Cyradis Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 I've been painting for a while, and recently got a picture onto the Inspiration Gallery (teal cloaked archer) but I still feel that picture wasn't really as good as I could get a picture, if I knew how to better use my camera. Or for that matter, make a setup! The background on that one used two of my D&D tiles, one of which was propped up for the back. I tried a plain beige pillowcase but that didn't work quite as well it seemed. I had my kitchen light, a bright small lamp directed at-level to him, and a small underpowered lamp on his opposite side. He is overall represented well, but the face is a little blurry as it is a bit further back in the photo. My camera is an Olympus FE-340 with 8 megapixels. I'm an electronics noob and I tend to break anything that has current running through it. Any ideas on setups for both camera and background for future pictures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Sundseth Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 For macro photography: First, make sure that your camera is set to macro mode (usually a flower icon) if it has one. This tells the camera to optimize for close focus. Second, if you have control over the aperture, set your lens aperture to its smallest available value. (Set the f-stop to the highest number you can.) Third, get as much light as you can stand. Small apertures mean that you get very little light through your lens. Fourth, set up a macro studio like the one in this post. I recommend that you use the sort of seamless background shown in that article, because anything else will distract the viewer from your miniature. Fifth, set the camera on a tripod or stable surface, because you might need a long exposure time. Now you can take your picture. If you have specific questions after trying this, let us know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyradis Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 Thank you very much, that is an excellent link. I think my pink lamp may even be enough if I can set up one of those boxes! Eventually I found the Macro and Supermacro setting on my camera (no control in Supermacro but it focuses in closer it seems) but it took a bunch of cellphone quality pictures before I tried mucking with it. Like I mentioned, I am BAD with electronic devices. Won't get the longer exposures with the digital camera, unless there is a setting for that too. I can get a stable surface for the camera at least, as I know that it is sensitive even without the long exposures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Sundseth Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Your camera will almost certainly expose your pictures automatically. If you set a very small aperture, you will have a long exposure unless you completely nuke the figure with light. I should have mentioned that I would recommend that you use a seamless gray background so that you get the right automatic exposure. Because the camera exposes for an average of a medium gray, black would probably overexpose the miniature and white would underexpose the miniature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyradis Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 Your camera will almost certainly expose your pictures automatically. If you set a very small aperture, you will have a long exposure unless you completely nuke the figure with light. I should have mentioned that I would recommend that you use a seamless gray background so that you get the right automatic exposure. Because the camera exposes for an average of a medium gray, black would probably overexpose the miniature and white would underexpose the miniature. Will do. Shouldn't be too tricky to set up. Thank you once again :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Also try using your camera's built-in timer to minimize shake. In macro photography, even a millimeter of shake can cause disastrous blurring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qwyksilver Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 If you camera has a remote control, that is even better, because then you don't have to worry about pushing the timer button too hard and knocking the camera off the target point as well. Or bumping something in your haste to get out of the way in the 3 second delay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyradis Posted August 19, 2010 Author Share Posted August 19, 2010 No remote control, but it does have a timer I can use. The pressing button unsmoothly has messed up many a picture for sure. Will have to figure out how to use the timer, but good thing my friend has same camera and knows how. Will nag him about that for next photoshoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyradis Posted August 30, 2010 Author Share Posted August 30, 2010 Got a piece of card-foam board with an adhesive to pop on the film sheet. Got a sheet of Mylar for a few dollars which seemed perfect. Won't be able to make a 12x12x12, but a 10x10x10 by size. Hopefully it will work as well for minis with the size. After class I'll start putting it together :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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