Gun Photography Help?

[Mainsail]

Camera and good processing software.

My pictures are fair at best, my son (who does it for a living) gets much better results.

 

[CATI1835]

Taken with an older iPhone 5. As others said, it's knowledge about what works and what doesn't rather than equipment.

If you are interested in learning to use a fancy camera, digital cameras go obsolete so fast that you can find a super deal on older DSLRs like a Nikon D40 that will do anything you need it to do for computer display. It may not make awesome great huge prints, but on a 1920x1200 monitor it will look great. Here are a couple I took ten years ago with a D40. Looks fine. You can find something like a D40 with a lens for about $150, and then spend some time reading and learning about the fundamentals of photography, and you'll be ready for anything.

Trying not to hijack this thread, but I REALLY like those two Savages...

 

[WardenRoss]

This pic taken with an iPhone 6, hand held, inside the house, near an open window borrowing outside light.

The iPhone has a better camera than my Cannon digital.

 

[Moo Moo]

I too struggle with photography. I can't ever seem to get the lighting right. Not wanting to scare the neighbours, it's a bit hard to take photographs of firearms using natural light. I was considering getting a light box.

 

[NewToGuns17]

List the cameras you have, it will better help us help you. Not all cameras have exposure compensation or controls for aperture, etc.

 

[Moo Moo]

I've got a 6 year old Canon D1000 EOS that my late father-in-law gave me. I have got a tripod but it's pretty old and could do with a replacement.

 

[H Richard]

I'm glad to see a couple finally mention a Tripod. Many people just can't take a picture and keep the camera/cell phone "still" Movement of the camera is magnified, and so many pictures I see are ruined by movement.

I have photographed weddings, industrial close ups, and events, but currently just use a Cannon A1100 IS, (Image stabilizer). Bought on sale for $99 a few years ago. Will fit in my shirt pocket. Is capable of doing all the work I need done. It has close up function and more than sufficient for any gun photography. All mu Nikon film camera's and lenses sit in the closet gathering dust.

 

[URIT]

I have this website bookmarked for gun photography...

How to photograph handguns (Updated for 2013 post #3!) - Calguns.net

 

[NewToGuns17]

I'm glad to see a couple finally mention a Tripod. Many people just can't take a picture and keep the camera/cell phone "still" Movement of the camera is magnified, and so many pictures I see are ruined by movement.

I have photographed weddings, industrial close ups, and events, but currently just use a Cannon A1100 IS, (Image stabilizer). Bought on sale for $99 a few years ago. Will fit in my shirt pocket. Is capable of doing all the work I need done. It has close up function and more than sufficient for any gun photography. All mu Nikon film camera's and lenses sit in the closet gathering dust.

Shutter speed over 1/125 and a wider aperture don't require a tripod if the subject is still. With light indoors it's achievable.

 

[Gaffer]

The sercret to good gun pictures is lighting. The web site Realguns.com had some great pictures and I have seen his photo set up amd it uses lots of lighting and difusing screens. They are awesome!

 

[NewToGuns17]

These two were shot on my nightstand with lighting in my room. Nothing fancy, 50mm prime.

 

[wood714]

The sercret to good gun pictures is lighting. The web site Realguns.com had some great pictures and I have seen his photo set up amd it uses lots of lighting and difusing screens. They are awesome!

The secret to any photography is light, but more importantly controlling the light.

You can have the best camera, lens, lighting, tripod, and still get poor results if you don't control the light.

Several years ago I bought a copy of Light Science & Magic. It was well worth the read.