1. An apparatus comprising: a substantially horizontal platform for supporting an item to be photographed, the platform comprising a translucent material; a first light diffusing panel disposed beneath the platform and a second light diffusing panel disposed above the platform, wherein the first and second panels are substantially in a common vertical plane behind the object bridging a region from beneath the platform to a region above the platform; a first source of illumination disposed behind the item for causing the first panel and the second panel to be uniformly illuminated; and a second source of illumination disposed substantially in front of the second light diffusing panel for illuminating the item.