Photographing Miniatures

[Painfully]

I don't mind the pic in the earlier post, but it would be more relevant if you actually described more about how you took it. Looking at it, I can already tell that you should not use a flash.

When getting a camera, try to make sure it has a macro mode as one of it's settings. It allows the lens to focus properly when the subject is placed very near the camera. Also, using an index card as a background is fine, but you can also use a clean sheet of white paper to help reflect light too. Try to keep the light as even as possible all around the mini.

It always helps to use a remote control and tripod to avoid touching the camera during the snapshot. Long exposure times can help get a better picture too. Tripods run about $20, and most cameras have timers or remote controls nowadays too.

For the longest time I had trouble with whitebalancing, meaning that the white background looked more yellow or grey, and the mini would likewise look very off-color. You'll have to match your camera settings and your light source (tungsten, halogen, sunlight, or other) for best results. It can sometimes be fixed with software like photoshop, but that can be a whole other mess of work for the uninitiated.

If you know of a local photography shop that isn't too busy, it might not hurt to take in your camera and mini and offer to buy them lunch if they give you a lesson in basic photo shooting. Give them a call and make an offer they can't refuse And you can talk more during the lunch!

 

[Darius101]

Yeah the flash was used on two of the pictures. The other one turned out all whited out couldn't use it at all.
I placed the figure on a white box on my bookshelf and photgraphed it straight on. I did use a flash and if you want I can post more pics on what not to do than what is the correct thing to do and how you can use photshop to correct some mistakes.
I am thinking that maybe laying the figure down below eye level may solve many of my problems with taking these pics of my mini's.

I think I am going to try regular light to take the picture next time.

With no flash and just a hallogen lamp they turn out a little on the dark side and I use photoshop to lighten it. Still was too dark on three of the others.

Thanks for the advice about the light....and how to get lessons from a pro...a friend is a pro photographer never even thought to ask her as she uses regular cameras not digital for most of her work. Maybe if I ask nice I could borrow an expensive high quality camera that is digital next time.
Wish me luck,
Darius

p.s. i will post the pics in another thread ....

 

[Mark]

On the advice of a friend, I've been putting a thin layer of tissue paper over the flash of my camera and still using it. It seem to keep the lighting adequate while cutting down on the starkness that the flash used to bring to the pics. (Link to Minis pages in sig)

 

[Darius101]

Thanks for the advice it worked.
My friend also suggested to use a towel as a backround and that also has worked much better. A neutril sheet also works quite well.
If you want I can post a pic here or you can see my Favorite Mini's I painted post on this board.
You guys rock,
Darius