DAIWA REVELRY HD MQ

DAIWA REVELRY HD MQ

DAIWA REVELRY HD MQ

 

DAIWA REVELRY HD MQ SPOOL

DAIWA REVELRY HD MQ SPOOL

 

DAIWA REVELRY HD MQ MONOCOQUE

DAIWA REVELRY HD MQ MONOCOQUE

 

DAIWA REVELRY HD MQ ATD

DAIWA REVELRY HD MQ ATD

 

DAIWA REVELRY HD MQ AIR ROTOR

DAIWA REVELRY HD MQ AIR ROTOR

 

DAIWA REVELRY HD MQ HANDLE

DAIWA REVELRY HD MQ HANDLE

Fishing reels are always challenging especially with so many tones and materials that all reflect light differently, but add the colour red to them and it even gets more challenging. Reds are on of those colors that never look right, most camera sensors seem to struggle with red tones. In the early days of digital, CCD sensors were in most high end cameras and  I personally believe they replicated reds, straight out of the camera far better than the current CMOS sensors. My original Leica M9 produced stunning reds, but with some tweaking the Nikon Z7 II matched with an X Rite Color Checker gets as close as I could get to the actual product color.
The combination of multiple colours, metals, cork, chromes, plastics or eva etc make it challenging. I began shooting reels during film days before digital, my setup still remains the same albeit more modern lights. Lighting power, fstop and speed remain the same as I’m so attuned to shooting them, the only component that is checked every time is white balance. Each reel I shoot has a test image with an Xrite Color Checker and Sekonic light meter. These seem to be forgotten or underutilized gear with many of todays photographers.
In light of the difficulties of reel photos, I still love the challenge and its always satisfying when being able to shoot great looking products.

Camera: Nikon Z7 II
Lens: Nikon PC-E 85mm f2.8 ED with FTZ Adapter
ISO: 64
Exposure Mode: manual
Aperture f11
Speed: 1/125th second
Notes: Trigger: Godox XPro N and Nikon WR-10
Lighting Godox ADD600 PRO with 50cm Beauty Dish,  2 x Good AD 300Pro