Tips for taking GOOD photos

Tips for taking GOOD photos
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Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/1/2007 1:18:02 AM

The_DDub

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Ok, I see lots of BAD and BLURRY close-up shots of RC vehicles. I know everyone is anxious to show off their work or their creation and I am just making this post to help you out.

MACRO MODE
On all digital auto-focusing cameras is macro mode. Macro allows you to take real close up shots of items and have good clarity in the pic. If you look at some of your blurry close up shots, especially those with far backgrounds, you will see that the backgrounds are usually more in focus than the item you are trying to shoot. This is because you are not in macro mode and the depth to field is set to focus on the far away objects.

Macro mode is enabled by pressing the button that has a icon of a little flower next to it. This puts the camera in macro mode and will allow you to take those awesome close up shots (less than 1 ft away from the object) of tiny things and they will fill the frame nicely. You ever see the flickr pics of people who take cool bug photos? - all in macro mode. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bail56/50583616/ See how the foreground (subjects) are in focus and the background is out of focus? Macro takes care of it for you.

Also if you are in macro mode, let the camera auto-flash too. This will get you the best pic unless you are really a master at lighting and can control it.

I hope this helps you take cool shots.

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RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/1/2007 2:12:12 AM

Mini_Me

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Good thread. Should note not all digital cameras have a macro mode. If you in the market, make sure it has this AND is a optical zoom versus digital.

Lighting. Take shots outdoors with the sun behind you. Not in front as the vehicle will be lost in shadows.

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RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/1/2007 2:48:56 AM

carmatic1

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use a magnifying glass.... the autofocus works brilliantly thru the magnification, even when your own eyes cant make anything out... but you have to turn off the flash otherwise the light will bounce back from the magnifying glass, plus it always looks prettier when you have proper lighting anyway

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RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/1/2007 3:59:33 AM

Doahh

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STICKY for sure

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RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/1/2007 3:44:39 PM

CadillacETC2000

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G Tigger N bennie is a photographer. He will have some input here for sure

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RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/1/2007 10:19:44 PM

annie_himself

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Whenever you take pics of your truck on rocks or on top of other RC's then make sure you take it under the truck, it looks alot better and gives your truck the dominating look.

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RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/1/2007 10:29:56 PM

fastmax

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When shooting close ups in macro mode, be sure to try and keep the camera as still as possible. Use a tripod if you have one, or rest the camera on a hard surface and adjust the zoom, and the object until you have the view you are looking for.

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RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/2/2007 1:43:25 PM

abjones413

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Use a plain, neutral colored backdrop, whether it be a piece of printer paper or a towel or blanket. This makes your subject really stand out with no distractions. Also, use as much available lighting as possible to override the auto-flash. If you open all curtains and shades and turn on all the lights in the room your shooting in, it will produce a much more natural picture. Often flashes wash out the picture, even in macro. When a camera is set to macro, the flash is automatically reduced, but washouts still occur. On occasion I will even remove a lampshade or point a light at my subject.

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RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/6/2007 3:20:43 AM

raptornut

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quote:

ORIGINAL: fastmax

When shooting close ups in macro mode, be sure to try and keep the camera as still as possible. Use a tripod if you have one, or rest the camera on a hard surface and adjust the zoom, and the object until you have the view you are looking for.

wally world sells a mini tripod for cameras for under 20 bucks I believe they are in the tools section where the lazer levels are.

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RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/7/2007 5:30:35 AM

abjones413

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quote:

wally world sells a mini tripod for cameras for under 20 bucks I believe they are in the tools section where the lazer levels are.

They're actually in the electronics section with the other tripods and cameras or just outside it near the film and camera cases. I got a really nice one a while back for about $15. Great item to have, but in a pinch you can definitely just rest the camera against something stable.

Also, 2 more tips:

1) Breathe in before shooting. Let your air out nice and slowly and gently depress the shutter during the exhale. GENTLY depress. Hard presses make the camera move, A.K.A "Shutter Shake".

2) Set the self-timer for 2 seconds. Most cameras have a 10 second and a 2 second timer. Some even have one you can set yourself, like my Canon SD400. Anyway, when you set the timer for 2 seconds, it allows you to press the shutter then steady the camera to avoid the all-too-common "shutter shake".

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RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/7/2007 10:31:01 AM

raptornut

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Most of us have all been there, hopfully everyone will read this forum who adds images, there are a lot of blury ones.

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RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/8/2007 9:14:54 AM

xjbebop

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kinda like.....this...?

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RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/8/2007 2:18:24 PM

Doahh

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Yeah... what a concept... a picture in focus.

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RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/23/2007 8:53:23 AM

fugadude

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yeah

1. good indirect lighting
2. pick lowest ISO mode for clearest picture (if apperature control use a small apperature like a 6 or 8 to ensure clarity of the whole car)
4. set camera's self timer or use remote switch (do not hold camera for shots)
5. post pictures at least 800x600 pixels.

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Post #: 14

RE: Tips for taking GOOD photos - 2/26/2007 2:53:51 AM

carmatic1

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quote:

ORIGINAL: fugadude

2. pick lowest ISO mode for clearest picture (if apperature control use a small apperature like a 6 or 8 to ensure clarity of the whole car)

use the lowest 'ISO sensitivity' , so that the camera actually has time to make out the finer details... at high sensitivity mode it actually 'guesses' the exact colour of whatever your trying to take a picture of since the light receptors dont have time or light to get exposed properly, and since its all guesses it gets pretty random and fuzzes the picture up
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed#Digital_camera_ISO_speed_and_exposure_index

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