Would like to get some photo advice please...

[Rule3]

Jorge,

I took this a week or so ago. In my garage on AUTO mode, with 3 6500L spiral lights in the aluminum reflectors. No settings or photo shop. I cropped it to cut some of the blue stuff. So a decent shot can be made without a lot of work. It is not a crisp detail but if I get closer and macro it you can see the dust.

No it's not a work of art or as good as a lot of the pictures posted but it works for my record keeping. I have other shots of the gun for ID, other side, serial number etc.

 

[JJEH]

Thanks for all this awesome advice guys. I like all of your pictures and I will keep practicing. But first I have to re-read the WHOLE manual... my problem is that I can read all the words... but I need to understand what am I doing...

I'll keep you posted

 

[Rule3]

Thanks for all this awesome advice guys. I like all of your pictures and I will keep practicing. But first I have to re-read the WHOLE manual... my problem is that I can read all the words... but I need to understand what am I doing...

I'll keep you posted

Don't feel bad. I have a very nice Sony Cybershot. Great camera and lens but the instructions are some of the worst ever on trying to understand the different settings and it is automatic. I can switch to A or P, M but to plus all the other programed settings, beach, snow, fast action etc etc. I have read them several times and fiddle with something but then forget. So I am content with AUTO and good lighting.

 

[JJEH]

So I am content with AUTO and good lighting.

That's what I'm talking about...

The Fuji has the same gimmicks... snow, ocean, red eyes, spaceships... way too much stuff...

 

[Cyrano]

Back to Basics.

I sure wish I could find a digital camera that would let me set everything manually: speed, aperture, ISO and light temperature. It would LIVE on my copy stand. I find myself fighting the camera which wants to do everything automatically or lets me set one thing manually and then adjust all the others to match automatically. Any suggestions for a manually operated digital?

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I sure wish I could find a digital camera that would let me set everything manually: speed, aperture, ISO and light temperature. It would LIVE on my copy stand. I find myself fighting the camera which wants to do everything automatically or lets me set one thing manually and then adjust all the others to match automatically. Any suggestions for a manually operated digital?

That is what the A, P and M are.

I have found good info for beginners and experienced users here: Digital Photography Tips: Digital Photography School You can sign up for their newsletter and they cover different topics in each. They will try to sell you some digital books from time to time but I ignore that.

 

[Rule3]

I sure wish I could find a digital camera that would let me set everything manually: speed, aperture, ISO and light temperature. It would LIVE on my copy stand. I find myself fighting the camera which wants to do everything automatically or lets me set one thing manually and then adjust all the others to match automatically. Any suggestions for a manually operated digital?

That is what the "auto" setting does. Mine does it pretty well. Then you have the other settings which try to duplicate manual settings, I use the auto and turn off the flash rather than have it pop up automatically. Unless I am shooting in complete darkness. All the top name brands are good today. Sony, Cannon, Nikon, Panasonic etc

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[JJEH]

A view from my porch, today, Thursday, 09/27/2012, 1110h

 

[JJEH]

New picture

 

[Rule3]

^^^
There ya go!

Nice gun and PICTURE

 

[JJEH]

Thank you Sir.

I changed the rubber grips with these WC G10. I hope she likes it as much as I do

Also, I will invest in better lights...

 

[Rule3]

Thank you Sir.

I changed the rubber grips with these WC G10. I hope she likes it as much as I do

Also, I will invest in better lights...

What's not to like? Better than a big old Beretta 92

Did you ever get the fancy display box?

 

[JJEH]

Did you ever get the fancy display box?

Not yet. The one I like is $180 + shipping.

On the other hand I want it to be her carry gun. So I already have an order with Jason Winnie Holster
http://www.jasonwinnie.com/Home.html

Not for sure if I should get a box. Wouldn't be in it at all...

 

[Straightshooter2]

I sure wish I could find a digital camera that would let me set everything manually: speed, aperture, ISO and light temperature.

My Pentax K-10 on manual will allow me to set both the shutter speed and aperture using the front and rear dials while looking through the viewfinder. ISO can be set by means of the Fn button on the back and then using the same dials. Also when using the Fn button you can go in to the lighting settings to select auto white balance, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, 3 different fluorescent settings, flash, and you can change the the color temperature. I was able to move the color temperature from below 3000K to up over 7000k so that should cover just about anything you need. And that's a Pentax model that was discontinued in 2009. I would be willing to bet that you can do the same with later models but maybe John or Sip could verify this on their later model Pentax.

CW

 

[tacreload]

before

after

before

after
Jorge,I just caught this thread today and I am like you always trying to get better photos.A lot of great advice here,I did not see using a remote mentioned.The remote used with the tripod helps me a lot.A very good friend gave me his old Nikon D70 and I have been trying to master it since(don't see it happening).I am getting there slowly but probably never be satisfied but keep trying.These pics marked after have been doctored using a Photoshop type disc from Sony that came with a Sony point and shoot I got several years ago.They are the same as the ones marked before except I cheated and adjusted them to what I thought were better images.The light always plays games with me so I almost always have to make some adjustments.Your pictures already show a big difference from the very first ones.It's a great hobby and I never get tired of trying to improve.My wife says "you got more pictures of your guns than you do your grandkids!"I tell her the guns stand still.

 

[JJEH]

My wife says "you got more pictures of your guns than you do your grandkids!"I tell her the guns stand still.

Thanks for your kind words. Your answer is good and it is true. Guns don't move and blink

Well, I enjoy doing pictures with my bridge camera. But I do not want spend a 4 digit number on a DSLR or what the name is. I sure cannot handle that

 

[JJEH]

And more. Sorry, I couldn't help...

 

[JJEH]

I guess I got a new hobby now...

 

[Rule3]

By "Jorge" I think he's got it! You can skip the deco stuff though.

I like the muzzle shot on the ammo box

 

[hsguy]

This is an interesting thread and thought I would share my method of taking photos. I am by no means an expert but I find I can take decent photos with with inexpensive and minimal equipment. I purchased a light box kit that comes with a folding box, two lights, tripod, backgrounds and it all folds together for storage. My main criticism of the kit is that the included lights are not quite bright enough so I set it up under a hanging dining room fixture for additional light. It can also be used outdoors if the wind is relatively calm. The kit is about $35 and works well for me and here is a link to it. Amazon.com: Idirectmart Photo Tent Table Top Studio Light Photography Soft Box Kit - Size 19.5-Inch Cube: Camera & Photo

My camera is an inexpensive pocket sized point and shoot Sony with few manual controls. It does have a self-timer to allow it to be placed on a tripod to take photos hands-off to minimize movement. There is also a control to allow one to open up the F-stop or increase the ISO some to make the pictures brighter which helps to compensate for the somewhat dim lighting. This feature probably has a negative impact on the depth-of-field but careful positioning of the gun does help. It has auto-focus which also can be challenge but by moving the camera a bit I can usually achieve desired results. The camera also has auto white-balance but by running the images through a photo editing program it is possible to achieve a decent color.

Here are a few photos I recently took that I am pleased with.