fact, and your answers were complete nonsense. Someone with an eye like yours must be able to see just how much your diffusion gadget totally changes the surface appearance of every single gloss object you demonstrated during this video (especially the shower head). Yes adding tape does indeed add black lines to the reflection, but that doesn’t correct the overall effect on the surface, by the loss of true specula highlights. Also, I’m sure you also must have noticed that adding Blutack under the knife to change the of reflection angle resulted the illusion of it having a slightly different shape, something a perfectionist client would not be happy with. Yes this product does have a use, but please don’t try to BS your viewers for the sake of sales.
Hi John, I'm afraid that's completely inaccurate and you don't really know much about product photography or my work: karltaylor.com/objects the purpose of the lightcone is to block as many surrounding unwanted reflections as possible. How you light it and the specularity, shadow, smoothness or contrast comes down to how you decide to use the diffusion material. If you knew my methods well you would know that nearly all of my product work uses diffusion material such as LEE 216 in large panels or Acrylic in sheets so the physics are exactly the same except panels don't wrap enough around your subject. For small objects especially spherical you need a complete surround. I've been using cones of diff for years (just home made ones) so this is nothing new other than making a more rigid and reusable product. The level of specularity in your lighting comes from how you position your lights and the shadows from how you flag, all of which is the same as the techniques in my normal work. The Light Cone isn't the solution for every type of product shot but it's the solution for lots of tricky situations and you haven't really understood how lighting works if you think otherwise.
Can't believe people were giving out about the price, these seems cheap! If you're a working photographer you'll make back the cost of this in 20 minutes!
![ค้างคืนโรงเก็บกระสวยอวกาศร้างกลางทะเลทราย [Around The World Ep. 3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E5bWZQhABJE/mqdefault.jpg)
Bit the bullet and purchased the kit from B&H. Took 6 days to get to regional Queensland. Great product to use (mainly for silver jewellery). Having all 3 cones means my wife can also choose to use one for her photography. Will demo the mini-cone to friends who use their smartphone to capture their gemstone products for websites. Thanks for taking the effort and time to design the cones.
Hi Nigel, thanks for your purchase please let us know how you get on with them.
Just placed advance order on B&H for the full set! I have been researching similar solutions, but looks like you have made it easy at a fair price.
Love your videos. Hope to see another one next month. Thanks.
Definitely something I would consider using and buying for my jewellery and watch clients and household appliances. Thanks for offering this product!
I think the cone products are well worth the cost.
I was presuming that this cone was only for objects that you could lay down. But there was a chrome tea kettle among your items, but I never saw where you showed how to photograph it with the cone. Would like to know how you use the cone on vertical subjects that stand up.
Hi Michael the kettle was also lying down and can be seen in one of the educational videos no V-Flats site. I will be making a video on how to use the cone for upright stuff as soon as I can. All the best Karl.
Hi Karl I ordered the cones. I shoot jewelry pieces standing up. I wish I could see a vertical demo.
Did this video come out?
A must have product, I need at least one! Thank you Karl for offering us this product with these tips and tricks allowing us in turn to offer even more qualitative photos for our customers. Best regards from France 😊
Thank you.
Karl great idea. I purchased one of your first product DVD's which was fantastic but once you started building and placing homemade scrims you rapidly ran out space, this will be a fantastic space saver for those that don't have massive studios. I'll be getting a kit for sure.
Nice demos Karl, but I was hoping to see a photo comparison using the V-Flat cone versus the pet cone? Also, by using a 7-inch Bowen's mount reflector with a diffusion sock, this adds to the dispersion of the LED hotspot. Yes, lose a bit of light, but there is enough light in an 80 watt+ LED. While another form of the while light box, they are valuable for product photos.
"If I was a photographer running a studio" said of the greatest photographers out there.
That cracked me up 😂
I bought the full set and I can't wait!
Hope you enjoy it!
Thank you for being brilliant with your answers and with the amazing knowledge. Let’s all remember that you are helping so many people to be better. Thank you 🙏🏼BTW I just ordered one.
Hopefully we see an Australian distributor soon (shipping from partner companies in US is extreme).
