I have a gripe about photography

The more "for sale" items I'm seeing the more horrible the photos. Sellers are putting their items up for sale and the photos are out of focus, angles are bad and lighting is bad. Taking photos is not that difficult. I think the best thing the photographer should do is review your photos on your computer prior to posting them. This way you can dump the bad ones and edit some of them to improve the shot like lighting, contrast, etc.

Use the "macro" feature on your camera when taking up close, detail shots. Take photos in natural light when possible, indirect florescent light works also. Use a neutral back drop/back ground. Don't ever use white or black. Don't use card board. A green or gray, like an old Army or Navy blanket works great. I medium blue or green towel works great. The idea is you don't want the flash to reflect back with white or the black to absorb all the flash to make the subject item to look too dark. If you have an item with a reflective surface, turn it slightly away (even 5 degrees makes a difference) so the flash doesn't reflect back. Don't take photos of your item sitting on the dinner or coffee table.

If you don't know how to use the camera you have then ask someone. An 11 year old kid will be able to tell you anything and everything about your camera if you are unwilling or too lazy to look at the manual or get on the net for advise. Practice taking shots with your camera until you have it figured out and have mastered the art of photography. :thup:

It ain't rocket science!

The problem is, that many folks nowadays actually believe their cell phone really IS a "camera". Whoever thought up the idea to make cell phones take "pictures" needs to be roundly beaten to a pulp.

Another thing to remember is to hold the camera steady. Most indoor shots without a flash will result in a long(ish) exposure. Use your fingers to steady the camera. If you are using macro you can usually rest your fingers on the object you are taking pictures of. Flash and macro can be a problem due to over exposure so don;t be afraid to try a shot without flash if you can hold the camera steady. It can't be that hard, after all, I an do it :)

Xa, good point. Use a tri-pod

Good points Bill and others. I agree there's no excuse to post poor or blurry photos that don't show detail. They're useless.
Sometimes I think people actually post blurry photos in sales to hide flaws. Others just don't seem to put any work at all into it.
If I see a sale with poor photos I just pass it up.

I learned to take really clear close-up photos of guns years ago by simply using macro, a tripod, and the three second delay so I'm not touching my camera when it takes the photo. Let the camera work and even the inexpensive ones can take very nice photos. Since you can take as many photos you want for nothing with a digital camera there is no excuse for posting the bad photos.

I took all of these photos in my garage with an inexpensive 8 year old digital camera and an army blanket. They're good enough to show the details.

Remington 1903A3 (displaying original configuration and finish)

Oh, there is more!

If you are taking photos of your collection on the carpet or floor, make sure your feet are not in the shot! I can't tell you all how many toes, shoes, socks and sandals I've seen in the frame when all we want to see is your rifle. I don't have a foot fetish and I don't think that many people here do either. I'm just sayin'! Use the "crop" feature on your computer before you upload it to a URL to get rid of all that. Unless you are intentionally taking a shot with your pet in the frame, shew them out of the way before pressing the button. Yes, Rover is a cute dog but..... I'm just sayin'! Center the subject item in the frame. Don't take the shot if you are facing a mirror or window. Oh, did I mention don't upload the photo if it is out of focus! :super::banghead:

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Originally Posted by Bill Hollinger

I don't have a foot fetish and I don't think that many people here do either. I'm just sayin'!

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:rofl: Thats a good one, Bill! Thank god that there is no "Smell function" at here!:madsmile:

Bill, how many days do you think we should suspend my good buddy Dave for this?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../M1s0851-1.jpg

I DO NOT want to see your naked feet again Dave! ((((SHIVER))) ((((CRINGE)))):ugh:

Now if he was wearing a pair of open toed pumps........ Oh never mind!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I like the odd foot or 2 in the floor shot... Preferably in bunny slippers, but whatever.

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Originally Posted by gsimmons

Now if he was wearing a pair of open toed pumps........ Oh never mind!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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That would be better than open toed Birkenstocks!

I now have an actual digital camera and I am not pleased. The only way you can take a picture is to hold the bl*&^$y thing away from you so you can see that silly little TV screen: there's no other way to frame the shot, so you cannot possibly brace the d****d thing! And it doesn't matter what you set the camera to do, it does what IT wants to do...... so I end up with exposures of 1/1300 of a second at an effctive ASA of 2800 and stuff like that........ and a lens aperture of 3.1, just to make absolute certain that I don't have any depth of field. Really handy for landscapes, believe me.

YES, I HAVE read the manual. It is very nearly incompehensible. But then, I have only been taking photographs now for about 60 years, so that is understandable in this modern day.

My girlfriend tells me that I have to upgrade to a digital camera such as hers..... which means that I am $12,000 short in the cash department. She has expensive taste in optics, but she's fine otherwise, even eats my cooking without retching so I can hear it. Fine girl; she even liked my old wildcat. But expensive taste in optics.

I'm just about ready to dump the Digital Age completely and buy a case of film for my old SLRs. Come to think of it, I have a 1938 Praktica 35mm SLR which hasn't had a workout for some time now..... and I even have a Liechtenstein-made macro lens and a 100 that fit. And I can actually SEE what I'm doing!!!!!
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Smellie, I use a 6 year old $200.00 dollar Olympus.

smelli, maybe it's just the digital camera you have. I took the photos above with an old Sony S-85 and it has a viewfinder as well as a digital display.

