photo tips

rttwlrby · 10-09-2007, 05:00 PM

Hello Gang,
Anyone have tips on how to take good gun photos...i get about 1 per 20 that come out rite...what do you think of this pic??

Edward Tinker · 10-09-2007, 05:55 PM

Steven, welcome to the forum... your number of bad to good is "normal". I take about 10 for every 1 that I like, although another 10 don't turn out as well either

.

Is this pistol for sale (you have it in the for sale section)

See this http://forum.lugerforum.com/forumdis...s=&forumid=133

White is not the best background to use, as the appature opens too much. Also, I find that a flat background is best, at least for me.

Ed

Aaron · 10-09-2007, 08:55 PM

It appears you are taking photos too far away, then cropping, resulting in loss of detail. Try to take your pics from about 18 inches or as close as you can get, and set your camera on "macro" so that you can focus up close.

Bob in OH · 10-15-2007, 07:34 PM

Here's my suggestion: Find a good camera that has a macro feature and optical zoom. Mine is Fuji 602z. Indirect sunlight is best and a sense of compostion helps. For me, the super macro feature allows a working distance of about 2". Camera is 80% - I am 20% of the work. I never use a tripod.... ever. Only 1 in five of mine are duds... really.

[/center]

OLDJARHEAD · 10-15-2007, 07:54 PM

Great looking rig Bob. Thanks for the look. Mike

tharpo · 10-15-2007, 10:51 PM

After many attempts and plenty of trial and error, I think I'm starting to get the hang of luger photography. I took the following photos yesterday using one of those white nylon photo tents you can buy on Ebay. Similar to Ebay item #170158314972. I took the tent outside in full sunlight which allowed for a faster shutter speed (1/250) to steady my shaky hands. The background is just paper (white or red) sitting on a small plastic stool. The camera is a Canon EOS with a 18-55mm zoom set on "P" setting.
Picture one is with a white background with the sun opposite the camera. Not bad but the colors are kind of washed out. Pictures 2&3 are with the red background paper with the sun hitting the right side of the tent.
It still took several tries to get thing right.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_6528.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/bw8.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_6867.jpg

rttwlrby · 10-21-2007, 05:00 PM

wow......incredible vivid photos tharpo....nice looking byf 41 also.
Thanks to all you for suggestions...

Big Norm · 10-23-2007, 04:13 PM

Great pictures and excellent tips. While I haven't gotten off of my butt yet to post pictures, I have studied other pictures to see what looked best. I would like to add that a medium grey back ground on WW2 Lugers looks great, but a pink such as Tharpo shows in his pictures brings out the browns on holsters and the strawing and wood grips on WW1 Lugers better while not disturbing the bluing. Indirect lighting from different directions or outdoors is a must to reduce shadows.
Big Norm

tharpo · 10-23-2007, 09:16 PM

Indirect and/or diffused light really helps in cutting down reflections and shadows. Using natural sunlight is also beneficial in eliminating white balance
issues you can get from artificial lighting.
Here is a photo of a 1940-42 placed on red piece of paper taken outside on a cloudy day.
Tom

10-09-2007, 05:55 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Steven, welcome to the forum... your number of bad to good is "normal". I take about 10 for every 1 that I like, although another 10 don't turn out as well either . Is this pistol for sale (you have it in the for sale section) See this http://forum.lugerforum.com/forumdis...s=&forumid=133 White is not the best background to use, as the appature opens too much. Also, I find that a flat background is best, at least for me. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

10-23-2007, 09:16 PM	#9
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 543 Thanks: 118 Thanked 383 Times in 158 Posts	Indirect and/or diffused light really helps in cutting down reflections and shadows. Using natural sunlight is also beneficial in eliminating white balance issues you can get from artificial lighting. Here is a photo of a 1940-42 placed on red piece of paper taken outside on a cloudy day. Tom Attached Thumbnails

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10-09-2007, 05:00 PM	#1
rttwlrby User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: California Posts: 45 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	photo tips Hello Gang, Anyone have tips on how to take good gun photos...i get about 1 per 20 that come out rite...what do you think of this pic?? Attached Images

10-09-2007, 08:55 PM	#3
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	It appears you are taking photos too far away, then cropping, resulting in loss of detail. Try to take your pics from about 18 inches or as close as you can get, and set your camera on "macro" so that you can focus up close.

10-15-2007, 07:34 PM	#4
Bob in OH User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NE OH Posts: 129 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Here's my suggestion: Find a good camera that has a macro feature and optical zoom. Mine is Fuji 602z. Indirect sunlight is best and a sense of compostion helps. For me, the super macro feature allows a working distance of about 2". Camera is 80% - I am 20% of the work. I never use a tripod.... ever. Only 1 in five of mine are duds... really. [/center]

10-15-2007, 07:54 PM	#5
OLDJARHEAD User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 299 Thanks: 18 Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts	Great looking rig Bob. Thanks for the look. Mike

10-15-2007, 10:51 PM	#6
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 543 Thanks: 118 Thanked 383 Times in 158 Posts	After many attempts and plenty of trial and error, I think I'm starting to get the hang of luger photography. I took the following photos yesterday using one of those white nylon photo tents you can buy on Ebay. Similar to Ebay item #170158314972. I took the tent outside in full sunlight which allowed for a faster shutter speed (1/250) to steady my shaky hands. The background is just paper (white or red) sitting on a small plastic stool. The camera is a Canon EOS with a 18-55mm zoom set on "P" setting. Picture one is with a white background with the sun opposite the camera. Not bad but the colors are kind of washed out. Pictures 2&3 are with the red background paper with the sun hitting the right side of the tent. It still took several tries to get thing right. http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_6528.jpg http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/bw8.jpg http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_6867.jpg

10-21-2007, 05:00 PM	#7
rttwlrby User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: California Posts: 45 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	wow......incredible vivid photos tharpo....nice looking byf 41 also. Thanks to all you for suggestions...

10-23-2007, 04:13 PM	#8
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Great pictures and excellent tips. While I haven't gotten off of my butt yet to post pictures, I have studied other pictures to see what looked best. I would like to add that a medium grey back ground on WW2 Lugers looks great, but a pink such as Tharpo shows in his pictures brings out the browns on holsters and the strawing and wood grips on WW1 Lugers better while not disturbing the bluing. Indirect lighting from different directions or outdoors is a must to reduce shadows. Big Norm