Photography Thread?

[tackdriver15]

Anyone here into photography, is there a thread on here pertaining to photography? Something I'm getting really interested in but still need lots of help!!

[Jericoh-Actual]

I've was a professional commercial and portrait photographer for going on 9 years. What do you need help in?

Damn Cliff, I didn't even recognize it was you until I looked at your sig line.

[Strycnine]

I suck at pictures......LOL!


Sorry I was no help.....................

[tackdriver15]

You were a big help Jack, at least now I know I'm not the only one that sucks at it...lol

[tackdriver15]

I've was a professional commercial and portrait photographer for going on 9 years. What do you need help in?

Damn Cliff, I didn't even recognize it was you until I looked at your sig line.

I still have a lot of trouble with inside shots and artificial lighting. Outside is pretty easy, but it's to damn cold to shoot outside so I gotta get this studio lighting figured out. Keep in mind I'm working with lamps, construction lights and rip stop nylon to diffuse. I don't have anything fancy, got a Fuji FinePix S7000. I'm shooting mostly firearm stuff, I have a wide angle lens and a super telephoto I have no idea how to set the camera up for or if they will even help with what I'm doing. Any advise would be much appreciated, here are a couple shots I did last night. I didn't have much to work with as far as background stuff so nevermind that but maybe you can make some suggestions on making the subject look better. These have been edited, maybe I'm over editing as well...I don't know.

[Jericoh-Actual]

First off, you're gonna want to get a tripod. Being able to use longer exposure times and small apertures is going to give you more depth of field and bring out more details in the product.

Your lights are fine, except you may need more of them. Mo' light is way mo' better.

Try setting your light/lights to the side and above, start off with the light 90 degrees to the right of the product and about 45 degrees up. This is just a starting point, you're gonna change the height and position of the light to fine tune where you want it. By bringing the light in from the side, you will be able to pick up more detail in your subject.

On the opposite side of the light, set a bounce. This can be white foam board or what whatever that will reflect light back into the bigger shadow areas cast by having the light to the side.

Once you start getting the hang of the light setup and the more often you do it, the quicker it will be to set up since you'll have a good idea of where to put the lights and the bounce.

The composition isn't too terribly bad, minus the handle hanging in the shot back there. Try laying the rifle case down more, with something under it to prop it up, then lay the rifle on the case. This will get the rifle up and out of the folds of material, yet the material will still be there to hide the table. Composition is going to be harder to get right than the light setup is. There is always some small thing that you don't notice until you look at it on screen. I did a photo shoot once for a private airport, the shoot was a huge deal, Gulfstream G5's and models were brought in, I was shooting from a 42' manlift and a helicopter during the shoot. We were shooting the main shot, which was going to be used for a double page magazine layout and it wasn't until the shoot was over that we noticed that one of the pilots of one of the G5's has left a coffee cup where you could see it in the shot and there was a briefcase under another plane. Between the director, art director, 3 advertising designers, myself, the film crew and everyone else that was there, everyone missed this stuff. So don't feel bad about something in background. That's why there is photoshop.

The most important thing is to have fun with it.

[tackdriver15]

Man, thank you very much. I'm going to work on the lighting as you suggested. I'll keep this thread going with updates and hopefully we'll see some progress. I was looking at your pics on the website and they are amazing, maybe I'll get there one day. The knives are beautiful as well, I'll be ordering one soon for sure. Thanks again!!

[D_CRISIS]

you think you're cold? I'm in Ohio right now with negative nine wind chill and I'm outside shooting constantly. Real snow boys and girls.

[Jericoh-Actual]

No worries C- just let me know if you have more questions. I've actually been playing with the idea of sending a blade to you to have done up, with the thought being to offer your service as a finish option. Problem is I can't keep one in stock long enough. I'll head over to your company page to ask a question or 2.

[tackdriver15]

Cool, sounds great. Just let me know when you get ready.