Photography

[DavidEHickey]

Ok,
I know this is not a photography forum but since I've had a lot of negative comments on this site relating to my photos I would like to improve my photography skills. I guess I'm one of those with more money than brains. I have a Nikon D-7000 camera which is suppose to be top of the line at least a year or 2 ago. But with a top of the line camera and no photography knowledge I get what you see on my posts. I posted I think 16 different photos and was accused of messing with the color balance and doctoring the shots. Neither of which are true. I shoot in auto mode and agree my photos look like **** a lot of times. Can anyone give me any pointers? Even though the flash goes off it seems to me to be a lighting problem. When you shoot do you use just the built in flash, do you use a mounted flash? Typically I just shoot in a room of the house with normal overhead lighting and the built in flash. Judging by the feedback my skills need improvement.

PS I don't have a macro lens and the photos I have posted have to be resized from huge to almost nothing to allow me to post.

[Capybara]

Hi David:

I have not seen your photos on here but I probably have not looked around enough. The model of your camera has almost nothing to do with the quality of your photography.

I have two websites you need to study.

http://jefflynchdev.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/one-light-product-photography/

https://www.strobist.com

Combine what you learn on both sites and you will have the knowledge to become a decent photographer. It takes time, experimentation, an eye and patience. You instinctively know that lighting is everything, that's good, your camera model and lens mean almost nothing. I have a $99.00 Costco Nikon P&S that takes very good quality images. I know of more than a dozen professional photographers who have published hard cover coffee table books of images taken with the iPhone. Don't get stuck on gear, get stuck on lighting and developing your eye. The long side of images you post here should be no larger than 1,000 to 1,200 pixels, all that posting huge images here or in any forum is going to do is annoy everyone. You don't have to have a macro lens to shoot good gun photography, although it can help if you need to capture really small details.

Go forth and study!

[stevied]

Don't shoot in auto.
Use aperture (lower f stop, shallow depth of field, blurred background) or shutter priority (faster shutter will catch brass in the air).
Don't use the flash; direct flash most always results in poor lighting conditions.
Try shooting outside. Natural lighting is much better.

[joefrank64k]

There's a good thread here: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...ad.php?t=37727

[SVT-40]

Also get a photobucket account. It's free, and allows you to use your full size pic's without re-sizing... Plus if you do need to re-size them you can do it there very easily. Using photobucket you can post pics at most forums without going through the forums photo requirements..

For now I would suggest you take your pic's outside in the shade. Even without a macro lens you still should get close enough to get good clear detail pic's...

Just google how to use photobucket.....

[BroncoBob]

Also get a photobucket account. It's free, and allows you to use your full size pic's without re-sizing... Plus if you do need to re-size them you can do it there very easily. Using photobucket you can post pics at most forums without going through the forums photo requirements..

For now I would suggest you take your pic's outside in the shade. Even without a macro lens you still should get close enough to get good clear detail pic's...

Just google how to use photobucket.....

^^^^^This^^^^^^

[kurac]

Sounds like you have a lighting problem. If you take the pictures in an area where there is lots of non direct sunlight, it can solve lots of your problems unless you want to spend some money on lights.

[DennisCA]

Don't shoot in auto.
Use aperture (lower f stop, shallow depth of field, blurred background) or shutter priority (faster shutter will catch brass in the air).
Don't use the flash; direct flash most always results in poor lighting conditions.
Try shooting outside. Natural lighting is much better.

Agreed: Don't shoot in auto.
(Although I am guilty of it more than few times)

Just keep trying different setting and different lighting; although natural light IS the best

[oftenindeed]

I suggest this book because I think that composition gets most people thinking in the right direction. Lighting is another discussion for sure but this book will surely help you: http://digital-photography-school.co...freeman-review

[Armistice]

I shot desert racing for quite a few years. I was never the best, but it was always fun, and got paid for my pics

That said, Auto is a no-no. The majority of the time, I shoot on aperture priority because I'd rather control the depth of field rather than the shutter speed unless I had something else I was trying to go for (motion blur= slow shutter speed)

I shoot natural light. I hate using a flash. That and since I rarely shoot with one, I never got good at controlling it really. I'm a hack at it and can get by

I usually shot with Auto White Balance because in natural light, I never found I had to have it corrected. If you're shooting indoors with tungsten or florescent lighting, then you may want to mess with it

I did take photo for 2yrs in high school, but I was fairly good at it that I really didn't need to take it composure wise. I always have had a knack for getting good composures

Try to pick up some books. In the end, you'll have to find your own shooting style and what'll work best for you. How I shoot may not work for you, as with how a book tells you to shoot. Try to take in the technical aspects like rule of thirds and such, and shoot how you want. Most important, just go out and shoot anything and everything. Try multiple angles of the same thing. Try different lighting (morning, midday, night), you'll find something that works



Shameless plug for a blog I did a few yrs back. At least one photo per day, every day, for a whole year. Check it out if you need some inspiration:

http://armisticephoto.blogspot.com/

.

[randomBytes]

I'll second strobist whether you want to light your photos or not, read through the 101 series and you'll understand light better.

I'll also second the "don't get hung on on gear" (says he with lots of expensive glass ;-) I use 1/10 the functionality of my camera probably shoot manual more than anything.

[Gutter]

I use my cellphone with auto focus and get compliments on my pictures all the time when I'm trying to sell something (maybe it's the angles and detail?). Just try to use good lighting, avoid shadows, and get up close.

[DavidEHickey]

Thanks guys I appreciate your help and will try to take it all in. A local photo store is putting on a 5 week photography 101 class "couple hours per weekend" I'm going to sign up for that its fairly cheap. But yes the photos I took were indoors with almost no natural lighting just a ceiling fan with three 60 watt bulbs. Anyhow thanks once again and maybe my next pictures will be better.

[Jeff L]

Here's another link if you're interested. Be patient, it will take time to understand the dynamics of photography. Practice, practice, practice.

http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=5407&page=1