http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/8.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net )


^Image A. This was simply taken and then uploaded straight away. I did use DakkaDakka's auto-adjust function so that accounts for how dark it is. EDIT:Cropped to make comparison easier.


^Image B. This was the same image as A, but rather than upload via Dakka's auto-adjust, it was put through GIMP 2 to remove the greyscale and then uploaded without Dakka's auto-adjust.

So tell me what you think. If you have a better solution to improve my image then I'm all ears. Personally while it is an improvement, I'm not too sure on the overall effect. For example I'm sat here looking at the model and I can see that the kneepads do have brighter highlights than the image conveys. Should people prefer the images with the GIMP 2 correction, then I may see about re-uploading all my images again with corrections - which may require me to photo them again. Oh well

EDIT: Image A is now cropped to roughly the same size.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6131997.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6131997.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132302.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132302.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132341.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132341.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132373.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132373.page GMT
The only lingering photography issue is depth of field (I don't consider the soft shadow on the backdrop much of an issue). It's not too severe, but there's definitely a degree of blurring as you move forward and back from the focal point, around the torso.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132391.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132391.page GMT
as a side note, I'm not a fan of the gallery's auto-correct feature. much better to get the image looking the way *you* want it before uploading rather than to rely on an automated process that you have no control over. I find that it bumps up the contrast way too high for my personal tastes. YMMV]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132433.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132433.page GMT
@Oadie - The blurring is my fault really as my photogrpahy leaves something to be desired. But I appreciate the comments regarding the clarity of the image. I'll crop the original so it's an easier comparison.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132472.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132472.page GMT
Also voted be, the crop is really what does it because it pulls the whole picture together leaving less white space and allowing people to see more detail]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132475.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132475.page GMT

I should also say I've now cropped the first picture but I've still used auto-adjust to show the comparison.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132501.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132501.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132622.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132622.page GMT Found that on one of my monitors, both have really hard to see highlights in the blacks.
On the other (which admittedly is a much better monitor than the other) both images clearly show your work, albeit a bit brighter in B
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132676.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6132676.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6133135.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6133135.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6133153.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6133153.page GMT
I'm found from the many tutorials and expert advice that your basic set-up with good lighting (which you appear to have) should be:
F/stop 16
ISO 100
1 second exposure.

Don't use Macro, and take the picture about 1 foot or 30 cm away if using 12 Megapixel cameras... then crop.

With that, you shouldn't need a light-box...]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6133862.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6133862.page GMT
A light box wouldn't hurt, but it's by no means a strict necessity. Its two main purposes - to reflect and diffuse light - can be achieved in other ways. Increasing the number of light sources, whether used in conjunction with a light box or not, will help get rid of those lingering shadows.

Can't help with camera settings too specifically, but Kr00gZ's suggestion sounds like a good starting point. I can vouch, at least, that backing away from the subject and cropping in will definitely help with the depth of field. The closer you are, the shallower the focal range gets. Seems like macro mode is the obvious choice for photographing minis, but it has its limitations.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6134123.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6134123.page GMT not to use macro. I can't remember if I had Macro set on this image but I've read a good deal of tutorials where they do advise you to use it. I shall have to experiment then.

@Kr00gZ - Thanks for the advice - I'll have a fiddle around and see what I can come up with. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6134462.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6134462.page GMT
The major post-processing here would be to get some detail in the face. If you have a "levels" display, it's worth moving the mid-point slider around, because on this photo i think you need a little more detail in the dark greys. I've tried to show a v rough example below.

Miniature looks great, btw. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6134486.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6134486.page GMT On the subject of the processing, not to diminish your effort are processing my image (Which I'm very much appreciative that you took the time to have a look at), but IMHO I think your attempt looks a little too washed out. I hear what your saying about bringing out the detail by reducing the contrast, but IMO that shifts the rest of the models colour too far away from it's actual shade. That said the best advice you've given me is to move further away from the model and crop - I feel that is a major fault of my photography. Many thanks. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6135783.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/556863/6135783.page GMT