Photography in the workshop (for the inept)

[PippinParticipant @phillspowart84010]

I’m building a model which I hope will appear in the magazine at some point, therefore I’m taking photos of set ups, assembly etc as I go. My photos aren’t coming out great, they’re clear enough but have annoying shadows, flash reflections etc.

I’m not a photographer, and have no real interest in it beyond this particular use. I’ve tried with and without flash, and got it set to close up photography. One problem I have had is the flash being shadowed by the lens, I’ve seen flashes/lights that mount on the end so will get one of those. Camera is a Kodak AZ425.

Has this topic been covered in the magazine before?

This was taken with the flash, giving a washed out too bright bit at the left and leaving the right in shadow:

This is the same shot with no flash, less dark to the left but still too bright to the right and looking a bit washed out

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I never use flash, look through my builds and you will see no reflections. Last few years have just been taken with the phone, get in close and don’t use a digital zoom. Editor Neil likes my photos as did the publisher of my book.

Typical thread https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/topic/v-twin-kelsey/

Your white wall may not be helping as the camera will be adjusting for that bright area which makes the subject darker.

 

[PippinParticipant @phillspowart84010]

I don’t have a smartphone, so can’t use that. Some photos are OK without flash but some come out quite grainy and/or dark.

[Charles LamontParticipant @charleslamont71117]

Suggestions: Don’t use flash. Use a tripod, aperture mode, and stop down as far as this camera will go, about f/7 or 8, (I use f/22 on my Sony) to maximise the depth of field. Set to 100ASA. Use the self timer to avoid jogging the camera when releasing the shutter. Set the focus about 1/3 of the way into the desired depth. Don’t use more zoom than necessary. Light from the side or behind the camera to minimise glare – no backlight.

Some of this was with help from Google.

[JAParticipant @ja]

Flash is very difficult to use and best avoided. Better would be to get a tripod and use a slow shutter speed with a low ASA value. If you don’t have a cable release use the portrait/selfie timer on the camera. Sooner or later, if you are going to publish the results, you will need to edit the pictures. Forget about fancy editing programs such as Affinity and Facebook, ordinary .jpg viewer on Windows Office or Microsoft has a good, simple, very easy to use editor.

Remember you have all the time in the world to take many photographs. The more obvious is remove the swarf and take the key out of the chuck.

JA

[Charles beat me to it]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Should add all mine are hand held and no editing. The later is preferred for the mag.

[Andy StopfordParticipant @andystopford50521]

Your camera looks like it’s pretty decent, and should give good results for your purposes.

However, even if you have no interest in photography as such, for what you want it really would be a good idea to learn some of the basics, for example, Jason mentions the white wall fooling the camera’s exposure control, so you need to know why that is, and what you can do about it.

I can’t give you references, my knowledge of photography comes from the days of film, and although the principles are the same, a modern book/online tutorial/etc. will be easier to apply to your camera. You can always skip the bits about taking portraits or whatever, though the basics of composition are worth knowing.

And yes, don’t use the flash, you’ll have loads of problems with reflections, burnt-out bits, etc. with it.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

If you have not done so already run the details past Neil and also get him to send you an author pack wich has guidance about photos, text etc

Bit about editing taken from the guidelines

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Pippin, having it on your shiny milling table doesn’t help, and a somewhat mixed and a little cluttered light and dark background won’t help either. Try to get a background that is the same shade all over, with a matt white or suitable  pascal colour that doesn’t clash with your item, have some good lighting that is even over the whole area, flash is not very good with close-ups, but one way is to defuse it, by covering it with a white piece of fabric, or a few layers of white tissue paper. It would also help if you used a tripod, and used the shutter’s self timer when taking your photos, then you could try directing some light in the right place, with a piece of matt white card or a board. And yes do as JasonB has said about the size of the photos, and don’t crop them, or edit them in anyway.

Regards Nick.

[PippinParticipant @phillspowart84010]

Thankyou all, yes I’m in contact with Neil and have the various packs/guides etc.

I need to work out methods that can be done fairly quick, I tend to get too focused on the actual work to remember to stop and take photos as it is. At this rate I’ll have to build a third loco just to get enough photos!

[Grindstone CowboyParticipant @grindstonecowboy]

All good advice above, I’d only add that a polarising filter would help control reflections.

Rob

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