[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Armour Addict

Pappy, your pictures are off the hook!

What kind of setup you have? (digicam, artificial lighting and so on)

Thanks,
AA

Thanks AA -- it's definitely a learn as I go process... it's quite funny to look back at some of the early pics I thought were good at the time

I use a Nikon D200 w/18-200mm VR lens, ephotomaker photo tent, and (now) a 500watt photo lamp. (Before this lamp I was using a way underpowered halogen draft table lamp for the job.) I shoot the models on gloss coated white poster board. I do a bit of post-processing work on 'em to tweak the lighting and some slight sharpening, too, depending -- mostly with Photoshop Elements 4, sometimes Photoshop CS.

I don't generally use a tripod as this is simply much too time intensive -- but I can get away with shooting at F10-F16 handheld with the current setup, which is enough DOF I think.

The D200 and VR lens is an upgrade I got early last summer (via proceeds from selling off almost my entire FM collection at the time and some other models) primarily for nature/family/air show photography. Before that I used a D50 for most of what is currently online.

[Armour Addict]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Thanks AA -- it's definitely a learn as I go process... it's quite funny to look back at some of the early pics I thought were good at the time

I use a Nikon D200 w/18-200mm VR lens, ephotomaker photo tent, and (now) a 500watt photo lamp. (Before this lamp I was using a way underpowered halogen draft table lamp for the job.) I shoot the models on gloss coated white poster board. I do a bit of post-processing work on 'em to tweak the lighting and some slight sharpening, too, depending -- mostly with Photoshop Elements 4, sometimes Photoshop CS.

I don't generally use a tripod as this is simply much too time intensive -- but I can get away with shooting at F10-F16 handheld with the current setup, which is enough DOF I think.

The D200 and VR lens is an upgrade I got early last summer (via proceeds from selling off almost my entire FM collection at the time and some other models) primarily for nature/family/air show photography. Before that I used a D50 for most of what is currently online.

Interesting! I have a Casio S-770D which is not too shabby but the pics I take are either too dark (no atrificial lighting) or too bright (the cameras flash). I think the tent and lamp makes a very big difference! Yeah, PS is pretty useful if you know how to use it. I did some pretty nice landscape shots over the years but never learned to macro photograph right.

This leads me to some ideas... Especially for ebay this should proof it's worth.

Thanks for clarifying this for me!

Cheers,
AA

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Armour Addict

Interesting! I have a Casio S-770D which is not too shabby but the pics I take are either too dark (no atrificial lighting) or too bright (the cameras flash). I think the tent and lamp makes a very big difference! Yeah, PS is pretty useful if you know how to use it. I did some pretty nice landscape shots over the years but never learned to macro photograph right.

This leads me to some ideas... Especially for ebay this should proof it's worth.

Thanks for clarifying this for me!

Cheers,
AA

Yeah, you can take stellar pics with a far more econmical camera setup than mine if you have the proper lighting... it's all about the lighting really (and white balance), and PS can work wonders with the "too light, too dark" issue, too. With a good backdrop, you can get great results shooting outside in natural light. A photo tent is a big help for inside or out, though, as it diffuses the light -- makes it cast evenly on the subject, removing harsh shadows and refections. I never use the flash as it distorts the colors more than it helps the photo, IMHO.