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I need some help photographing my models. Even with my nice new camera, I still can't get pics that are completely in focus and the right color.

As far as lights go, I have an OTT-LITE, a small halogen bulb desk lamp, and some regular incandescent lights. I know you're supposed to use a sheet as a backdrop or something, and I do have a white bedsheet.

If anyone could give advice on how to set up the area around the model, and what settings to use on the camera, I'd be grateful. Oh, and I have no money to buy any other materials.

Thanks in advance,

Vengis.

Personally, I've found it better if you don't have white sheet right behind the thing your taking the shot of, but have white on the sides/above to help reflect light onto it.

As far as the focus, see if your camera has a Macro mode, this will let you get the closer shots better.

one of the things I didn't notice you mention is a tripod.
A tripod is a necessity for crisp macro images.
Also, make sure with all of your surround lighting that you turn your flash off.

Macro on, Flash off, Some sort of backdrop (white, black, blue, whatever, as long as you have one!), a sturdy surface to place your camera on (your hands are not steady enough to hold the camera without blurring the picture).

All of my photos are taken with a halogen stand up lamp and an overhead fan light (4 low wattage bulbs) in a 14x14 or so room with all white walls and cealing. My set up is normally just a T-shirt draped over something tall enough and sturdy enough to hold it up on my desk or table. Photos are normally taken by placing the camera flat on the table or on a book at the correct height.

It's not a GREAT set up, but I get good enough photos with what I've got.

I find with my camera (Canon PowerShot SD200 - hardly cutting edge) I get better results using the Macro function (little tulip) as opposed to the Digital Macro function (little tulip with "D" inside) which turns out too dark.

As other posters have indicated, a VERY steady camera is key. If, like me, you are too cheap to buy a tripod, you should be able to get away with placing the camera on the table directly in front of what your photographing (build up a pile of books or whatever for a steeper angle). The macro function is designed to take pictures at a range of less than 3" from the lens, so this works.

I use a regular 60W incandescent bulb (desk lamp) for my light source with a sheet of white paper underneath and behind the models. This can result in a yellowish tint to the whites, but the Photoshop "autocolor" function fixes this admirably with a single click.

My results

Good luck to you!

The macro settings will depend on your camera. My DSLR has TWO macro modes (<30cm and <1.2m).

Steady camera (beanbag, tripod, whatever), good strong INdirect lighting and timer mode also help a lot.

I've also taken shots with a zoom lens on a tripod, you work with what you've got.

Using the timer function is a BRILLIANT idea to prevent blurring. Consider it stolen.

Check out the photography section of the Dakka modeling FAQ (in the article section). There are a couple of really good articles (or links to articles) on miniature photography.


My personal advice is:


1) Don't use a flash as it will wash out your colors (unless it is an external one that you can pivot up to bounce off the ceiling). Instead, go buy a few extra lamps (you can get really cheap metal worklights from the hardware store that 'clamp' onto anything).


2) Use a macro lense. If your camera doesn't have one, go get one that does!


3) Check to see if your camera has manual white balance, and before taking your picture hold a white sheet of paper in front of the model and set your white balance. This will adjust the color of your photograph to match the color of the lights you're currently using.


3) Get some sort of nuetral backdrop that won't distract from your miniatures. You can go to any art store and buy a big sheet of lightly colored paper to fit the bill. Then just set it halfway against the wall (so 50% of the paper is on the ground and the other 50% curves up onto the wall) and you'll have a great backdrop for your pics.


4) Use photoshop or another program to fiddle with the brightness/contrast/color balance of your pictures. It can make a really big difference!


Good luck!

Thanks for the help. My new pics have come out much clearer. (I'll have a thread up in a minute)

I actually thought of using the timer function as well. Yak, I'll have to try the white balance thing next time.