Calling Dr Lunde, Calling Dr Lunde...

[Mad Mike]

Dr Lunde, if you would be so kind to pass on some of your photo tips, I would like to be able to shoot some pictures the way that you do. So some tip on lighting, types of set ups that you use, etc.

[Inoxmark]

Photo tips are toward the bottom of this page:

http://www.praxagora.com/lunde/firearms.html

[Mad Mike]

Hey thanks, that helps alot!!! way to go there little buddy!!!

[pidooma]

Here's a thread on arfcom related to taking gun photos. Similar stuff to the link above.

http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=121&t=398372

[Matt-man]

Having a light box like this one is a big help, at least for handguns.



You can build one like that for a few bucks worth of materials and it can work quite well. I took this photo with a setup similar to what you see above.

[Mad Mike]

Thanks to all, this is great stuff to know, now I just need a great camera to shoot with...

[maxicon]

Having a great camera isn't required - even an inexpensive digital can take pics that look good on the 'net. A tripod is pretty necessary, though, but an inexpensive one is fine.

I use cheap, small halogen desk lights for my lighting. I'll usually set one or two down, then hold one and move it around to get different highlights or shadows. Flash can be good for some stuff, but it flattens other things, and can cause glare on shiny metal.

The most useful feature on the camera is to be able to set the white balance, since inexpensive tungsten lights tend to have a yellowish color to them, and the camera can adjust for that. This isn't a problem if you shoot with natural light, but I do most of my photos at night.

I also like having macro mode for taking closeups or pics of small parts, but if you have enough resolution, you can just zoom in on a full size picture and crop it.

I like a variety of backdrops, too. You don't want anything that will distract from the subject, but your subject should look good against it. One of my favorite backdrops is the back of an old faded denim shirt. I have an assortment of fabrics in different colors and patterns that don't take up much space and provide flexibility.

The main thing is to start taking pictures - lots of them - and figure out what you like and don't like. Once you do that, you'll be able to look at great photos like Dr. Lunde's and get some ideas on how he did it.

max

[Gnote]

He has some tips on his photo page. Not sure if it is what you are looking for...

http://www.praxagora.com/lunde/firearms.html

[Turbinator]

Having a light box like this one is a big help, at least for handguns.

I wholeheartedly agree on the light box idea - here's a sample:



Sure, it's an Airsoft, but you get the idea...

Turby

[Mad Mike]

A big "10" on the softbox for product photography, light still a problem (either photo floods or elect flash) but a good digi camera is what I need, also a shooting table would be nice, but a camera is a must!.

[jdberger]

I wholeheartedly agree on the light box idea - here's a sample:



Sure, it's an Airsoft, but you get the idea...

Turby

That is my favorite handgun of all time (the non-airsoft version). Darn Mack Bolan! I just love that thing.

[Turbinator]

That is my favorite handgun of all time (the non-airsoft version). Darn Mack Bolan! I just love that thing.

Yeah, the 93R is pretty cool. The Airsoft version incorporates full auto, whereas the original only does semi auto or 3 round burst for firing modes. I also have the shoulder stock for the Airsoft - makes for a lot of fun, it feels like a great CQB weapon.

Turby

[esskay]

That is my favorite handgun of all time (the non-airsoft version). Darn Mack Bolan! I just love that thing.

Haha! I was helping my parents clean out their attic and found a bunch of my old paperbacks, including Mack Bolan and Able Team books. I used to love those books when I was a kid. But I flipped through a few of them and realized how preposterous some of their gun-related scenarios really were. There was one guy on the team who used a .45acp 1911 variant with 3 round burst feature!!! Yikes!

[jdberger]

Haha! I was helping my parents clean out their attic and found a bunch of my old paperbacks, including Mack Bolan and Able Team books. I used to love those books when I was a kid. But I flipped through a few of them and realized how preposterous some of their gun-related scenarios really were. There was one guy on the team who used a .45acp 1911 variant with 3 round burst feature!!! Yikes!

Yeah, but these guys were superheroes. They did manage to teach me a bit about guns (and fugu). And you could usually read one in a couple of hours.

[Turbinator]

Yeah, but these guys were superheroes. They did manage to teach me a bit about guns (and fugu). And you could usually read one in a couple of hours.

I must be too young, or I lived in a cave, 'cuz I have no idea what you guys are talking about - never heard of those books nor those characters before.

Turby