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Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

No matter how great your camera might be, it is how you apply your skills that makes the difference between an OK shot and a great shot. Here you can talk technical, talk creative, share your techniques, lighting, and digital editing. This is where we can all help each other to take better photos.
If you post a photo here and are looking for a critique, you should be prepared for honest criticism even if it hurts. It will only help to make us better photographers.

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Guitar Boy
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Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by Guitar Boy »

Hi guys,
Recently, a member asked me about my photos, so I thought I would post some info on how I took them...
Not a guide to taking photos, just a look into how I take mine...
I hope that it is helpful:

It's taken me several years of messing with camera settings to get them this good.
I always wonder if anyone appreciates how good they are, at least I think they are...
I take a lot of shots, to get just one that's perfect. Sometimes 30 or 40!

The camera is a Canon Powershot SD750 7.1 Megapixel. Purchased in 2007.

I guess the first thing I can tell you is my camera settings for the photos:
For example, this one of Candi:
Image
You notice that the fine detail of the fabric in her top is clearly visible.
Of course the shadows play a big role in this shot, but they were just there, nothing I manipulated.
Here are the settings I used for that photo:

Light source: sunlight, no flash!

Camera:
Shooting Mode = Manual
Metering Mode = Evaluative
ISO = 80 (low ISO setting)
F = 2.8 (I don't adjust that, it's automatic)
Exposure Time = 0.5 seconds (also automatic)
White Balance = Sunlight
My Colors Modification = Vivid (Canon option, don't know if others have this)
Exposure Compensation = +/- Zero
Size = Large 3072 x 2304, Normal
Focus = Normal (I think, sometimes I use the Macro setting)
____________________________________________________

In this photo of Kimberly:
Image

Light source: one dim incandescent lamp behind her and one bright one above and to her left. No flash.

Camera:
Shooting Mode = Manual
Metering Mode = Evaluative
ISO = 80 (low ISO setting)
F = 2.8 (I don't adjust that, it's automatic)
Exposure Time = 1 second (also automatic)
White Balance = Tungsten
My Colors Modification = Vivid
Exposure Compensation = + 2
Size = Large 3072 x 2304, Normal
Focus = Macro
____________________________________________________

I purposely use the low ISO setting to allow long exposure times. Some are up to and including 1 second.
This seems to give me much better photos with some real clarity.
The white balance is really important for colors to be accurate.
When using the flash I use a white balance setting of 'Tungsten' lamp.
I use my tripod to steady the camera and set it for a 2 second delay to allow time for me to get away from it!
This way I get nice clear photos with no blur.

I almost never use fancy lighting or other bothersome things.
I seem to get the best photos with sunlight as a light source.
Nice, full spectrum, bright light!

You'll notice that I am using the Large setting for the image size.
Normally this is used for printing posters, etc. and is not necessary for regular pictures.
That accounts for the huge Kilobyte sizes of my pics.
I figured that the bigger the image, the better the quality. Well I guess that isn't necessarily so.
Actually, I take my photos and then RE-SIZE them to the 1024x 768 size (or smaller) for posting on TDF and TDA.
This, at least, gives me a smaller KB size.
I'm using up my allotted space in the Doll Album too fast, so now I've started to set the camera for a smaller image size.

Honestly, I don't know what the secret is, I just try different things until I get the results I want.

I hope this helps!
These are just two examples... I can detail more if anyone is interested.

Guitar Boy 8)
Jenny Lynn...
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Re: Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by MannequinFan »

Hey GB, thanks for the informative post! :)
Those are fantastic photos - I was expecting them to be coming from a high end SLR.
I've just about zeroed in on the mannequin that I want to purchase, so next I'll probably want to get a camera.
I've seen some used SD750s on Amazon.com - there's one listed "like new" for $65.
Have any opinions on getting a used one as opposed to new?

MF 8)

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Re: Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by Guitar Boy »

MannequinFan wrote:Hey GB, thanks for the informative post! :)
Those are fantastic photos - I was expecting them to be coming from a high end SLR.
I've just about zeroed in on the mannequin that I want to purchase, so next I'll probably want to get a camera.
I've seen some used SD750s on Amazon.com - there's one listed "like new" for $65.
Have any opinions on getting a used one as opposed to new?