Do you have any examples shooting bottles / cans in the Light Cone?
Experimented with something similar a few years ago. Works well... Good luck going forward pro!!!
Impressive results - best of luck with your new really awesome product !
Thank you!
Hi Karl, I'd also like to see you shoot the Kettle using the cone. You've handled it a few times, but not shot it. I wonder if it's too big to shoot.
.
I've also ordered the cone from the UK supplier. They only had the large cone available, no kit. Good videos, but does need more vertical products imo.
Hi, Karl has shot a kettle with the cone, the result is the picture in this video. It's a smaller kettle and it was laid on it's back flat.
Love it, so amazing, I can't wait to order one!
Yay! Thank you!
Came to learn about the cone, ended up getting a product photography education. Well done.
Cheers
Now I bought one the large one in B&H/ I hope it will answer my expectations about the shiny glossy chrome things I 'm shooting these days. I tried a lot of technics to assume something reasonable but it isn't simple although the technics to achieve a good result . I waste a lot of time to get a satisfied outcome.
This would be great for E Commerce part time or to learn for fun.
Got it, bro's gotta buy the "right one".
Thanks for this. Can't wait to get mine. Amazon has it (a year later from this video posting).
Thanks @tangojuli209!
What if it's other then top angle?
Hi Karl. Is a very nice tool. But it makes the subject look silky, semiglossy, brushed. but the product is glossy or did I miss something?
Thanks, yes you missed something: please go to around 21:40
@@VisualEducationStudio oh yeah. It actually was that my stream quality was not that good. no i see that the image is glossy
Just ordered mine, I live in Belgium, Europe.
I hope it will be avalaible as soon as possible.
Do you think about days or weeks? Maybe months?
Going to try it. I do many car accessories which are very reflective. The product looks like the "cone of shame" used by veterinarians on dogs.
Hi. I wanted to know is your cone light diffusers are available in India?
Waiting for it to be available in Europe 👍
Hopefully not too long. Cheers Ralf.
@@VisualEducationStudio thanks Karl, will be an immediate order 😊👍
@@VisualEducationStudio who distributes in Europe (EU zone)? Not practical to purchase from US
I wonder if they made a cone with a variable density, like thinner on one side and thicker on the other, then we can turn the cones around to give different levels of diffusion to diff areas
Very nice. Would they be available in the UK?
Hi Ali at the moment we can only deliver to the UK by ordering through B&H Photo.
@@VisualEducationStudio I took a look at B&H photo and and tried to checkout but it says 'Shipping not available for the selected address" so as I applied a UK address I am presuming it does not cater for the UK
Looks great for flat lays, but how did you manage standing or floating items like the kettle and sunglasses in the sample images?
Last week Canon send me an invitation to "salon de la photo 2022" in Paris, from october 6 to 9. All the players will be there. Maybe i'll see you there with the Light Cone
Are you sure that using a small aperture only used the tiny central portion of the lens?
just ordered the large from V flat world website- Can't wait for it
Thanks Ron.
I just yelled "fuck me" at my computer for the shower head demo. Well done, mate. I have a bunch of questions I'll ask through the website.
Hey Karl this is great - I recall the session where you used a cone of diffusion I learnt from that in the small amount of product photography I do and I like to challenge myself with jewllery and shiny objects just for the fun of it - Now this purpose product will be a great tool for pros and non pros and makes me want to buy it even though I dont currently "need" it for any current or upcoming projects work but would be great to experiment with for the potential of getting back into and pushing more the product photography side and offering!
Thank John, the times where I used to make my own cones is what inspired me to come up with this!
@@VisualEducationStudio amazing ! i may hold on for eruopean distributer and use that time delay to get myself ready for it with more practice shoots for products - does it seem feasible this year could see uk/european stockists or more likely 2023
Would that also be a solution for shooting soft plastic lure that are made of highly reflective and oily material? Some even have translucency color but it is quite a challenge to get a picture that reflect the reality.
Hi, yes I think it would be ideal for that. I used to do a lot of bass fishing with lures so I know what you mean and if you are photographing them from top down I think it would be ideal.
