Playing with my camera yesterday

[mbogo]

I'm still having trouble getting the light just right, but I think I'm making headway.

That's my P-serial Sub, my F-serial DJ, and a Frederique Constant dress watch with stingray strap and deployant (just for comparison ;)).

Any suggestions on how to get more detail and less reflection? The camera is a Canon PowerShot S45.

George

[dman]

George, you are on the right track for sure!! Keep up the work my man! The lighting looks okay but keep playing with it! I might suggest to wok on depth of your field, the last pic turned out really well. When I do take pics, I delete about a hundred for each one I like. Keep up the work my man and keep posting away mate!!

[mbogo]

Thanks for the words of encouragment, dman! I am using two full-spectrum lamps, one overhead, and one on the left. I am going to re-arrange them to illuminate from the sides, and use another light overhead.

I feel somewhat hampered by the camera's LCD, which doesn't seem to have the sharpness required for me to tinker with the depth of field. I can only tell the d-o-f is off once I load the photos onto my PC.

The camera also seems to be very limited in its macro capabilities, something borne out by a review on DPReview.com

Oh well, back to the drawing board. I think I am going to have to take detailed notes of settings for each photo, so when I do 'hit it right', I can reproduce the results.

Attached is a photo taken on a different day, with more light in the room. It came out pretty well.


George

[Uncle-AJ]

Keep it up George, perseverance is the solution. Could I ask if you are using the camera hand-held? This sometimes gives a slight blurring to the picture due to camera shake. If you are, then try a tripod. I take a lot of my pictures using natural light. I'm lucky as there's plenty of that in Saudi. I've attached a picture that was taken using a rest to hold the camera still in natural light.

[mbogo]

Hi, Agrab. I alternate between tripods and handheld. I know what you mean by the blurring induced by squeezing the PHD button ('push here, dummy').

In the first three photos, I used a flimsier (mini-)tripod. I will have to discard it in favor of the other, more stable tripod.

The weather this past weekend was very changeable, with heavy cloud cover alternating with bright sun, so I used the lightbox instead.

George

[dman]

Yeah George, I would say that pic of the DJ turned out real well!! I like that dial alot!!

[Earl]

George, does the Powershot have macro? If so, try playing with it and you will see a great improvement in the clearness and ability to read the writting on the dial. I just don't think your going to get that with out macro.

[mbogo]

Earl,

I have been using the macro feature, but it appears inadequate to the task.

George

[Earl]

George,
I don't know how close you can get with with your macro but, surely you can get it closer then that last picture. I was getting all kind of upset with my nikon because I wasn't able to engage the macro, went back read the instruction again and presto started getting what I wanted :)

[dman]

Not being a smart arse, okay a little, but with digital pics the instructions are HUGE help.

[mbogo]

Originally Posted by dman

Not being a smart arse, okay a little, but with digital pics the instructions are HUGE help.

Quite right.

I've printed the manual (such as it is), and will try to go through the process again. Earl has me wondering whether the macro is actually engaging, and if so, whether I am messing it up by zooming in (the manual says I should be able to get within 4" on macro at widest angle).

George

[dman]

Keep at it, you'll nail it on the money soon mate!!

[Earl]

Did you figure it out George?

[mbogo]

Earl, I believe I have. Please see my new thread.

Thanks for your help.

George