Picture Tips for Cues

ProZack

ProZack

Zack's "On the Road" Cue Repair
Silver Member
I have been doing some buying a selling of cues. Mostly buying... But I look in the for sale forum and the Gallery and some of the pictures are Awesome.

My Question is.. How do you do it? What exactly do you do to get your pictures so life-like?
 
ProZack said:
I have been doing some buying a selling of cues. Mostly buying... But I look in the for sale forum and the Gallery and some of the pictures are Awesome.

My Question is.. How do you do it? What exactly do you do to get your pictures so life-like?
Click to expand...

Most all cameras take good enough pictures, you have to work with the lighting to get a good picture. Never use flash, use external lighting. You have to light the cue without shadows and reflections.

That is the biggest thing in my opinion. You also want true colors. I sometimes will adjust the colors on the computer with the cue next to me for a perfect match. I think some think they are doing something wrong enhancing or correcting the pictures but if it make for a more realistic picture, do it. But never try to hide anything.
 
In photography there is a saying that beginners worry about price, amateurs worry about equipment and Pros worry about the light. That being said, with enough lighting any camera will produce great pictures. If you go over to For Sale section, some of the best pictures are taken on a bright sunny day.
 
photography

ProZack said:
I have been doing some buying a selling of cues. Mostly buying... But I look in the for sale forum and the Gallery and some of the pictures are Awesome.

In photography there are always different ways of photographing any subject.......
You cannot expect a 100 dollar camera to take pictures like a 20,000 camera and lens.
And you haven't even got to the lighting.

What camera do you plan on using to take these photographs.



Buy and Read the book Light Science and Magic, that will help you more then any advise you will get in here.

2nd is don't buy anything until you have read the book.

PS I like using a flash on my cues.
Click to expand...
 
If you use a flash diffuse it or "bounce" it. Natural lighting (ie outside) will give you the truest color. Florescent light with a good filter will work. Direct light (ie on your pool table with that 9 foot light hood) will give you a drown out cue and rob details. Using an angle on the cue shot (rather than straight on) will direct the light differently.

I was having this talk with Bobco729 earlier today. Lol
 
Tips:

Most important: learn how to use your camera. Just like pool, there's no substitute for practice. How close can you focus (i.e. show detail)? How much depth of field can you get (sharpness of close objects and far objects)? How do you adjust for lighting conditions. With digital cameras there's no excuse for not learning what your camera can do -- a digital picture costs nothing.

Use a tripod. You don't have to spend big bucks to get a useable tripod. $30 will buy a basic one and you can go as little as $10 for an 8" pod that will get the job done.

Neutral background. Pool table top is neutral and instantly recognizable. Light-colored terry-cloth towel works well too (tan, light grey -- stay away from white; too much contrast). Don't photograph a cue on your floral-print sofa.

Sufficient (but not too much) lighting. This is where digital photography is a godsend. You can do test shots using various lighting at no cost and see the results instantly. Outside in bright sun is rarely good. Indoors with even lighting and an extra light to fill in shadows.

Download a free photo editing program. With it you can adjust the brightness and color, and crop the pic to cut out extraneous stuff in the background.

Just play with it.
 
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bdorman said:
Tips:

Most important: learn how to use your camera. Just like pool, there's no substitute for practice. How close can you focus (i.e. show detail)? How much depth of field can you get (sharpness of close objects and far objects)? How do you adjust for lighting conditions. With digital cameras there's no excuse for not learning what your camera can do -- a digital picture costs nothing.

Use a tripod. You don't have to spend big bucks to get a useable tripod. $30 will buy a basic one and you can go as little as $10 for an 8" pod that will get the job done.

Neutral background. Pool table top is neutral and instantly recognizable. Light-colored terry-cloth towel works well too (tan, light grey -- stay away from white; too much contrast). Don't photograph a cue on your floral-print sofa.

Sufficient (but not too much) lighting. This is where digital photography is a godsend. You can do test shots using various lighting at no cost and see the results instantly. Outside in bright sun is rarely good. Indoors with even lighting and an extra light to fill in shadows.

Download a free photo editing program. With it you can adjust the brightness and color, and crop the pic to cut out extraneous stuff in the background.

Just play with it.
Click to expand...
I forgot the tripod. Yes, and learn to use the cameras timer for taking pictures. You are right, there is no excuses for bad pictures with a digital. Not like the old days when you would spend a fortune developing with no idea what you have and then pick out the best, maybe of a bad lot.
 
Hiding things

oldschool1478 said:
Speaking of hiding things...
How about at least one clear pic of the seam on those leather wraps!
Click to expand...


Sorry me not knowing when I posted 2 pictures of pool cues in order to help another member would in anyway push anyone's button. In this case a total strangers as in you.

Here is the pictures of the cue with a lizard emboised leather wrap.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=335820

You sure put a twist on your words when you said I was hiding things.
Do you always try to down grade people ?

Maybe you should think Java.


.
 
I agree with the points brought up by bdorman. I'm a freelance photographer on the side and would go with his advise unless I was shooting artsy pictures. In which case the lighting, point of view and lense selection would vary.

Also I would touch up the pictures in a computer program to change a few things, the Adobe light room to get the lighting righy and then import to Photoshop for final retouch.

Come to think of it, I haven't taken any cue pics. I think I might have to do that...
 
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