Photo taking technique... A how to guide

[Monstermash]

i'm replacing my trusty floppy disc camera with this nikon digital.
i just cant seem to get out of the eighties

That Nikon 60mm lens is a fantastic lens! I have one and use it only for macro unless I'm doing little creatures that frighten easily then I opt for the 105mm.

Just curious, did you know that lens wouldn't auto focus on your D3000 when you purchased it?

 

[runwav]

That Nikon 60mm lens is a fantastic lens! I have one and use it only for macro unless I'm doing little creatures that frighten easily then I opt for the 105mm.

Just curious, did you know that lens wouldn't auto focus on your D3000 when you purchased it?

yes, auto focus doesnt function with the nikon 3000, it's the combo i wanted for home use.
the nikon 3000 and nikon 60mm lens sit in the corner atop a tripod just waiting to shoot for ebay.
the d5100 shown below sports a 50mm lens and thats what i'm out and about with.
took a long time for me to get the right combination of camera and lens together.

 

[$TAKE HOR$E]

I bought a Fuji camera, nothing fancy but it keeps me from throwing my iPhone when 90% of the pictures come out grainy....:thumbup:

 

[timothysoong]

Thanks for the tip. Gonna try em with my M43's camera.


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[RascalDoc]

Great post and great discussion. Many thanks and tap tap tap to you, Monstermash, for the thread and info. I'm half owner of a Nikon D600 which I'm going to appropriate for my use for awhile and try to apply what I've read. Until then I'll be over here in a corner kicking myself for not reading it a long time ago. Thanks again to all, you also Jive for your mediation.

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

 

[rhinobywilhite]

I cringe when I see the finish flaws on the Gina. Is this a refinish? Ernie is such a stickler for details so I don't think this would escape his notice.

 

[mortuarymike-nv]

Cross polarization technic

 

[Ched]

well done - and thank you.

 

[L I F D 1]

sometimes to diffuse hard direct over-brite light, I use wax paper.

attach to lamp shell anyway you can, rubberband, tape, glue, use as many layers as it takes.

 

[joyren]

nice tips specially on those lighting technique

 

[Chopdoc]

Anybody interested in talking more about this?

I am still using my cell phone but am planning on getting a DSLR.

As I organize my collection and do an inventory, I am planning on getting some cues restored, so I would like to take good before and after pics for my archive.

I'll throw an old pic up because of the topic.

This was years ago with my old cell phone. I reduced it to post.

 

[bbb]

Anybody interested in talking more about this?

I am still using my cell phone but am planning on getting a DSLR.

As I organize my collection and do an inventory, I am planning on getting some cues restored, so I would like to take good before and after pics for my archive.

I'll throw an old pic up because of the topic.

This was years ago with my old cell phone. I reduced it to post.


View attachment 853842

cue look great
i would be very happy with the quality of those pics

 

[Chopdoc]

cue look great
i would be very happy with the quality of those pics

Thanks so much.

Years ago I had some conversations with Dick Abbott that motivated me to eventually do better. For example, this is his picture of a documented Ebony Titlist converted Ricco Cervantes when he was at Gandy that I now own. Pictures like this motivate me.

I want to do some better pics for my better cues. Sort of for my own archive. Honestly, many of them will never be posted publicly, although perhaps when they are sold eventually. This will also be part of my estate records and insurance records. So, it's part of my whole collecting project.

Right now I do stuff like this.

And this.

 

[Korsakoff]

Thanks so much.

Years ago I had some conversations with Dick Abbott that motivated me to eventually do better. For example, this is his picture of a documented Ebony Titlist converted Ricco Cervantes when he was at Gandy that I now own. Pictures like this motivate me.

I want to do some better pics for my better cues. Sort of for my own archive. Honestly, many of them will never be posted publicly, although perhaps when they are sold eventually. This will also be part of my estate records and insurance records. So, it's part of my whole collecting project.

View attachment 853848


Right now I do stuff like this.


View attachment 853849
View attachment 853850

And this.

View attachment 853851

View attachment 853852

View attachment 853853

What type of lighting are you using? Balanced, but no reflections.

I used to have custom lighting for photographing jewelry, but it was a one-time project and I donated to a local cue maker.

 

[Chopdoc]

What type of lighting are you using? Balanced, but no reflections.

I used to have custom lighting for photographing jewelry, but it was a one-time project and I donated to a local cue maker.

Lighting?

I will say it has been tough to reduce reflections and glare because I have nothing but the lights available in my living room. I lay out the velvet or leather background on the floor then turn on lights strategically, move around lamps, and drape some things to get some indirect lighting.

I move around and adjust the cues a lot, then move around my camera (mobile phone) to adjust for the flaws in the lighting and try to reduce the problems.

I do have some proper photography lights that I bought years ago but they are buried in the garage and I haven't made the effort yet to get to them since we moved to this house.

As I am getting back into collecting I am planning to "up my game" and get a DSLR, haul out my lights, and do better.

 

[timothysoong]

Lighting?

I will say it has been tough to reduce reflections and glare because I have nothing but the lights available in my living room. I lay out the velvet or leather background on the floor then turn on lights strategically, move around lamps, and drape some things to get some indirect lighting.

I move around and adjust the cues a lot, then move around my camera (mobile phone) to adjust for the flaws in the lighting and try to reduce the problems.

I do have some proper photography lights that I bought years ago but they are buried in the garage and I haven't made the effort yet to get to them since we moved to this house.

As I am getting back into collecting I am planning to "up my game" and get a DSLR, haul out my lights, and do better.

I actually like using some reflections and glare to highlight the glossy finish of the cue butt, but it’s tricky; you have to find the right angle so the details and wood grain don’t get lost.

My favorite lighting is shooting by a window with sheer curtains to soften harsh light. Photography lights mostly just make the lighting more consistent; they don’t necessarily make it better.

Honestly, with phones these days, if the lighting is right, it’s hard to tell the difference compared to a DSLR.

 

[Chopdoc]

I actually like using some reflections and glare to highlight the glossy finish of the cue butt, but it’s tricky; you have to find the right angle so the details and wood grain don’t get lost.

My favorite lighting is shooting by a window with sheer curtains to soften harsh light. Photography lights mostly just make the lighting more consistent; they don’t necessarily make it better.

Honestly, with phones these days, if the lighting is right, it’s hard to tell the difference compared to a DSLR.

I understand.

The phones these days are powerful and take a lot of the fuss out of the process.

I have strategically used natural lighting as well, by way of our patio doors.

There are definitely some different styles to go for as well.