MF 8)
Yes, you could try a used one, BUT...
Mine is 5 years old.
I think that the new ones should be superior to the old.
Even if not, they do not last forever and mine has a few problems that, so far, I've been able to work around.
It has been dropped a few times... and not on a soft cushion!
I would go with a new one.
Canon makes some great cameras. (Not just my opinion.)
Some are excellent and not unreasonably priced.
Check Consumer Reports 2012 Buyers Guide or a photography magazine.
I was looking at the CR 2012 BG today... Almost all the highest rated cameras are Canon.
GB 8)
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Click on this photo to see all of my girls.
They are made for Love and to be Loved...
To Have and to Hold, to Love and to Cherish.

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Re: Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by Guitar Boy »

Here's another example, that I haven't posted:
Candi and Sparkie: Playful in the morning.
Candi and Sparkie: Playful in the morning.
IMG_2676 (1024x768).jpg (626.18 KiB) Viewed 5781 times
Click on the picture for a larger size.
Again, the fiber pattern in the cotton top is clearly evident.
Check out the bracelet I made and the CZ rock I bought for her.
Sparkie is so clear that you can almost reach out and touch him!
Nice clarity that I have previously been unable to attain.

For this photo:

Light source: sunlight, no flash! Direct sunlight to her left and indirect to her right.
Early morning, nice shadows. The sun was in the perfect spot on this morning and Candi looked exceptionally lovely so... I had to take a few shots! Yeah, 63!

Camera:
Shooting Mode = Manual
Metering Mode = Evaluative
ISO = 80 (low ISO setting)
F = 2.8 (I don't adjust that, it's automatic)
Exposure Time = 1 second (also automatic)
White Balance = Sunlight
My Colors Modification = Vivid (Canon option, don't know if others have this)
Exposure Compensation = + 1
Size = Large 3072 x 2304, Normal
Focus = Macro

As you can see, the settings on the camera changed very little for the three shots I've detailed so far.
I'm always open to trying new things but when I find something that works well for me, I stick with it.

GB 8)
Jenny Lynn...
My First and Most Precious Angel


Click on this photo to see all of my girls.
They are made for Love and to be Loved...
To Have and to Hold, to Love and to Cherish.

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Re: Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by muneca »

Thanks GB, that is very helpful. I guess I'm still confused on the KB issue. I reduce my photos to similar size for posting, pixel-wise, but my KB's are like 55. And your's are 692. Since I'm a neanderthol with a camera, perhaps you, or someone, can enlighten me what that means. Is this something that can be manipulated to get better resolution? Thanks. I have a crush on Candi. Is that wrong?
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Re: Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by MannequinFan »

Hi muneca,

The difference in KB size could be that your image editing program is compressing the jpeg file a lot more when you save it.
Does your image editor give you a way to adjust the amount of compression when you save a jpeg?. When I do a "save as" jpeg image in Photoshop for instance, the program gives me options for saving a lower quality (smaller) file or higher quality (larger) file.

MF

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Re: Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by Guitar Boy »

muneca wrote:Thanks GB, that is very helpful. I guess I'm still confused on the KB issue. I reduce my photos to similar size for posting, pixel-wise, but my KB's are like 55. And your's are 692. Since I'm a neanderthol with a camera, perhaps you, or someone, can enlighten me what that means. Is this something that can be manipulated to get better resolution? Thanks. I have a crush on Candi. Is that wrong?
Hi,
As I said in my initial post:
Guitar Boy wrote:You'll notice that I am using the Large setting for the image size.
Normally this is used for printing posters, etc. and is not necessary for regular pictures.
That accounts for the huge Kilobyte sizes of my pics.
I figured that the bigger the image, the better the quality. Well I guess that isn't necessarily so.
Actually, I take my photos and then RE-SIZE them to the 1024x 768 size (or smaller) for posting on TDF and TDA.
This, at least, gives me a smaller KB size.
The "Large size" refers to the setting on the camera for "Image Size".
"Large" on my camera means 3072 X 2304 pixels.
This works out to be just about 7.1 Megapixels, the rating of the camera.
So I'm using the whole available image.
Depending on the subject and lighting, this works out to be up to 1 MB or more.
This is a very large image suitable for printing a high quality poster.
I had a poster made of a photo I took of my avatar guitar, and since I used "Large" for the image size, it came out exceptionally well.
This isn't necessary for regular photos but that's the way I've been doing it.
If your image size is set to Medium or Small (which yours probably is, and is appropriate for regular photos), the image is smaller and the KB size is much less.
I personally think that the "Large" setting gives me better resolution...

