Testing my new camera setup
 

Getting bored waiting for another kidney stone to pass, so I rummaged around the shop to see what was available to make a new gun / camera stand with.

This is just testing the stand itself, photos were made with my smartphone and tidied up a bit.

The goal is to take as clear and clean pictures as possible with a minimal amount of digital processing to get acceptable photos.

The stand can be used with or without a photo tent and this enables me to take sorta decent photos without the need to set up the tent and additional lighting (I'll save that for book and article publications and the like).

Anyway, parts used:
-one length of leftover floor timber.
-a couple of screws.
-the vinyl cover of an old filing folder.
-double sided flooring tape.
-A length of brass from a cleaning rod. (don't use your navy rod).

The rod can be adjusted and should work for anything between .22 and .45-ish.

The C96 is about the biggest pistol the stand can handle.

Thanks for the tutorial, I have empathy for you and kidney stones...
Seems like when you get seniority on this planet they come along for the trip and stay too long!

G2

Gerben, I recommend that you modify your photo stand to be able to flip over so you can photograph the other side of the pistol... :D and you can lay the stand on its back to photograph the top of the pistol, eh?

The board behind the stand is not connected to it. So the stand can be flipped quite easily.

I have another stand for the top.

You need to figure a way to get more light from the front(camera) side, picts are too dark for much detail, JMHO.

Perhaps another translucent folder with a hole for the lense? Would reflect a little light from another direction.

In Florida outside taken in the shade works well!

These pictures were taken with a phone without additional lighting. With the proper lighting and a light tent the results will be better. But as I explained the idea was to have a simple setup that works for quick and simple shots as well as with additional lighting and a decent camera.

With the basic setup working I can now experiment further with additional lighting and longer shutter times.

Generally I take pictures in natural light preferably on a day with an overcast sky.
During the day, light has got different shades, for instance these were taken not long ago in the morning.

I also use our glass table~ 1937 Kreighoff #7932~

Here is another phone photo with the setup above.

Now you're getting there! :cheers:

Here's one thing you may want to try: Prop up a white bed sheet above and around the setup, you can probably rig it with stuff like broom sticks or whatever you have laying around. This is basically a makeshift photo tent that will simulate the "overcast day" light.

I have a good light tent, but it takes time and a lot of effort to set it up and break it down each time I need to take a photo.

But this 'miniature set-up' will help to take quick photos easier, without all the hassle with the light tent and lighting stuff :)

Alternate Lightening
 

and multi background taken in Florida shade and great subjects~