Hi. In the shop you only deliver to the USA. can I get the product anywhere in Europe?
Great simple Design. It seems to work great with frontal and topdown shots, but what about angled shots Like 45 degrees?
Possibly I’m missing something here, but why not just angle your subject by 45 degrees? I’ve been shooting with cones for years (although horizontally, and not vertically). This product is clearly designed for small subjects that fit with the circumference of the large end of the cone. For smaller subjects it is way easier to manipulate the subject than it is the camera and lighting set up.
Just stumbled across this video. Very interesting, not least because I've been shooting watches with cones for many many years now.
I have one question - not sure if this is answered later in the video (I'm only about 20 minutes in so far).
Why is the cone at the lens end angled?
OK so I've got to the bit where you talk about this. I'm not sure I understand. In fact, as someone who has been shooting with cones for years, it makes no sense at all. If you're going to angle the lens, then you're going to have to decenter the object. But, the simple fact is you don't need an angled entry to the cone to do this even if it was the aim.
There is one very good reason for angling it, but you don't mention it (and it's why the cones I use have angled entries).
HI Karl I love this product. Hopefully it will be available in Australia Soon. Don't like to pay high shipping price it is nearly similar to the product Price itself.
Secondly you have use Jewellery words nearly 15 times but did not have any demo or example with that cone. I would be nice if you show working example with shinny Jewellery piece with cone on youtube
Hi Nafees we have jewellery examples in the videos on V-Flat world website if you'd like to check them out.
Is it available for the lads here in the UK? 😁
We're working on it :)
Hi. Nice for top shots but what about horizontal shots?
very useful information. many thanks Karl
Glad it was helpful!
Can i also use the i-phone one with an android-phone? 😉😁
24:03 That light on your head is a bit too specular, Karl... you might ask your camera man to use a cone too! 😄
I thought "If that's V-flat plus with the Karl Taylor name it's possibly very expensive" Then I saw the price and was quite impressed at how affordable it is. Although I must confess that I have mixed feelings: first because it makes it easier to do things in small spaces; second because you guys made the task too easy and domestic, so there will be less paid jobs for photographers. Great product Karl.
It is *very* expensive for what it is. Actual *production* costs (excluding R&D, marketing, retailer markup, etc etc) for something like this out of China would almost certainly be under $1 in volume.
And you could choose to make your own cone (the medium size) out of a sheet of Lee diffusion that is 70cm x 45cm in size. That’s 0.3 square meters. For context, a 48” x 25’ roll of Lee diffusion costs $170 (retail, not the production cost). That would be enough to make 30 cones.
But that’s not the point.
The point is, do you want to spend an hour of your time making this yourself (and trust me - I’ve done it, and to get it right for someone without the specialised tools and knowledge to cut cones from sheets of paper, it IS gonna take you at least an hour for the first one), or is an hour of your billable time worth more than 35 bucks?
So yes, you are right. It is very affordable when you look at it from a real world perspective, regardless of any branding.
Thanks dear Karl
My pleasure!
very cool product.. may i aks what brand an name the stand is on your table for teh light?
Hi those are manfrotto floor stands
@@VisualEducationStudio oh.. warp speed.. many thanxs
mind blowing
these would be great.... if you could actually buy them anywhere in the uk. nobody has them in stock.
Good job!
Thank you! Cheers!
can go to Kuwait if i order?
how can we get it ?
had to shoot welding helmets and failed miserably after trying for 2 days - large curved highly reflective surfaces - wonder how this would deal with welders helmets??
Helmets might be too big for the LightCone
@@VisualEducationStudio looks like a great product. simple low cost and solves a lot of problems for photographing small objects. well done.
love your demo, and great sharing! Thanks
What’s the diameter of the top hole? Is it large enough to accommodate a medium format studio type camera lens (Hasselblad H, Phase One)?
Yes it fits medium format lenses.
you propably have the highest production value streams anywhere on the internet
Thanks
you forgot to add the links in the description
Is this available in U.K.?
It will be from April.