It's easy to use and I take good photos using the standard default settings. (I'm no camera wizard)

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-S85 4.1 MP Digital Camera - Black | eBay

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Originally Posted by smellie

I'm just about ready to dump the Digital Age completely and buy a case of film for my old SLRs.

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Well, I'm not far behind you! I did cancel the cable finally, as one month after a large hickory removed the incoming line, the cable company STILL hadn't fixed it. It's not like they didn't know- the repair guy sat around for three hours the day the tree fell, and he didn't do a thing. Power and phone got fixed...???

Speaking of landscapes:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tuff0121-1.jpg

Maybe he was tired from having been out two nights before fixing the entire street's cable after THIS tree fell!

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tuff0011-1.jpg



I've heard that there's digital cameras available that will use the old SLR lens assemblies, but I'd rather buy ammo so I haven't shopped it out.

Considering the "grand" mass of photos that I've inflicted on this site, I guess the digital thing sort of grows on you, though. Dang electrons, never trusted 'em!

I don't think most people will get all that a DSLR will offer because they don't need it. Even the cheap cameras can take good pictures if you take a little time to learn the basic functions and some technique. Other than being a computer nerd I also do part time photography and I always keep a point and shoot with me as it has saved my bacon a couple of times. From what I see here, other than cross dressers showing their pedicures, the biggest problem is blur / lack of focus. Some tips:

• For close ups , ALWAYS use macro mode and brace yourself against something so the camera is steady. If your camera is focussing on the background you are most likely not in macro mode and the object you are taking a picture of is too close.
• Brace yourself using your fingers spread out ( think pool cue technique... your hand raised up and fingers splayed but holding a camera) or against something.
• Try not to use the flash but if you do, move back a bit so the flash doesn't overpower the light and wash it out.
• Crop if you have to. Anyone that uses Windows will have MS Paint installed, unless it is a work computer and they have removed it. The version that comes with Windows 7 has a crop function, IIRC the earlier versions do too. If you don;t use Windows you probably know enough not to worry about this 'tutorial'
• Always make sure that the focus is correct before taking the picture. Most (if not all ) camera focus by half pressing the button. This allows the camera to focus before you press the button the rest of the way for the actual picture. If the camera won't focus doing this then you ae about guaranteed to get a crap picture but you do get to figure out why.
• If you have a tripod .. use it !

You do not need to spend serious amounts on camera gear to get decent pictures. Technique and an eye for detail will get you very presentable pictures.. and a bit of cropping will get rid to the painted toenails !
There are some very talented photogaphers here as I see some really clear and well framed pictures of firearms and so on. Look at what people post and see if you can get a similar result.

Last of all, enjoy ! It is about presenting to us your pride and joy so don't get too stressed if it isn't working out first time. Digital doesn't cost anything to reel off many pics whilst you get your technique right. Who knows, once you master that you might find your pictures of other things improve too!

jeff

And wear socks! Nobody wants to look at your bunions.

Well written Jeff!

The only additional trick I've found very useful is taking the photos using the 3 second delay that most all digital cameras have while using a tripod.
After you choose the 3 second delay, just press lightly on the shutter button to get it to fucus and turn loose of it and let it snap the photo while not touching anything.

Even when using a tripod you can add a teeny amount of blur just by the act of pushing the button carefully. When you're in macro mode very close up it only takes the slightest amount of movement to induce some blur.

And of course take several photos of the same thing and pick out the best. It doesn't cost a cent to take several.

I hardly ever use the screen on the back, 99.9% of the time I use the view finder.

Some cameras also have what they call a museum mode. It turns off the flash. And if needed opens the aperture to compensate if it is a low light situation. Using that mode should reduce or stop any glare. Mine just shows a no flash icon so it makes it easy to find and use.

That's another good idea Jim. I never use the flash when taking photos of guns regardless of settings.

Most all digital cameras have settings that will allow you to take photos where you can use very little lighting.
(Of course you must use a tripod)
You can buy inexpensive tripods for about $20 and they're one of the best tools for taking good photos.

Here's an example of using a tripod and extended shutter setting to take indoor shots.
If I had used a flash it would have had reflections, and everything in the background would have been too dark to see.

This is original nose art someone had the foresight to save when aircraft were being melted down after the end of WWII.
This exhibit is located at the CAF museum at Midland TX.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dland013-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dland012-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dland011-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dland008-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dland007-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dland005-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dland003-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dland001-1.jpg

Harlan,

That could be deemed soft pron. Watch out, Bill might ban you at the moderators meeting.:lol:

Times have sure changed, Jim. We were offered to have the C-47/R4D appear at a large Air Force show for good money with the stipulation our nose art had to be covered because the show was open to the public. We needed the money, so after deliberation they decided to take the offer. After several ideas of how to cover our nose art, I remembered how some air crews covered theirs when it became mandatory.
(Defiant compliance)

I used red duct tape and a 'Sharpie' so it would be temporary.

(One of the older CAF 'cols' removed the tape sometime before they left the show)

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ensored1-1.jpg

Jim, I gotta give Harlan some latitude!