How do you remove the flash (light flash) from pictures of a pool cue?

J

justinb386

Banned
I am sorry, was not sure if I should put this question here or in NPR section (but it is asking about how to take a good picture of a cue).

Can anyone tell me what all I would need to take good quality pictures of a cue (without the light that flashes onto a cue, and ruins the cues picture)?

Would I need some type of really good quality camera, or some type of special image editing software?

Just curious how the pro's take such excellent quality pictures of cues.

I am sure that I could not afford what is needed in order to take really good quality pictures, and maybe there is expertise (of a photographer) that is also needed (I do not know).

All that I have is this old 16mp point and shoot Nikon digital camera (that I picked up a long time ago at a pawn shop for like $30).

Is there any possible way to get good pool cue pictures using the old digital camera that I have?

I took these pictures today, and as you can see, the pictures look really bad.

Thanks.
 

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Other than turning the flash off as others have said, you could do the filter route.
 
Take photos outside on a day in which the sun is obscured by clouds. Never in direct sunlight. Inside next to a widow that has a lot of indirect sunlight is good.

And google your desires…
Dave
 
Good pictures of reflective surfaces is best done using a soft, indirect light source. There is no way to duplicate that really in post processing or while using a built in flash. If you want to do it at home best option is window light or setup some sort of diffuse light source usIsn't shop lights and sheets of white paper to either shine the love that through or to bounce the love get off of.
 
No flash, then when photographing the cue, look through the viewer for an angle that presents the least amount of reflection by moving the camera slightly, then focus and snap.The small amount of reflection remaining can be removed using the Clone Tool on a photo editing program. See sample of your pic I fixed below.

If you don't use photo editing, a small amount of reflection is perfectly acceptable for the purpose of selling a cue. If you decide to use flash, take pictures at an angle where the flash will reflect away from the lens. Those dead on photos will reflect flash back every time. For full pictures of the cue, stand on a chair and zoom - to allow the flash to diffuse.
 

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Last edited:
justinb386 said:
I do not understand why, but the picture quality is always really poor when ever I turn the flash off. I need to find a new camera that takes great quality pics even with the flash turned off.
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People told you the answer. Go outside when the sun is not directly hitting and you can get some good photos.
 
TATE said:
No flash, then when photographing the cue, look through the viewer for an angle that presents the least amount of reflection by moving the camera slightly, then focus and snap.The small amount of reflection remaining can be removed using the Clone Tool on a photo editing program. See sample of your pic I fixed below.

If you don't use photo editing, a small amount of reflection is perfectly acceptable for the purpose of selling a cue. If you decide to use flash, take pictures at an angle where the flash will reflect away from the lens. Those dead on photos will reflect flash back every time. For full pictures of the cue, stand on a chair and zoom - to allow the flash to diffuse.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot. Very helpful info.
 
Fast Lenny said:
People told you the answer. Go outside when the sun is not directly hitting and you can get some good photos.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can always count on the smart people on az to give me really good answers to my questions (just so the questions are not too stupid to get nice replies). Thanks.
 
justinb386 said:
I do not understand why, but the picture quality is always really poor when ever I turn the flash off. I need to find a new camera that takes great quality pics even with the flash turned off.
Click to expand...

Make sure it's on "auto" and you hold the button down half way for a moment to let the camera focus.

Phones now take decent pictures too.
 
If you absolutely need the flash due to poor light sources, and you have no way of redirecting the flash itself - one cheap trick is to put a piece of Kleenex or tp over the flash.
 
Ched said:
If you absolutely need the flash due to poor light sources, and you have no way of redirecting the flash itself - one cheap trick is to put a piece of Kleenex or tp over the flash.
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Good idear , was gonna say wax paper myself.
 
Slim Limpy said:
Justin,
I just want to let you know how much I admire the well-conceived and highly refined persona you have perfected on AzBilliards. You’re a genius. I bow down in supplication to your Lordship and Holiness. There have been only two or three other posters that I know of since my time on Az, who could draw in all the regular Az posters like catfish going after stinkbait the way you can. You’re a genius, I tell you, a true genius. You, my dear friend and central figure of my humble and miniscule admiration, are the least obvious of any of them. You still have a ways to go before you can put yourself on the pedestal that Thaiger climbed on and oversaw his Kingdom from, but you’re well on the way to challenging him for the Throne. You, due to the non-combative nature and pseudo-humility of your persona, have almost everyone underfoot. Your subtle intelligence and discreet manipulation overwhelm me. You’re my new god!!!
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I disagree with you completely.

Justin could spot Thaiger the 7 and the breaks. His mastery of troll is almost surreal. I normally hate trolls but I have grown to appreciate Justin's posts, nothing like seeing a true master at work.
 
Bob Jewett said:
You really should capitalize God. No need to take a chance in case he is sensitive.:grin-square:
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If you captialize it you better be ready for a golden calf beatdown, that is a new "god" being raised onto a pedistal man. Dont make the same mistake the Israelites made Bob, the warning has already been layethed down!
 
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