Need help with lighting Vehicle Rims!!!

[JDoubleYa]

I am shooting about 25 rims and am having a lot of trouble with the lighting. All i have at the moment are 2 hot lamps. What would everyone use?

I have the Canon EOS 30D with the stock lense.

[Alpha]

It's probably not a question of equipment quality in this case but how you use it. Are you diffusing the light at all?

[JDoubleYa]

I have a 4'x4' light tent that I am using at the moment.

[Alpha]

Could you post an example then, and explain what's wrong if it isn't obvious?

[JDoubleYa]

Belwo are two examples. One the black background and the other with no background.

http://www.marcatowheels.com/camex1.jpg
http://www.marcatowheels.com/camex2.jpg

[JDoubleYa]

Im trying the get the following outcome minus the background colors.

http://www.vellanowheels.com/collection/VST/vst_br.jpg

[Alpha]

Stick with the black BG, up the lighting power, and you'll be good to go. Do a little noise reduction or unsharp mask if you have to in PS. If you want to shoot with a white bg, you'll need to move outside the tent, probably onto a table, and add another light pointing at the background.

[Christie Photo]

...you'll need to move outside the tent, probably onto a table...

I've not shot anything exactly like these, but I think this is the way I'd approach it.

As for lighting, my main light source would be to hang a roll of paper (9ft) in front of the product and then light the paper... probable hang a second roll on the other side too to control reflections.

All of all the "shiney" stuff I've shot, I can't remember any that was round. That's an added challenge.

Good luck!

Pete