Bob in OHIO
Gunboards.Com Gold Star Member
1119 Posts
Posted - 05/31/2006 : 8:20:34 PM
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Guys often ask about my camera rig or for suggestions. I thought I would comment on some basics tips for good photography. God, I hate the bubba pics I so often see...
Hardware: Essential is a camera with optical zoom AND macro features. My camera is a Fuji S602z that has a macro and super macro feature for really close-up work. The working distance is less than 2" from the lens! Not essential: Tons of mega pixels... my camera is has a lowly 3.3m pixel resolution. Also, forget about a tripod! It's not necessary, cumbersome and just too time consuming.
Lighting: Essential is indirect sunlight. I shoot on a cloudy day or in the shade. Forget direct sunlight... shadows will abound and it's just too harsh of light. Trust me!
Photography experience: Well, it is helpful to understand something about depth of field and shutter speed stuff and compostion, but certainly not required. I do have some experience with the basics but no formal training... Bottomline, it is very doable without ANY training but easier with some experience...
Composition: Well, good pics require you eliminate bad juju in the background. I don't like to see yellow toe nails or the dog bone or floral bedspreads or JoeJoe the gun plumber's ash tray in the background. Chose a neutral background and use some software to crop out the crap (see below).
General Myths: Good Photography takes tons of time, knowledge, equipment, and the file size is a killer. Wrong! I can shoot a rifle in 15 minutes! The only equipment I have is a decent camera and software to crop and rotate etc as needed. Adobe Photoshop is what I use for software. No special tripod or stand is needed. Most my pics are off a picnic table in the shade... File size is actually small after I resize. The final file size (~40kb) is about 10% of the original size that the camera produces.
Oh yeah. Here's my million dollar sling, clg41 marked etc that came on a $250 dou41 that I snagged 5 yrs ago...
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My CD full of K98 pics...
http://bobinohio.com/
[email protected]
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Edited by - Bob in OHIO on 05/31/2006 8:31:43 PM
Sarge39
Gunboards Super Premium Member
433 Posts
Posted - 05/31/2006 : 8:29:19 PM
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Excellent post Bob! Learning to take pics and post them here will open all kinds of doors for collectors. I need to use better light for my pics, thanks for the tip.
Drakken61
Gunboards Member
USA
85 Posts
Posted - 05/31/2006 : 8:36:11 PM
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Bob, Good idea tossing this reminder out for everyone...there is a lot of bad pics of beautiful rifles...it's all about the light, direct flash is the enemy, if you shoot a lot indoors, an external bounce flash is the way to go if your camera has a hot shoe.
Dr. Johnny Fever
Gunboards.Com Gold Star Member
USA
2065 Posts
Posted - 06/01/2006 : 02:17:05 AM
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Great post, Bob, and very instructional. Thank you!
To the mods: can we post this at the top as a sticky?
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"As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Dr. Ron Paul tirelessly works for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies. Dr. Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution." Ron Paul for President - 2008!
Clyde from Carolina
Gunboards.Com Silver Star Member
USA
857 Posts
Posted - 06/01/2006 : 04:56:58 AM
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Good info, Bob. I'm always looking for tips on better picture taking. John Holbrook posted some great information on Culver's a while back and his pistol pics are really amazing.
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Clyde from Carolina
bda
Gunboards Super Premium Member
USA
382 Posts
Posted - 06/01/2006 : 05:36:12 AM
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Good tips Bob! Thanks for sharing.
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Bryan
ditch68
Gunboards Super Premium Member
USA
340 Posts
Posted - 06/01/2006 : 05:43:16 AM
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Good stuff, Bob.
...boy, that auction with the big dogbone pic still irks you, huh?
Jeff
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"Never say Never"
11B
Visit my website on Czech produced German small arms -
http://www.cagedlion.com
Hambone
I Have A Tina Tuner Style Haircut
2647 Posts
Posted - 06/01/2006 : 08:14:06 AM
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Good stuff BiO!
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ritterkreuz
Gunboards Member
89 Posts
Posted - 06/01/2006 : 9:46:30 PM
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Bob,
A great job indeed. Thanks for the tips !
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Meyer had a word for the critics who demeaned the Gators.
"I'd like to thank all those people. Our pregame speech was easy," he said.
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