Photographic play set having improved lighting

A child's photographic play set for photographing playthings employing a camera of the type having a taking lens, a flash unit activated on making an exposure and an exposure shutter releasable to make an exposure through the taking lens comprising:

• a camera support frame configured with a receptacle for receiving said camera and aiming said camera taking lens and flash unit in a field of view, said support frame including a close-up lens supported and positioned by said frame in alignment with said camera taking lens, said camera taking lens and close-up lens establishing a combined focal length and depth of field;
• a base extending from said camera support frame and having a backdrop member extending vertically into said field of view for presenting a background scene to be photographed in focus and having a play stage in the foreground of said background scene on which playthings may be arranged within said depth of field in a desired relation to said backdrop scene to present a combined scene to be photographed with said camera;
• and
• illuminating means disposed with respect to the camera flash unit to inhibit direct illumination of said combined scene by operation of said camera flash unit and to provide illumination of said combined scene at an angle and with an illumination intensity avoiding glare and wash out in the photograph taken with said camera.

A child's photographic play set adapted to be placed on a horizontal surface for photographing playthings employing a removable camera of the type having a taking lens, a flash unit activated on making an exposure and an exposure shutter releasable to make an exposure through the taking lens comprising:

• a camera support frame extending upward from a horizontal surface configured with a receptacle raised above said surface for receiving said camera and aiming said camera taking lens and flash unit in a field of view generally downward toward said horizontal surface and away from said support frame, said support frame including a close-up lens supported and positioned by said frame in alignment with said camera taking lens, said camera taking lens and close-up lens establishing a combined focal length and depth of field;
• and
• an elongated base adapted to rest on said horizontal surface, said base extending away from said camera support frame and having a backdrop member extending vertically from said base into said field of view for presenting a background scene to be photographed in focus, said base further having a play stage in the foreground of said background scene on which playthings may be arranged within said depth of field in a desired relation to said backdrop scene to present a combined scene to be photographed with said camera and illuminated by downward illumination from said camera flash unit onto said combined scene at an angle and with an illumination intensity avoiding glare and wash out in the photograph taken with said camera.