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So, one of the biggest frustrations for me when looking through the thousands of photos in the galleries are the great number of fuzzy photos. You know, the ones that look really cool until you click on them and you can tell what it is? Well, you may be able to tell what it is but it lacks definition.

On the other hand, we see some studio quality shots of some superb models. My question is, how do you do that? I have a very nice Petax DSLR with a lense that does Macro photos quite well but I still can seem to capture a good shot of a mini. I have played with lighting, built a box with an all white backdrop and still, I cant seem to get the perfect shot.

On my profile I have some of my attempts that I've posted but I want better. So please, post your thoughts and your shots.

I've always felt this was a very solid article on the subject.

http://cipher-studios.com/2009/09/photographing-miniatures-by-ryder-gaddis/

1) Get a tripod
2) get a camera with white balance/Aperture/Shutter/Macro settings/controls. Megapixels is not an issue. (I can't go beyond f8 with my camera but would love to at times).
3) Get proper bulbs with correct temperature
4) learn to adjust shutter/aperture (or at least set Aperture priority to get best depth of field)
5) shoot against a background.

This picture is taken with my Droid2 cell phone. Tripod, Macromode, Whitebalance (setting for type of light using day bulbs) and background. (.025 shutter speed and f2.8 - adjusts automatically on this camera)


8 megapixel olympus. .125 Shutter speed aperture f4 = you can go a smaller f number b/c the focal length is further away to capture the entire land raider.


8 megapixel camera .2 sec shutter speed f8.0 the larger f number creates a better field depth therefore avoiding fuzzy background/foreground weapons.

Those are great pictures, jgemrich!

Wow, those look sharp. That's what I'm aiming for. Thanks for the tips.

What sort of background do you shoot against?

Looks like a pretty standard grey-white gradient, laid out into a curve.

If you can minimise or remove camera shake, you stand a better chance of taking a better picture.

This means stabilising the camera. With a tripod, or sitting it on a stack of books or something. Getting it OUT of your hands - because that's a leading cause of crap photoitis.

Secondly, self-timer. If it can be used in addition to macro, you're half way there (camera shake from stabbing the shutter button is another cause of camera shake).

I have a light box and gradiants from EZcube.

However, the article above will show you how to create your own.

http://www.ezcube.com/backgrounds.html

Best thing i ever did to improve mine was to print a white/blue fade from power point.

I've read a couple of books for Amateurs by the Pro and solidly the number one tip for good shooting is.....

**drum roll**

1). Tripod.

Now I'm not photography cool enough to give out any other advice, but I can parrot out that number one tip I've read more than a few times. They say you'll notice a world of difference in picture quality just by having that steady base.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

jgemrich wrote:I've always felt this was a very solid article on the subject.

http://cipher-studios.com/2009/09/photographing-miniatures-by-ryder-gaddis/

1) Get a tripod
2) get a camera with white balance/Aperture/Shutter/Macro settings/controls. Megapixels is not an issue. (I can't go beyond f8 with my camera but would love to at times).
3) Get proper bulbs with correct temperature
4) learn to adjust shutter/aperture (or at least set Aperture priority to get best depth of field)
5) shoot against a background.

This picture is taken with my Droid2 cell phone. Tripod, Macromode, Whitebalance (setting for type of light using day bulbs) and background. (.025 shutter speed and f2.8 - adjusts automatically on this camera)

Tripod for your cell phone?? Can you link what kind of tripod set up you have for your phone?

All very helpful, thank you.

First off, you don't need a macro lens for shooting minis. Macro lenses are used for getting closes up insects and smaller objects - minis are small but definitely does not need a macro lens. Second, for a DSLR shooter, make sure you have good glass (lens). I'd rather have an older camera with great glass than a newer camera with bad glass.

Also, not too familiar with Pentax and their image quality and lenses though if you get a lightbox, background gradient and a tripod, it should be more than enough for taking photos. I shoot almost all my models using a cheap lightbox, background printed on matte printer paper from my inkjet and my Canon 450D w/ the kit lens (18-55mm).

Eggroll wrote:First off, you don't need a macro lens for shooting minis. Macro lenses are used for getting closes up insects and smaller objects - minis are small but definitely does not need a macro lens. Second, for a DSLR shooter, make sure you have good glass (lens). I'd rather have an older camera with great glass than a newer camera with bad glass.

Also, not too familiar with Pentax and their image quality and lenses though if you get a lightbox, background gradient and a tripod, it should be more than enough for taking photos. I shoot almost all my models using a cheap lightbox, background printed on matte printer paper from my inkjet and my Canon 450D w/ the kit lens (18-55mm).

Can you post some examples?

Bitz_Addict wrote:

Eggroll wrote:First off, you don't need a macro lens for shooting minis. Macro lenses are used for getting closes up insects and smaller objects - minis are small but definitely does not need a macro lens. Second, for a DSLR shooter, make sure you have good glass (lens). I'd rather have an older camera with great glass than a newer camera with bad glass.

Also, not too familiar with Pentax and their image quality and lenses though if you get a lightbox, background gradient and a tripod, it should be more than enough for taking photos. I shoot almost all my models using a cheap lightbox, background printed on matte printer paper from my inkjet and my Canon 450D w/ the kit lens (18-55mm).

Can you post some examples?

Sure...

Lightbox pics:




Without lightbox:


You can find more pics in my project log (link in sig).

Eggroll wrote:

Bitz_Addict wrote:

Eggroll wrote:First off, you don't need a macro lens for shooting minis. Macro lenses are used for getting closes up insects and smaller objects - minis are small but definitely does not need a macro lens. Second, for a DSLR shooter, make sure you have good glass (lens). I'd rather have an older camera with great glass than a newer camera with bad glass.

Also, not too familiar with Pentax and their image quality and lenses though if you get a lightbox, background gradient and a tripod, it should be more than enough for taking photos. I shoot almost all my models using a cheap lightbox, background printed on matte printer paper from my inkjet and my Canon 450D w/ the kit lens (18-55mm).

Can you post some examples?

Sure...

Lightbox pics:




Without lightbox:


You can find more pics in my project log (link in sig).

Wow, they look sharp. Looks like I need to invest Ina lightbox. Thanks for sharing.