|
Post by WaffleM on May 19, 2009 3:58:19 GMT -9
I'm sorry if this topic should go into another forum page, but I thought it fit into "Marketing & Advertising."
Does anyone have any advice for photographing miniatures? I've been using the "macro" setting and extra lights, but sometimes things get really washed out.
|
|
|
Post by squirmydad on May 19, 2009 4:17:39 GMT -9
No, this is the perfect spot. I have a lot of tips for photographing figures, but will have to wait until I get another set out. JIM
|
|
|
Post by luckyjoe on May 19, 2009 4:38:46 GMT -9
These are some tips I have picked up from a number of sources. Macro setting is good. Use a tripod. No flash. Use the timer. Adjust light balance (I don't know how to do that).
Lighting is always a big problem for me. Maybe now that the weather is better, you could take some shots outside. I always get better results outside.
Luckyjoe
|
|
|
Post by Aestelon on May 19, 2009 4:40:24 GMT -9
It's a tricky question, and depends a lot on what sort of camera you have available to you. If your camera has the ability to do so, I'd recommend using your manual settings, and play with the shutter speed and aperture yourself, to see what gets you the best results. Also make sure your White Balance is set to suit the type of light you're using. If you don't have manual settings, then you may want to try coming back a bit out of macro mode, zooming in instead, and using the flash at a distance. You'll want to make sure your camera's nice and steady for that, of course. This shot here's not perfect, but was done at Incandescent setting, with a shutter speed of 60 and an aperture of F2.8. It's unmodified, so it's pretty big.
|
|
|
Post by onemonkeybeau on May 19, 2009 6:20:18 GMT -9
Hey guys! Great question WaffleM! I take all my pictures in a light tent. A while back I was searching the net for cheap light tents (to which there are none...) and came across a bunch of sites with instructions on how to make your own. I tried almost all of them and finally settled on this one: strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.htmlIt basically consists of a box, some wrapping paper (seamless background), an old t-shirt (light diffuser), and two desk lamps with daylight bulbs. One day I'd like to upgrade to a more permanent one like this one: www.pbase.com/wlhuber/light_box_light_tent though I shoot my figs with one lamp directly over the top (through my diffuser) and one lamp from the front (no diffuser). My camera is OLD... but does have a macro setting and macro is what I use. No flash and some books as a tripod. The pics are then plopped into Photoshop where I boost the contrast and brightness, whitebalance the whole thing (as my camera doesn't have this option), put the background in and viola! a One Monk style fig picture. I'll take some photos of my setup so you can get a better idea of what it looks like... it's not much but a) it works and b) it cost $25... Hope that helps a bit! onemonkeybeau
|
|
|
Post by redgravewriter on May 19, 2009 7:35:42 GMT -9
Each camera has a certain distance you have to be away from the subject or it will come out blurry and imperfect. If you stay just inside this area, you can get good closeups and can keep the blurries out. You want a camera with as big an optical zoom as possible, digital zoom is ok until 4.5 or 4.8 x then the quality just goes IMHO. Set the shutter speed correctly, The higher the speed the less light you will need (you'll need to turn down the lights, especially if you get white washed pictures). The higher the speed and the bigger the zoom, the more likely it'll blur. Use a tripod whenever possible. 5.0 or 6.0 is the best camera you should need, no need to get any 13.0's, they are too expensive and won't ever come down cause they don't make that big a difference (unless you're taking pics of the blue galaxies at the outer range of what you can see. A telescope (the 500 dollar one), a camera mount, and any very high range camera will get you some shots, but they will all be blurry. Unless you happen to live in alaska.) Um, I don't think I have any more tips that haven't been shared. If it's a specific question ask, someone should know the answer.
|
|
|
Post by old squirmydad on May 19, 2009 19:00:52 GMT -9
Actually, I do live in Alaska. ;D This is my work(play)space and how I set it up for photos; I use a Panasonic digital video camera for most of my mini shots.
|
|
|
Post by redgravewriter on May 20, 2009 7:09:19 GMT -9
Do you get the 6 months of day where you are? I haven't seen seen that in ten years (or any polor bears in the trash. Yay for that)
I tried to grow orchids a year or two ago, didn't work very well. So I photograph in my (mostly) closed in plant aquarium. I have a ton of light in there, including a black light I haven't messed with since I tried to keep the plants from freezing at night.
|
|
|
Post by old squirmydad on May 20, 2009 16:46:45 GMT -9
No, I'm in southcentral AK, we get both day and night within the same 24 hour period here. With spring coming on I am getting bright sunsets lighting up my living room with noonday brightness at 10:30 at night. I love this place.
|
|
|
Post by glennwilliams on Sept 28, 2009 5:31:06 GMT -9
My local WalMart has a cheap light box and light set. About $40 IIRC. Wal-Mart does carry the light bulbs in their photography section--and I strongly recommend buying them. I tried the old t-shirt and frame but didn't like the results. However,if you make the frame from sprinkler pipe and connections, you can get a lot of flexibility in size. I have a light tent and the fancy lights, but for various reasons (leading off with lazy) don't use them. The set I got was very cheap from www.obnphoto.com/BUT . . . they don't carry the set anymore. Their professional grade equipment is good and inexpensive (relatively), sio they might be worth a look if you find some extra cash under the couch cushions.
|
|