Hey Gladers!

Now that I finally have a digital camera (daddy also got some toys when the baby was born), I'm wanting to start taking pictures of my WE.

But, I'm horrible at it.

It's a pretty good camera, so I know that's not the problem. I just need some good ol' practical techniques. I've seen some great pictures on here, so I'm wondering if any of you can give some advice. Anything goes: position of light, natural vs. artificial, backdrops, camera flash...

Discuss

G

G,

First let me say, congrats on the little 'un! Must be great times having a newborn entering your world!

With regards to your question, have you tried setting the camera to the Macro function? This allows the camera to take nice close up shots and will greatly improve your photos. Usually this function is denoted by a flower icon (at least for canon's that is). However, with this function engaged, using the flash tends to over expose the miniature to light (light strength roughly decreases by the square of the distance from the source, so close ups generally don't work too well with flash). Natural light tends to word best IMO, preferably when its slightly overcast and there's no clear light source. Under these conditions its good to set the ISO value a little higher to increase your camera's light sensitivity to allow for brighter shots. A tripod works well to keep the camera steady.

For a decent background I would try using an A3 or two A4 pieces of paper, curved from a horizontal surface (on which you place your miniature) to a vertical surface. This provides the creaseless backdrop for the model.

Hope this helps.

EDIT - This thread has been moved to the off topic section.

Lighting will be key, especially if you're taking your photos indoors, or where natural light isn't available. You'll want to stay away from yellow-colored incandescent lights. White light is best, and I have found either White or Sunlight flourscents work very well.

A common placement system for lights is to have the main light above and behind your left shoulder as you face the subject (mini). If the light is fairly strong, this will create some shadows in the recessed areas on the minis. A secondary light low and to your right (in effect pointed up at the subject) can brighten up these shadowed areas. You don't want to have this secondary light be as bright as the main light or you will lose the three-dimensionality of the figure.

Elbereth is correct on the Macro function for the camera (good for close-ups of small subjects) and the background material (uniform white color). One thing to keep in mind is that the perfect exposure for cameras is set for a 40% gray. If there is too much white in the picture, the camera's automatic settings will underexpose the picture to compensate, leaving the subject darker and the whites more gray in color. With a digital camera, it is very easy to "bracket" your photos. This means taking several pictures at varying exposures, some underexposed, some overexposed) to find the one exposure that yeilds the best results. You can then delete the others and use the settings for that one good shot for future pics. It is a lot of trial and error, and you can vary many different things (light strength, lighting distance from the mini, camera settings, etc.), but imagine how difficult this would be with a film camera!

Good luck, and congrats on the new family addition! Just keep the camera away from little hands!

Rick
-Dad of three, on his second digital camera after 2-year-old son dropped the first at a wedding, irreversably knocking the lens out of alignment

http://warhammer.org.uk/PhP/viewtopic.php?t=26505

Thats the best advice I can give on a digicam.

GL!