02-10-2015, 11:11 PM
doctorwayne Wrote:While most digital cameras can compensate for fluorescent or incandescent lighting, the light needs to be directed onto the subject to show detail well. The "flatness" of fluorescent light makes this difficult, especially if the subject is a locomotive or structure sitting on the layout or even on your workbench. Directed lighting is better, as would be sunlight - a good excuse for building a portable diorama which could be set-up near a window or even taken outdoors.
Wayne
You've hit the nail on the head here Wayne. It's not the type of light source (fluorescent vs incandescent) which can be compensated for on the camera or in post processing. It's the "source". Sunlight and your incandescent at the work bench are "point" sources, and create good shadows that reveal texture when the light falls across (in this case) the edges of the vertical wood cladding. The fluorescent fixtures create an even wash of light that behaves as if there is no single source, hence minimal shadows.
If you were to light the sides of the cars with an incandescent source pointed directly at 90°To the side of the car and at mid-car height, you'd achieve a similar effect to the fluorescent wash.
Andrew