At last I have a digital camera… but I’ve tried to take pictures… and they are really bad… need some tips about taking good photos from little objects such 1/72 kits… my camera is a FinePix F601 Zoom, From Fuji Film, I think… Thanks in advance
The first thing to do is study, study, and study the owner’s manual for your camera. I’m not trying to be funny by saying that. Most of the digital cameras coming out today can do everything, but tap-dance. While studying, have the camera in your hands so you can touch and operate the controls. ( hopefully it came with an AC adaptor cable so you can save your batteries during your learning sessions). Once you get comfortable handling you camera, then you can start work on getting quality pixs. Start off by using its Automatic mode and let IT do most of the work. If it doesn’t have MACRO mode, you won’t be able to take real, close-up shots. I’ve had my camera for about 6 months and still learn something new everytime I pick it up.
Relax and have FUN with it and the learning will come. [:)]
Practice, practice, practice. Since digital cameras don’t use film, you don’t have the cost of the film and processing to eat you alive when you take a whole bunch of pictures. Take your pictures outdoors in natural light if at all possible. The sun is a lot brighter than any flash unit or artificial lights and the camera will set itself to a much faster shutter speed and smaller f-stop, which will give you a better depth of field and better pictures with less shadows.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
Ya, took my some tinkering, I love mine. If your camera has specialized settings tinker with those. Mine can do videos to and if yours can to, Just make sure you dont shake to much.
zeroenna,
If you dont have one already get a tripod. No matter how motionless you may think you are hand holding the camera there will be some movement. Be critical of your focusing and depth of field. Im sure you have seen photos where the subject is blurred, but the beer can, the bookshelf and window curtain are in sharp focus. I have seen photos where one part of the model is in focus and the rest of it is blurred This is because the F/stop was not set properly set. Also clear out every thing that does not have anything to do with the model you are photographing.
The nice thing about digital cameras is the ease of reviewing your photos, either in the camera or on the computer. When you have one that`s not so good determine what is wrong make the correction and take the photo over again.
As has been mentioned above, read and reread the owners manual until you understand every step in the manual as to what it means and how it affects the camera.
Also have some sort of extra light, don`t depend on the camera flash.
Having said that, I will await your sharply focused uncluttered pics.
Dave
zeroenna,
Like the others said, read the owners manual and practice and then practice more!
Take notes when taking your practice pictures, they will be very important to you later on.
The most important thing is having enough light, photogrphing your models outside is a very easy and cheap way to do this.
I have a tripod but don’t use it when taking pictures outside when its sunny, the natural light seems to help produce very sharp and clear images.
Near sundown or on dark cloudy days a tripod is a must for sharp in focus pics.
I use a Fuiji Film FinePix 3100 and it is very easy to use and did not cost very much.
HTH
Matrixone
FLOOD with light.
If you’re taking closeups of 1/72 - you’re gonna need all the light you can get. At least that’s been my experience. just watch out for glare.
Chris
As the others have said, the keys are Macro setting and no flash. The flash will wash out details and make your models look glossy. Use natural light when you can, if not, filtered light from a desk lamp, etc. will work, just use lots of light. A tripod is ag ood idea as well. You can get a cheap one for about $20 at Wal-Mart or the like.
Also, generally speaking, pictures right out of a digital camera can look a bit “soft”. You will need to use the photo program that came with the camera to clean things up a bit. UnSharpening Mask is what I use for my pictures to jetphotos.net and airliners.net. I know, unsharpening seems like it would be counter-productive, but it’s not.
If you really want to take photographs of 1/72 scale models then use a tripod or table tripot(mini).
Set your camera to its macro setting. Use the highest Fstop number you can get since the closer you get to your subject the les dept of field you get!
To exclude harsh shadows do not use flash, also you will not get those hard reflexions in the clear parts of the model. Instead go outside on a slightly overcast day and use availlable light. This will get you a nice even lighting without to much shadows and no glare. (remember the tripot and the F stop since the shutter will stay open longer) Then use a remote (if it came with your camera) or use the self timer to be sure the camera is rock steady when the shutter opens. Try to take care of the background, look close to your camera’s screen and see if the background is not to cluttered. If it does try if you can change the models position to see if it gets better. If not try to get a large colored or white sheet of paper and put the model on that. If you have to much shadow on one side of the model try to place a white board on that side (out of view) and try to refect some light in the darker parts of the shadows. A white cardboard could do the tric. Remember you can do alot to your photographs in an editing program but the better your photograph is to start with, the less work you have afterwards.
And read your manual and practice as been stated above,.
Have fun!
http://users.pandora.be/Aircraftwalkarounds/introduction.html