My first time taking pictures

S

sw99guy

New member
here goes...
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Let me know what you think. Please feel free to add if you would like.
 
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I have to use indoor lighting and creating a nice even light source is not as easy as it sounds. I try to get some light coming from at least two angles but don't have the resources or room to set up a pro light type coverage of the subject. I do also usually try to put something down as a background but it is whatever looks good close at hand. With home lighting and a digital camera, a tripod really does help as the lighting slows down the shutter speed and you can get some frustrating blurred shots that would otherwise be good. Then I use a photo program if I need to lighten up the shot or adjust it. Then I crop off the extra junk and perhaps reduce it to maybe 40% with the same software for posting. Well it is fun to play around with anyway. My shots will not be confused with studio work but if I take a little time and plan, I can get pretty good ones. It is a skill you hafta play around with if you want to sell ebay crap, bad shots there scare off buyers.
 
Cheap and Easy Light Box

There is a way to make a cheap and easy light box for things like this.

This is a picture of my setup, made of 1/2" PVC and using Panel Ceiling Florescent Light diffusers. The "backdrop" is made of white posterboard, allowed to curve up to provide the "infinate" background.

I'm using spun aluminum clamp on work lights with a pair of 6500 Kelvin Florescent lights for lighting. The 6500 Kelvin in Florescent lighting indicates "daytime white light." You may have to look a little bit, but you can find them right on the shelf at Lowe's. I tried other light sources, including 5,000 Watt Halogen work lights, but they always cast a slight "yellow" color. It was hard for me to work that color out in my photo editor.

You can make one of these from stuff at Lowe's for a whopping $40.

picture.php
 
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Some pictures

I'm by no means a photographer. I'm using an older Sony Cybershot point and shoot for these photos. I'm happy with the results this far, and continue to do trial and error to make pictures look better.
 
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Insufficient light or light from just one angle seems to be the basic problem. If you can obtain the materials to build a light box and then have someplace to stash the thing, that would be a good approach, or clamp lights that you can mount to get good coverage. I look for the easiest approach myself. You can usually adjust or select a setting on dig. cams to compensate for the type of lighting up to a point. Flash does not work well for me photographing objects. You have no control of highlights and reflections with the built in flash. I have a tripod left over from my SLR and that has proven to be a most useful accessory. Remember digital is free so don't worry about wasting shots to get it right the way you want.
 
Try playing with the distance, too. Sometimes the lenses are optimized for medium to long distance snapshots, and don't work as well when you are trying to work in close with them. I have found that, with my setup anyway, it can be helpful to move the camera a little farther away from the subject, and use the zoom to "move in closer." This seems to work for me with an optical zoom. I have not tried it with a digital zoom, so I don't know how that would work.

PBP, I had not seen the Winchester SXZ either. You've probably googled it by now too, but in case you haven't:
Any one know about win. SXZ
SXZ Personal Protection and Training System Ammo
 
I guess PBP's pictures are "OK" if you like good lighting, great detail and amazing accuracy...

Those were great threads you posted. Of course, now I'm trying to picture the conversation, "Honey, I need money for some guns, and also for some lighting and a tripod and decent camera so I can take pictures of my guns to show people online!"

Hmmmm.... Not sure how that will work out...
 
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