Photo taking; tips, advice, info please
I really like some of the photo's I've seen on this site and others. I was looking through some pictures on the AR15 site. Some really nice pictures. I thought it'd be neat to try and take some pictures of mine while experimenting with lighting, backgrounds, etc.
Stuff like these...
I think my P45 would look great if I could do this...
Tips, hints, advice is welcome.
Stuff like these...
I think my P45 would look great if I could do this...
Tips, hints, advice is welcome.
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Get a camera which will allow you to control EVERYTHING. That means you can do manual focus, control f-stop, control shutter speed, control the flash.
Then get a tripod (be patient enough to use it). Good tripods go for well over $300 but a $25 Walmart tripod will do the trick for still photography.
Then read the camera manual from cover to cover.
Now, experiment for a month.
Then read the camera manual from cover to cover again.
Experiment some more.
I know all of that sounds flip, but it's basically how I learned to shoot flowers. And frankly, flowers are easier than guns to shoot, because they exist under natural sunlight. I've found guns very difficult to shoot because it's hard to make them look normal or good under artificial light. (So I guess if you have the option of shooting in the sun, take it).
I've found that the flash often produces very unhappy results. That's why the tripod is a good thing...you can get the image with a slow shutter and no flash.
Don't underestimate Photoshop's auto color correct function for indoor photography.
Technically, the best thing you can do for yourself is to understand that as the f-stop increases (letting in less light) so does the depth of field increase. So if you need to use a very small f-stop under low-light conditions, you also will have a very narrow field of focus and much of your image may be out of focus.
Practically, the best thing you can do is to get a decent camera, learn how it works and experiment a lot (which is cheap in the days of the digital camera).
Oh, and think hard about your lighting if shooting indoors. Light from all sides and nicely diffused works well....hard to do without a professional setup, though.
Show us your results!0 -
Thanks for the tips. I have a fairly new (9mo.) Panasonic 6MP. Has all the different modes (econo, macro, normal, etc) I can control shutter speed, exposure, etc. I can basically run it how I want. I do not have a tripod however. I have been thinking about getting one though. 0 -
lighting. focus. take many pictures. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by cubslover
Thanks for the tips. I have a fairly new (9mo.) Panasonic 6MP. Has all the different modes (econo, macro, normal, etc) I can control shutter speed, exposure, etc. I can basically run it how I want. I do not have a tripod however. I have been thinking about getting one though.
Like I said, go to Walmart and pick up the $25 dollar tripod. If you need something better you'll soon learn what it is that you require so that you can make an intelligent high-dollar purchase.
Again, let us know how they turn out!0 -
Natural outdoor light works best for me. I try not to use flash at all, but shaded indirect light.
Looks like you have a pretty good handle on it.0 -
Those aren't my pics, rather some I've found online. 0 -
quote:spurgemastur:
Don't underestimate Photoshop's auto color correct function for indoor photography.
Technically, the best thing you can do for yourself is to understand that as the f-stop increases (letting in less light) so does the depth of field increase. So if you need to use a very small f-stop under low-light conditions, you also will have a very narrow field of focus and much of your image may be out of focus.
Practically, the best thing you can do is to get a decent camera, learn how it works and experiment a lot (which is cheap in the days of the digital camera).
Excellent advice - in the opposite order.
1.) ... get a decent camera, ... .
2.) ... understand ... the f-stop ... .
3.) ... Don't underestimate Photoshop ... . If you've got it - use it.
If you've got Photoshop CS2, play around with Shadow/Highlight @ Image -> Mode -> Shadow/Highlight ... it's amazing how much better almost any photo that's run through that comes out - it brings out the detail in the darker portions of the photograph - I find it most useful.
[8D]0 -
Like was said, use a tripod and the timed shutter release. I think background color makes a lot of difference. also period props like ammo, knives, cards, money all add interest. The macro setting is your friend for close up shots. I sometimes just use a hand held drop light and turn it different directions to get non glare light. I rarely use flash. Take a hundred pictures and pick out your best five. That's the joy of a digital camera. 0 -
Some important things to consider when you are taking close-up photos are: Good sharp focus and lighting. And no, a flash on the camera won't work from a foot away. If you want good quality shots rig up a couple of lights. The strongest(or closest) light will be the modeling light. The weaker light will be the fill light(meaning it will lighten the shadow area produced by the modeling light). Shiny or glossy blued guns are fairly difficult to light and photograph. Pro photographers use dulling spay(hair spray will work)to kill the bright shine. Another thing you can do is use thin cheese cloth in front of your lights to kill some of the glare of the item being photographed. Experiment with moving the lights around to see what gives the best effect. Normally, the main light should be at a 45 degree angle (like off your left or right shoulder) to give a decent modeling effect. If you are shooting close-ups, set the camera on a fairly high resolution. That way the photo can be cropped and, if need be, enlarged and still look good. For the internet, the resolution does not need to be over 72 dpi. If you are going to print hard copies, then a much higher resolution such as over 300 DPI should be used. Hope this helps a little.[:)] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by wundudnee
...Take a hundred pictures and pick out your best five....
Words to live by!
I USUALLY shoot at least 6, sometimes as many as 12, and rarely fewer than 3 shots from each vantage point. That means that many shots without moving the camera. It's cheap enough to do it.0 -
Old Saying of my Dad: "You can judge the Stature of a Photographer by the size of his wastebin" - obviously pre-digital era, but it is true - the more you take, the more "good ones" you will accomplish. 0 -
I do a lot of Macro photography using a Nikon D70s and a VR 105mm Micro lense. The main thing I learned to do is set the white balance. The camera can take a "reading" and set itself so I do that frequently depending on the lighting I am using.
Also do not use too much light! Some of my best shots have been taken with NO external flashes and very low ambient light. Of course, you will need a copy stand or tripod to do this to make sure there is no movement. I also control the shutter with the computer but sometimes also use a wireless remote.
For something like that you would want to use "A" mode (aperature priority).0 -
Exposure and lighting, like everyone else has said do a lot of practice shots. One great thing about digital is you can see instant results and change what you don't like. The shot below was taken on my back porch with the pistol laying on a silk jacket spread on a chair . I used a Bogen tripod and a remote shutter control. I toned it B&W in Nikon Capture photo program.
This one used basically the same setup just toned Sepia instead of B&W.0
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