Journey to better photos

[Simply Lampwork]

Okay so I have read a lot over the years about how important the photos need to be. I'm self professed a CRAPY Photographer. But when I say something I mean what I say and I do what I say. So here goes. After feeling bad about the quality of photos I just listed in my ESTY I vow to do better. Here is the poor photo... laugh out loud because I know it is bad and should have never been posted. So please a little public harassment to help me change! PLEASE.

[fjbremer]

It looks as if your camera is autofocusing on your hand or even the desktop rather than your work. Rather than hand holding it try using a simple background like a piece of cardboard with white or a light colored paper on it. Then you can see what the camera is focusing on and get a sharp picture.

Another thought would be to put the camera on a tripod or some kind of rest. Or even a beanbag to keep the camera still. Then use the self-timer on the camera so you can push the button and move your hand before the camera takes the picture.

Other than that, I think you are really a long way down the road!

Fred

[Laura B]

Definitely a tripod is needed... or something else that isn't a human hand holding it. And set the timer to take the picture (so you're not touching the camera when the aperture opens).

And back the camera up so it can focus on your item.



You'll get there. Glad to hear you're committed.

[Mike Jordan]

Everyone is assuming that you were taking a picture of your hand, but maybe you were really taking a picture of the cell phone in the background and you were aiming to low. Yea, that's it, your camera is mis-aligned and it's shooting lower than you expect.

Does your camera have a macro or super macro setting and was it in that setting when you took the picture? It looks like it was set for normal.

I also agree with a tripod, but then I think a tripod really helps for any kind of static close up photography like this where the light level is probably low.

Hang in there though... it just takes some help and a bit of practice to get you down the road.


Mike

[Simply Lampwork]

I believe you all, I posted that photo so that you all could laugh out loud and give be a really bad time for being lazy. A bit of public harassment might get me to get my @#!% together and re read all the wonderful bits of advice that you have posted over the years. Set up a light box, use at least a steady hand if not a tripod and see if I could manage a few sweet photos for my sales sites.

[Laura B]

Originally Posted by Simply Lampwork

I believe you all, I posted that photo so that you all could laugh out loud and give be a really bad time for being lazy. A bit of public harassment might get me to get my @#!% together and re read all the wonderful bits of advice that you have posted over the years. Set up a light box, use at least a steady hand if not a tripod and see if I could manage a few sweet photos for my sales sites.

Steady hand is NOT the same as tripod with timer.

[Simply Lampwork]

Laura, I checked out your links, you do beautiful work and your photos are wonderful.
Thanks for sharing.

[Simply Lampwork]

It is a start, this photo is just a cut up milk carton. I know you all have told me in many ways that a milk cartoon cuts the flash, glare... wow. Me with my crappy camera and a milk carton. Umm you can see where the carton starts, well its a start.

[krisdaka]

Nancy,
Thank you for putting yourself out here, and getting some real advice so the rest of us can learn how to take pictures. I've looked at all the photo directions that have been posted but it doesn't make sense to me. Seeing a *bad* photo and how to fix it may help it to sink in my unable to understand the written instructions brain.

[Laura B]

Originally Posted by Simply Lampwork

Laura, I checked out your links, you do beautiful work and your photos are wonderful.
Thanks for sharing.

Thanks. I'm still working to improve, but in the past twelve years I can definitely see things I've changed for the better.

Your new close-up photo is awesome, btw. Congrats!

[Mike Jordan]

The milk carton trick does work pretty well because the soft white sides diffuses and spreads the light, making it softer. You could take a white nylon sheet, frosted shower curtain, white shirt or blouse, large pieces of white tissue paper or anything that is translucent white to do the same thing. The thinner it is the better.

Your images look a bit grainy (that's noisy for digital folks). What ISO did you have your camera set on? Other than that, nice job.

Mike

[Simply Lampwork]

LOL... ISO? Really you think I would know that... not a clue.. it may be in some sort of close up setting. Is that bad?
just took a shot at what ever setting the camera will do. I told you all I have no real clue, just need to take better shots of what I put out there for sale. A good 50% of my feed back on sales is "Better than Photo" or something along that line. I think the milk carton is worth setting up some kind of island to take photos on. I think I will play with that when I'm done with this weeks production.

[Laura B]

Did you already mention your camera model? Tell us what it is and we can look up the manual online and help you set your ISO.

[Simply Lampwork]

It is SP-550UZ Olypus I leave it on auto with a flash. :}

[Simply Lampwork]

Okay so it is very low tech... but here is what is better, not a lot but better. So laugh if you will it is just a pile of cut up milk carton on a foam packing pad.

here is the photo with out a flash

with a flash

I like the floor foam look better then the milk carton. I think I will find more of that material and construct my final mini box out of that material.

[Mike Jordan]

Put one to two layers of tissue paper (or kleenex) in front of your flash. That will diffuse the light and soften it a bit without taking much of the light away. The middle shot is a little under exposed but the color and clarity is great.

Mike

[Simply Lampwork]

Mike, thank you I will try that next.