When V-Flat released the new Karl Taylor Light Cone, comments ranged from malicious jokes about the “shameful hat” to excitement over a product designed by the merchant photographer. Honorable Trader Karl Taylor. I decided to bring the cones into my workshop and see for myself if this simple tool really delivers the effortless results it boasts.
To be honest, I was skeptical about Light cone. Lighting for product photography is very specific and requires extensive knowledge. Like most commercial photographers, I’ve spent years refining this skill by experimenting with different softboxes, diffusers, and dimmers. The idea of throwing a cone on top of a product and everything magically worked out gave me the same thoughts as when I came across “Brazilian Butt Enhancement” pills on the international market. Please. If it was that easy…
And then I tried it. OH. Look at the results for yourself. I’ll let the pictures do the talking. This first comparison shot was taken with the light placed above, down towards the cone.
You can notice a huge difference in the smoothness of the oil, the transition in the labels and also the softness of the shadows. It’s really simple to put the cone on top of the product and shoot. I was shocked when I saw the first image pop up on my review screen. If you follow me on Instagram, you saw my surprise when i made my first shot. I simply placed the cone on top of the product and took exactly that shot, and instantly, a smoother, softer image was created.
In this second comparison image, I placed the lamp to the left of the cone and the bottle inside the cone.
Hard lighting (left) is definitely trending. I am often hired to use it in my work. I love its bold crunch. However, if you want a smooth, creamy look, I can tell you with certainty that this tool will be the easiest and most effective way to achieve it. One thing that’s almost magical about this cone is how it erases imperfections. I specifically chose to test the cone on this brown bottle because over the years it has been the most difficult bottle to photograph for me. If I wipe it off, there will be silk threads on it no matter what I use. If I blow it with an air gun, there will be dust. Every imperfection on the label seems to be amplified when light hits it. Somehow, despite the microfiber glove, it just creates fingerprints out of thin air! This bottle has been the bane of my existence for many years. I was amazed with how the bottle looked almost perfect just using the cone.
You can see the same amazing results in this test shot.
For this third shoot, I wanted to try something a little out of the ordinary, so I placed the entire cone between the lamp and the product without placing the product inside the cone. I’m curious as to what would happen if I just used it to break the light. I used a bounce card to reflect a bit of light back to the right side of the bottle.
You can see the shadows and highlights are softer with a diffuse effect. You can also notice a big difference in the cap and color gradation.
It is interesting to know that Taylor worked for two years, experimenting with different materials and shapes. After settling with the material, he continued to refine the cones to get the best optical density for the material. The cones come in three sizes. You can buy a set of three or buy each set separately. If I had to choose only one, I would buy the large one, which measures 20″ x 18″ x 5″ and retails for $69.95. It really is a game changer. so easy and effective that it can allow a novice to achieve professional results in no time.
The only drawback that I encountered when using the cone was taking a photo of a slightly larger product. I love taking product photos with Canon 100mm f/2.8 .In the case of a larger product, like this shampoo bottle, to capture the entire product, I had to switch the lens to a wider lens: Canon 24-70mm f/2.8cause deformation on the product, as shown below.
If you take product photos, I believe this tool will save a lot of time. It will cut down on lighting and editing time. It’s affordable, easy to assemble, and stores flat like the stack of sturdy backdrops that pile up in your studio. This is a really “too good to be true” case. Hats off to Karl Taylor and V-Flat.
After this and Lindsay Adler’s placement, I’m anxiously awaiting their next release. You can take The light cone is here.
