Take better pictures of your firearms....

andrewb70 · Jan 19, 2012

Pote said:
thought I'd add a side tip for the folks that like to use their smart phones...who doesn't its so convenient when an unexpected photo op comes along. my iphone has 8 megapixels...a few short years ago that would be considered science fiction. anyhow, no matter your brand it might behoove you to take a look through the apps afforded to you. Im my world there are more than several camera apps that mimick digital slrs. in fact the one I use is called AlmostDLSR. Within it it allows many digital camera features. you can set exposure, focal ranges, and even place a white card in the field of view for white balance, take a reading, and then lock the white balance for those off lit scenes. in this case, all the settings are lockable because the smart phones are constantly trying to focus, read the light condition etc, and the built in camera usually has no manual over rides. Its worth a look in your app offerings. They also include self timers, continuous shooting. Worth a look. I'm sure all the other platforms have something akin to it.

Another tip for standard shooting I'd like to offer up with regards to lighting. Taking the OPs advice of shooting with natural light near a window for example. It will help matters greatly if you take a piece of white board or fomecore and place it opposite the natural light direction just out of frame. Angle the board effectively bouncing back the natural light onto the opposite/backside of the subject, effectively creating a soft fill light. Its similar to what a light box would do and adds more softer light to the shadows of the subject, adding to that "pop" effect you are looking for. In our studio we have multiple light setups to fill and bring up the shadows. the three light setup is basic - Key (main light), side light, and then back light. this brings the subject off of the background...of course using the proper exposure and f-stops like the OP suggests makes for gorgeous material.

Pote,

I've never really explored the various phone apps. Great tip!

Also, the use of a reflector is an excellent idea. White posterboard will work fine, or if want to get fancy, this is a good option:

Calumet 22 (56cm) Round Zigzag Gold/White ZipDisc

Andrew

roundgunner · Jan 19, 2012

I have done my guns in many ways and I think right now I like them with a close natural background. To me the background is very important.

Sometimes I like the plain background also

CAJUNLAWYER · Jan 20, 2012

GREAT pictures-are you using an I phone 3, 4 or 4S ???
I am using an I phone 3 and can't figure out how to adjust the f stop on mine-do I need to get an app for that or is it pre loaded???

andrewb70 · Jan 20, 2012

CAJUNLAWYER said:
GREAT pictures-are you using an I phone 3, 4 or 4S ???
I am using an I phone 3 and can't figure out how to adjust the f stop on mine-do I need to get an app for that or is it pre loaded???

I don't believe that any pictures posted thus far have been taken with a camera phone. However, if you wanted to try using your phone, it would be good to download an app that will allow you control the various setting for the camera manually. The built-in camera app from apple only allows for a rather lousy digital zoom function that is rather worthless.

Andrew

flightsimmer · Jan 21, 2012

(quote) I don't believe that any pictures posted thus far have been taken with a camera phone. However, if you wanted to try using your phone, it would be good to download an app that will allow you control the various setting for the camera manually. (end quote)

I have taken some suprisingly good photos with my 8 megipixel HTC, Thunderbolt (Verizon) and sent them to my home computer for editing in Picasa 3.
I need to experiment more with it to see just how good it can do. This was one of them I believe.
Opp's, no it wasn't.
OK, this was one of them. Sorry. As you can see, it is slightly out of focus. I need to get more practice with it.

10mm, when you care enough to send the very best.

kcult · Jan 21, 2012

This is an awesome thread! Thanks very much for tips.

I have been experimenting more with backgrounds than with settings. I went from carpet, at night with a fluorescent bulb overhead to woodpiles, straw, pool deck, wife's behind, etc.

Taken with Casio G'zOne Rock:

Taken with a Sony P&S in auto mode.

Packard · Jan 21, 2012

Disclaimer: My background is that I owned a portrait photo studio for many years and I got my degree in photography from a journalism college (Newhouse School of Journalism, Syracuse University). I was never a product photographer and when I needed products photographed I hired a specialist.

That said, I think I am qualified to make some comments.

1. I hate light tents. Light tents should only be used for products with uncontrollably bright and shiny surfaces such as silverware and some jewelry. Tent light is dull and lacks any interesting specular highlights (small, intense highlights).

2. Even open shade needs some specular highlights to make the photo come alive.

You can add highlights by using mirrors. Foil backed cardboard is excellent and the art stores also have these in a gold color which will add a nice warm highlight. If you just want to add some color you can place the gold mirror surface just out of the image area with it reflecting back towards the light source. Or you can place a mirror well out of the indirect light and in the direct light and reflect a brighter highlight. Small mirrors work best.

At any rate some of the images in this thread are nice and evenly lit and show excellent detail, but lack the punch that the specular highlights would provide. But guns do not require a tent and I think tents should be shunned (except for bright nickel plated guns which probably need the tent).

flightsimmer · Jan 21, 2012

(Quote) it would be good to download an app that will allow you control the various setting for the camera manually. (Un-quote)

I just got through searching for apps for my Android camera phone and I didn't find anything that jumped out at me that looked useful but I did find a few useful options in the phone itself so I need to explore it more.

I see some very good pictures in this thread.

Pote · Jan 21, 2012

flightsimmer said:
(quote) I don't believe that any pictures posted thus far have been taken with a camera phone. However, if you wanted to try using your phone, it would be good to download an app that will allow you control the various setting for the camera manually. (end quote)

I have taken some suprisingly good photos with my 8 megipixel HTC, Thunderbolt (Verizon) and sent them to my home computer for editing in Picasa 3.
I need to experiment more with it to see just how good it can do. This was one of them I believe.
Opp's, no it wasn't.
OK, this was one of them. Sorry. As you can see, it is slightly out of focus. I need to get more practice with it.

