Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Other Stuff => Other Topics => Topic started by: robrob on April 20, 2017, 09:08:49 am

Title: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 20, 2017, 09:08:49 am

I've been doing some tube macro photography and put together a "how to."

https://robrobinette.com/Glowing_Tube_Photography.htm (https://robrobinette.com/Glowing_Tube_Photography.htm)

1972 Fender silverface AA1069 Bandmaster Reverb
(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Bandmaster_Reverb_Chassis_small.jpg)

Bandmaster Reverb Power Tubes
(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Gassy_Twins_small.jpg)
Taken with a Sony A350 digital SLR with a fixed 24mm f/3.5 lens, 30 seconds of exposure, f/9, ISO 100.

"Pen and Ink" Version
(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Bandmaster_Reverb_Chassis_ink.jpg)

Doug, these are large images but they are linked to my website so they shouldn't affect your webservers or your bandwidth but feel free to pull them if you need to.

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: pompeiisneaks on April 20, 2017, 03:38:28 pm

Very cool, esp dig the blue on the power tubes ;)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 20, 2017, 03:56:32 pm

Those gassy Russian military power tubes are very photogenic.

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 21, 2017, 07:00:16 am

(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/tubes_in_a_row_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: pompeiisneaks on April 21, 2017, 11:25:17 am

Ok now I've reported you to an admin!  Showing off pornography on this forum is not allowed!

 :l2: :laugh:

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 21, 2017, 12:37:07 pm

The 50's sci fi version:

(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/tubes_in_a_row_bw.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 23, 2017, 08:44:45 pm

Here's an upside down shot of the Bandmaster Reverb:

(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Upside_Down_Bandmaster_Reverb_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 23, 2017, 10:05:52 pm

The black and white version takes on a completely different vibe.

(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Upside_Down_Bandmaster_Reverb_bw_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: edthill on April 24, 2017, 02:18:34 pm

Rob squared, are you using a special camera/lens or is this high quality phone photography with filters added? Just curious.
It looks awesome. Nice work.

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 24, 2017, 03:24:38 pm

The details are here: https://robrobinette.com/Glowing_Tube_Photography.htm (https://robrobinette.com/Glowing_Tube_Photography.htm) but I'm using a camera on a tripod for 30 second exposures. My main camera is a Sony A350 digital SLR but I've gotten good tube pics with a Sony A5000 point-and-shoot. The camera needs a manual exposure mode and manual focus. Auto focus freaks out in the dark.

I'm not using any filtering in the color shots and the black and whites are simply color shots with the color saturation taken down to zero.

(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/shooting_tubes.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 24, 2017, 04:47:51 pm

Another Bandmaster Reverb chassis shot:

(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Bandmaster_Reverb_Backside_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 25, 2017, 07:50:33 am

Maximum clarity and focus:

(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/twin_tubes_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 25, 2017, 07:52:54 pm

(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Twin_Towers_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: jjasilli on April 25, 2017, 08:20:19 pm

 :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 25, 2017, 08:21:26 pm

(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Tubes_in_the_Dark_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 25, 2017, 09:08:24 pm

(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Bandmaster_Reverb_Lineup2_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: DummyLoad on April 25, 2017, 09:12:41 pm

your rectumafrier is melting - leaning...oveeeer...just...a...tad...


nice pics and cool website btw.


--pete

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: sluckey on April 25, 2017, 09:21:24 pm

Quote

your rectumafrier is melting

So is the tube next to it.

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 25, 2017, 11:22:43 pm

Yea, I've been running the old Russian military power tubes hard for the photo sessions. But damn, they're photogenic.

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 26, 2017, 01:56:52 pm

This is the top of a power tube with the hollow cathode showing the glowing hot heater filaments. The control grid and screen grid wires can be seen through the cooling vent holes on both sides of the cathode. For these super macro shots I had to shine an LED flashlight on the tube to aid in focusing the camera. The photo was taken with a special Mitakon 20mm 4x Super Macro f/2 lens set at f/16 for maximum focus, 3 seconds exposure and ISO 100. The scene was lit from above with a fluorescent work light.
(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Cathode_and_Heater_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: SleepLess on April 26, 2017, 02:10:04 pm

Great pictures! Those colours are mesmerizing!

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: fdesalvo on April 26, 2017, 04:25:34 pm

That is seshual.  BTW, thanks for all the available and easily digestible info on you website.

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: Joeriz on April 26, 2017, 08:09:53 pm

I can practically smell those tubes!   :bravo1:

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 30, 2017, 06:14:23 pm

(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Tank_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on April 30, 2017, 06:14:58 pm

The '72 Bandmaster Reverb's gassy 6N3C power tubes.
(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Beauties_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: EL34 on May 01, 2017, 08:17:32 am

The pics loom cool robrob

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on May 01, 2017, 02:54:48 pm

Thanks Doug.

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on May 01, 2017, 07:08:24 pm

Wine Cellar
(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Wine_Cellar_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on May 01, 2017, 07:09:12 pm

Check out the plate detail in the rectifier and power tubes:
(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Plates_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on May 02, 2017, 08:58:45 pm

Plasma
(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Plasma_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on May 13, 2017, 11:17:48 am

(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Two_More_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: robrob on May 13, 2017, 02:20:01 pm

(https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/Tubes/Sky_small.jpg)

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: mresistor on October 01, 2017, 10:36:16 am

Nice pics Rob.

Title: Re: How to Photograph Tubes and Tube Amps
Post by: bbmade on December 05, 2017, 01:52:13 pm

Wow, these are fantastic.  Photography and amp hobbyist here...super cool.