Really seems to make a chrome product look like brushed chrome. Even when you move the lights around, most of the product still looks like brushed chrome. I am sure it will be great for alot of stuff but not sure with the chrome.
Hi See the instructional videos on V-Flat website showing how to use the product
@@VisualEducationStudio thanks will have a look.
Unfortunately they don’t send to Italy. I already added the kit in the shopping bag…
crazy that they dont have distributor in EU country
Buena información. Gracias
Super
thanks a lot sir
I do self-portraits with latex clothing a lot. Was like oooo seeing this then I realized I'd need to be in the cone :(
We'll make a bigger one that you can get inside :)
I'm not saying that I bought one. But... I bought one, consider it a donation to my Karl Taylor Photography Degree. ;)
Thanks Chris, let us know how you get on.
Could you post an update video please, once a direct retailer for Europe is established? Thanks 👌🏻
Will do.
2 years?
Can your product be delivered to Denmark?
It would be nice to see video from you from opposite viewpoints of your profession. By this I mean, all the difficulties, all the allegedly necessary gadgets, all the stuff what is constantly being pushed to you, to be trouble of yours. I have followed your videos, and I can see that some technical things you sometimes have to use, aren't always your strong point, and it would be really great to see if you can enlighten also this "dark side" of your profession, why there just is too much gadgets which do not serve the purpose, why things require stupid amounts of learning some engineer type codes or other stuff, why there is all that additional stress from things which do not seem to be at all the core work of photographer. Even calibrating display could be one, but I guess that has still quite strong reasons you have to master that also. Think this video like "what all the stuff pis*es me in my profession", leave the governing type of things like taxation stuff out, but look at all of these gadgets and requirements and whatnot, what are told to be important, but what you personally see they are just nuisance without real benefit.
foba cone is so expensive and cloud dome is has many flaws
Cones have been used forever in product photography, nothing new here, just selling.
Yes I've also been using my own home made cones for decades. I created this cone to give people something ready made and convenient. If that is 'just selling' then yes that's what's we're doing and they have been extremely popular.
Karl, I love your photography and I’ve enjoyed your videos for years…but I’m afraid to say I think you’re talking complete crap on this occasion, seemingly undermining your integrity for the sake of selling your new product. You even read out a few comments about the very obvious changes to the surface appearance of some objects featured, yet dismissed those comments after the fact, and your answers were complete nonsense. Someone with an eye like yours must be able to see just how much your diffusion gadget totally changes the surface appearance of every single gloss object you demonstrated during this video (especially the shower head). Yes adding tape does indeed add black lines to the reflection, but that doesn’t correct the overall effect on the surface, by the loss of true specula highlights. Also, I’m sure you also must have noticed that adding Blutack under the knife to change the of reflection angle resulted the illusion of it having a slightly different shape, something a perfectionist client would not be happy with. Yes this product does have a use, but please don’t try to BS your viewers for the sake of sales.
Hi John, I'm afraid that's completely inaccurate and you don't really know much about product photography or my work: karltaylor.com/objects the purpose of the lightcone is to block as many surrounding unwanted reflections as possible. How you light it and the specularity, shadow, smoothness or contrast comes down to how you decide to use the diffusion material. If you knew my methods well you would know that nearly all of my product work uses diffusion material such as LEE 216 in large panels or Acrylic in sheets so the physics are exactly the same except panels don't wrap enough around your subject. For small objects especially spherical you need a complete surround. I've been using cones of diff for years (just home made ones) so this is nothing new other than making a more rigid and reusable product. The level of specularity in your lighting comes from how you position your lights and the shadows from how you flag, all of which is the same as the techniques in my normal work. The Light Cone isn't the solution for every type of product shot but it's the solution for lots of tricky situations and you haven't really understood how lighting works if you think otherwise.
Too Stoned to understand
Can't believe people were giving out about the price, these seems cheap! If you're a working photographer you'll make back the cost of this in 20 minutes!
Thanks Peter and of course we agree, for the convenience and accuracy factor alone!
Amazing results!
I'm waiting for Europe distributor
will be interesting to see this as i have just built my new studio so could become a usefull tool, @karltaylor look forward to seeing your results