10mm, when you care enough to send the very best.

cannot stress enough the importance of a tripod. so even if using a cell phone, get a tripod if you want your pictures to look their best with poor lighting conditions. there are slews of phone tripods, this being just one example

Amazon.com: Mini Adjustable Tripod+camera Holder for Iphone and Other Cellphone: Cell Phones & Accessories

I'm going to post a few pics of iphone pics that will blow you away. it shows just how amazing these devices can be...standby. great thread.

a few shots of what can be done with smart phones....this is just the built in camera

Pote · Jan 21, 2012

one more. this is from the iphone 4s standard camera as well as those above. by the way...those aren't my hairy arms, they are a buddies and his watches. LOL....man that looks frightening up that close. Where's Brair rabbit in there?? Ha!

Biginge · Jan 21, 2012

Great and informative info here.

Thanks and regards

Bill

williamlayton · Jan 21, 2012

Here are samples of mine with my wifes Panasonic point and shoot.
Some with flash some without flash---all on auto and hand held.
Please don't yell to loud or laugh outloud.
I have a son--according to my wife--who has a degree in photography and manages a photo lab at NASA.
I am hopeless.
Blessings

gr8smiles · Jan 21, 2012

Here are a few. Some with iPhone 4 and some with Canon EOS1-D MkIIn and some with Canon 7D. I like the natural wooden backgrounds the best. Thanks for the tips.

7tenz · Jan 22, 2012

blackdeuce said:
I am the king of sucky pictures. Any tips would be appreciated!

Oh, you think so, huh? Look at my recent posts.

andrewb70 · Jan 22, 2012

Packard said:
Disclaimer: My background is that I owned a portrait photo studio for many years and I got my degree in photography from a journalism college (Newhouse School of Journalism, Syracuse University). I was never a product photographer and when I needed products photographed I hired a specialist.

That said, I think I am qualified to make some comments.

1. I hate light tents. Light tents should only be used for products with uncontrollably bright and shiny surfaces such as silverware and some jewelry. Tent light is dull and lacks any interesting specular highlights (small, intense highlights).

2. Even open shade needs some specular highlights to make the photo come alive.

You can add highlights by using mirrors. Foil backed cardboard is excellent and the art stores also have these in a gold color which will add a nice warm highlight. If you just want to add some color you can place the gold mirror surface just out of the image area with it reflecting back towards the light source. Or you can place a mirror well out of the indirect light and in the direct light and reflect a brighter highlight. Small mirrors work best.

At any rate some of the images in this thread are nice and evenly lit and show excellent detail, but lack the punch that the specular highlights would provide. But guns do not require a tent and I think tents should be shunned (except for bright nickel plated guns which probably need the tent).

Thank you for your comments. I actually have a gold reflector, but I have to admit that I've never used it. Next time I take some photographs I will make sure to play around with the reflector. Thank you!

Andrew

Packard · Jan 22, 2012

andrewb70 said:
Thank you for your comments. I actually have a gold reflector, but I have to admit that I've never used it. Next time I take some photographs I will make sure to play around with the reflector. Thank you!

Andrew

Gold reflectors are mostly used by portrait photographers to warm the skin tone when shooting in open shade or cool light. But if you study the covers of some of the gun magazine you will see the gold tone overlaid on the image.

In portrait photography we put a hair-light on the subject to add some specularity. Playboy magazine's favorite is to evenly light the subject (usually a nice looking nude) and then arbitrarily add some highlights to the subject. I say "arbitrarily" in that there is not logical explanation for the light source. The just add it to punch up the images.

When I taught photography (adult education, portrait) I would assign the students to pick a photo and analyze the lighting. I guess you would call it "forensic lighting analysis". You can learn an awful lot from doing this. In fact if someone posted an image that they really liked we could try to do that here. It is challenging, makes you think, and is very educational.

Here is an image that uses a red or rose colored reflector: http://www.gunsandammo.com/wp-conte...ns-for-zombie-apocalypse/glock-17-9mm0015.jpg

Other than that, the lighting is almost completely flat (dull, boring and easy to set up).

Uncle Larry · Jan 22, 2012

Thanks for the great article!!
I learned a lot and will try to put te knowledge to good use

andrewb70 · Jan 22, 2012

Packard said:
.....

When I taught photography (adult education, portrait) I would assign the students to pick a photo and analyze the lighting. I guess you would call it "forensic lighting analysis". You can learn an awful lot from doing this. In fact if someone posted an image that they really liked we could try to do that here. It is challenging, makes you think, and is very educational.

......

I am all for learning! I saw this picture in a member gallery:

To me, that picture looks like it might have been taken in a lightbox. The light seems to be very diffused.

Andrew

Revoman · Jan 22, 2012

Nice job, I've been taking crappy pictures for years.

My next day off I'm breaking out the Nikon.

Thanks for all the tips.

LouisianaJoe · Jan 22, 2012

Here are a couple of links that I like. They provide good info on depth of field.

Online Depth of Field Calculator

Understanding Depth of Field in Photography

Take better pictures of your firearms....

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

SWCA Member, Absent Comrade

Member

Attachments

SWCA Member

Member

Member

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads