I may have stumbled on the formula.

[SaxonPig]

Trying to photograph a couple rifles this afternoon. It's hard to shoot long guns (no pun intended) because the length can cause dark areas with no detail or "hot spots" with too much lighting. I think I have the formula worked out. All the photos sort of look the same but at least I can get the details on the guns and the lighting looks OK. May experiment with a different color backdrop, but otherwise this system works for me.

PS: The only thing I did in PhotoShop was add the text and crop a bit of extra area around the subject. I didn't change anything or adjust color or brightness. These are right out of the camera (a Pentax 14MP SLR with a 70mm lens and a single on camera flash).

 

[musicman10_1]

they look great. I really need to work on my photography skills.

 

[MistWolf]

Ya need a larger, softer light source

 

[RPRNY]

I'm still jealous of that Savage!

 

[creeper1956]

Long guns are a PITA to shoot... but considering these are unaltered, you're very close to having it well sorted out. Good job!

I'd bet that Martini is a sweetheart.

C

 

[1KPerDay]

Nice work! Get some oil on that garand stock.

 

[animator]

The on-camera flash is ruining your shots. You really need a 2-light minimum setup diffused to make nice soft shadows. If any part of the rifle gets dark, either adjust the light positions or add another soft light.

 

[SaxonPig]

Um... ruined? Really that bad?

Well, thanks for the input.

 

[Sam1911]

Not ruined, but yeah, the glare needs to go away to get that real pro edge. You're washing out some of the most beautiful spots.

I think square-on, "flat" shots are going to be the most challenging to make really good. Getting a more quartering view will probably make the rifle "pop" and will cause a lot fewer direct flash reflections.

 

[rswartsell]

Nice work Saxon, I'm no expert but those seem to me to be pretty good photos. Anything can be improved, even Ansel Adams I suppose.

 

[animator]

Um... ruined? Really that bad?

Well, thanks for the input.

Compared to what you *could* be getting, yes, the flash is doing you the most harm.



Go check out photography-on-the-net forum's gun thread. There's several good photos in all the pages of that thread, and you can learn a lot about how people are using lights to pull off professional shots that don't look quite so amateur.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1011912

 

[JohnB]

Google "One Light Firearm Photography"

 

[SaxonPig]

Well, I thought I was getting decent results for not having professional lighting or a studio. At least they looked pretty good to me. Guess I was wrong.

 

[JohnB]

I actually thought your results were pretty good.

 

[Jim Watson]

They look pretty good to me.
At least I can tell what they are, which you cannot say about all gunboard pictures.
But really, now, Sax, blue sateen?

 

[jim243]

Well, I thought I was getting decent results for not having professional lighting or a studio. At least they looked pretty good to me. Guess I was wrong.

No you are not wrong, nice highlights and detail. A peice of kleenex infront of your flash will soften the light.

Jim

 

[GarySTL]

I recently bought two LED video lights to use for a similar purpose. I believe they have 60 LEDs each and have adjustable intensity. Soft light boxes lit by CFL bulbs are also not too expensive.

That said I think your results are very nice.

 

[dubbleA]

You dont to have a studio for decent results, I sure dont. Personally use a table, a few incandesant lights, some difusers and different things for the background.

These were just taken with cowhide for a background and some soft lights. No flash was used. Pictures were only cropped with text added.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Saxon, that Savage makes my mouth water. LOL

 

[Captcurt]

Sax, I have sold several guns online and none of my pictures are half as good. Oh sure, you will always have some critisim, constructive and not, but I could use you to take my gun pix any day.

 

[orienteeer]

to saxon pig.......

don't let the haters get you down. your photos look great.

 

[DammitBoy]

Great pics and great guns as always Pig - I love seeing your stuff!

 

[BLB68]

There's no hate here, just people offering advice that's helpful.

Cheap diffuser: Empty milk jugs, or cut outs of same. The semi-clear kind, of course.

Edit: I like the looks of that Martini, is it a shooter?

 

[dubbleA]

Creative Lighting.......

I am not a professional photogragher in no way shape or form. With that said I do try to take decent, tasteful, thought out pictures.

Lighting and how to control light is a key factor. Like some others have already stated, using the flash from a camera is detrimental in taking these types of pictures. This is not "hate" in the words of some here but merely suggestions in taking better quality pictures.

$50 worth of lights and some imagination resulted in taking the pictures below. Again, no flash was used. They are not great but I feel they are better than the average pic that you see in this and other forums.

 

[SaxonPig]

Those look fairly pro quality to me.

I have tried every combo of lighting and background I could come up with. I used to do much better with film cameras... the digital system baffles me.

These were taken with two strobes at 45 degrees bounced off the white ceiling and one on-camera flash with a thick diffuser. Still not right.