I hope that clears it up for you.
GB 8)
Jenny Lynn...
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Click on this photo to see all of my girls.
They are made for Love and to be Loved...
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Re: Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by muneca »

Yes GB, I am understanding what you are saying. And my photos start out the same large size as yours with the pixels up in the 3000 to 4000 range, and the MB is 4 or higher. That sounds large enough doesn't it? But my problem is the KB size. Even with this large of a photo my KB is only around 90. And when I reduce them for the album (800x600 pixel) my KB is around 55. But look at your photos, they are way up around 690 KB for the same size photo. Makes no sense to me. Thanks for your help.
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"When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back. GET MAD! I DON'T WANT YOUR DAMN LEMONS! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THESE?! DEMAND TO SEE LIFE'S MANAGER!" Portal 2

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Re: Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by Elle »

Guitar Boy wrote: Camera:
Shooting Mode = Manual
F = 2.8 (I don't adjust that, it's automatic)
Exposure Time = 0.5 seconds (also automatic)
GuitarBoy, congrats for the pics, i like them a much :thumbs_up:
something is weird in your settings above : The Manual shooting mode allows to change manually the Focal & Exposure, they are not automatic in that case :wink:

It works like that (Canon but all brands too) :

Shooting Mode = Manual
F = 2.8 (manual)
Exposure Time = 0.5 seconds (manual)


Shooting Mode = Automatic
F = 2.8 (Automatic)
Exposure Time = 0.5 seconds (Automatic)


Shooting Mode = AV
F = 2.8 (manual)
Exposure Time = 0.5 seconds (Automatic)


Shooting Mode = TV
F = 2.8 (Automatic)
Exposure Time = 0.5 seconds (manual)

Hope this helps :D
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Re: Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by Guitar Boy »

Hi Elle!
I don't really understand your post but I don't adjust the F stop or the exposure time.
I allow the camera to use whatever setting for these that it wants.
If I add more light, the exposure time does change, I don't do it.
Anyway, if I'm getting good results, I don't care about the technical aspect so much.
I just remember how I set it for the best shots, and go from there.
I seem to be getting some good photos...
GB 8)
Jenny Lynn...
My First and Most Precious Angel


Click on this photo to see all of my girls.
They are made for Love and to be Loved...
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Re: Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by Guitar Boy »

Here's another example: I feel that is one of my best photos yet.

Image

For this photo:

Light source: Indirect sunlight to her left and behind her.
Also, a low wattage incandescent source in front of her.
Late afternoon. The sun was in a good spot.

Camera:
Shooting Mode = Manual
Metering Mode = Evaluative
ISO = 80 (low ISO setting)
F = 2.8
Exposure Time = 0.8 second
White Balance = Average
My Colors Modification = Vivid
Exposure Compensation = +/- zero
Size = M3: 1600 X 1200, Normal, 277KB
Focus = Normal

The colors are so bright and vivid and the clarity! Nice.
Finally... I'm getting images that satisfy me!

GB 8)
Jenny Lynn...
My First and Most Precious Angel


Click on this photo to see all of my girls.
They are made for Love and to be Loved...
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Re: Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by midiman »

Some great photos. Thanks for sharing your technique with us.

You did the right thing on the photo above. Sacrifice the window and concentrate on your subject. it is certainly a great photo.

Shooting with window light can be a real tough call. Sometimes I shoot two photos...one to grab the window and then merge the two in Photoshop. Depends whether you have gawky neighbors looking in your window :)
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Re: Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by muneca »

Well, obviously I'm going to have to get more lenses. My lowest ISO is 200, you are using 80, and my lowest f-stop is 3.5, yours is 2.8 Very nice photo, nice to just stare at everything. You could take a picture of your trash can and it would be fun to look at.
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Re: Guitar Boy's Guide to (His) Great (?) Photos

Post by Guitar Boy »

muneca wrote:You could take a picture of your trash can and it would be fun to look at.
Hey, there's an idea! Thanks!
On second thought, I think I'd rather photograph beautiful things... :)
GB 8)
Jenny Lynn...
My First and Most Precious Angel


Click on this photo to see all of my girls.
They are made for Love and to be Loved...
To Have and to Hold, to Love and to Cherish.

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