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My picture taking skills are improving

I've had this Sony DSC-S85 for 7 1/2 years. With the help of some critique here, Mark Goodmans' book, and reading the instruction book, I've been getting some good results.

Lets hear your critiques. All pics were taken hand held.


This is from my grandaughter Saras' type set.

imageimage


This is a 55-D I picked up yesterday

image

image


And, a Weak Motto I picked up yesterday.

image

image

Comments

  • coinnutcoinnut Posts: 1,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nice pictures. Something I need to learn how to do.
    Your grandaughter is a cutie!!
  • image

    I will let others pick them apart. image

    I think they look great, especially without a copy stand.
    imageQuid pro quo. Yes or no?
  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image

    a copy stand is a must!

    you must have very steady hands to have done such a good job without it.
    LCoopie = Les


  • << <i>image

    a copy stand is a must!

    you must have very steady hands to have done such a good job without it. >>



    Not bad for a 60 year old fart who has had rotator cuff surgery to both shoulders.image
  • pb2ypb2y Posts: 1,461
    . >>

    Not bad for a 60 year old fart who has had rotator cuff surgery to both shoulders.>>>

    Holy McGee.
    Maybe Goodman or Becoka will showup here.

    image

  • BobSavBobSav Posts: 937 ✭✭✭
    I would say that you've figured it out.
    The Pic's look great I wish I could figure it out, after many try's I've given up.

    Bob
    Past transactions with:
    Lordmarcovan, WTCG, YogiBerraFan, Phoenin21, LindeDad, Coll3ctor, blue594, robkoll, Mike Dixon, BloodMan, Flakthat and others.
  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    Can't see the pics at work. Will have to wait until the afternoon.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
  • richardshipprichardshipp Posts: 5,647 ✭✭✭
    The pics, coins and grandkid look great. If you don't want to get into a copystand just get a cheap tripod. That said though, your handheld shots are far superior to mine image
  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,294 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Too contrasty.

    In genereal, flashy coins don't need help to become more flashy when you photograph them. Take the 55-D quarter for example. Look at the lightest area out of context from what surrounds it and ask yourself if you can still discern the texture of the coin. Do the same with the darkest area. If both the lightest and darkest saturated areas are too big, then you need to diffuse your light. If the light areas are too big and there are no dark areas, reduce the exposure. If the dark areas are too big and there are no light areas, increase the exposure. It looks like you also need a second light to fill the shadows (Washington's eye, underside of jaw).

    A trip to WalMart is in order with the following shopping list, all of which can be used on stuff other than your coins, in case you need further rationalization for your purchases:

    Cheap tripod, I think the model is MX-2000. $30
    One or two gooseneck desk lamps (depending on whether your current light is a good match for such a lamp) $8-16
    Two compact fluorescent bulbs -- I use daylight balanced, but as long as you have a white balance adjustment on your camera, it doesn't much matter. $5
    Box of tissues for adding diffusion to lamps. $1

    This is what I had been using for quite a while and I still use this if taking my setup on the road. I sprung for a copy stand several months ago as an upgrade, but I have a heavier camera than you do. Use the short self-timer on the camera when it's on the tripod to allow camera shake to attenuate before the picture is taken.

    Have fun!
  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    I would stick to daylight fluorescent if you go that way. The warm (lightbulb replacement ones) fluorescents aren't particularly accurate color-wise.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
  • I still think they're great pics Ken. One of the Washington Quarters reverse is a little out of focus. is the cam on a small tripod?
    USPI minimalist design collage
    image
    designset
    Treasury Seals Type Set


  • << <i>Too contrasty.

    In genereal, flashy coins don't need help to become more flashy when you photograph them. Take the 55-D quarter for example. Look at the lightest area out of context from what surrounds it and ask yourself if you can still discern the texture of the coin. Do the same with the darkest area. If both the lightest and darkest saturated areas are too big, then you need to diffuse your light. If the light areas are too big and there are no dark areas, reduce the exposure. If the dark areas are too big and there are no light areas, increase the exposure. It looks like you also need a second light to fill the shadows (Washington's eye, underside of jaw).

    A trip to WalMart is in order with the following shopping list, all of which can be used on stuff other than your coins, in case you need further rationalization for your purchases:

    Cheap tripod, I think the model is MX-2000. $30
    One or two gooseneck desk lamps (depending on whether your current light is a good match for such a lamp) $8-16
    Two compact fluorescent bulbs -- I use daylight balanced, but as long as you have a white balance adjustment on your camera, it doesn't much matter. $5
    Box of tissues for adding diffusion to lamps. $1

    This is what I had been using for quite a while and I still use this if taking my setup on the road. I sprung for a copy stand several months ago as an upgrade, but I have a heavier camera than you do. Use the short self-timer on the camera when it's on the tripod to allow camera shake to attenuate before the picture is taken.

    Have fun! >>



    I have all the things you mentioned. I set up and have tried and tried, but all I have now is a clusterbomb. Shadows on top of shadows. Don't matter where I try to move or position the lights.
  • hey pics are pretty good. keep i tup
    image
  • BECOKABECOKA Posts: 16,961 ✭✭✭
    That's pretty good,

    Parts of the coins are out of focus, this can be fixed either by not angling the coin or by increasing the F-stops to something larger increasing the depth of field.

    Are you using a tri-pod? might help if you use a level on the table and try to match it by placing it on the camera.
  • SwampboySwampboy Posts: 13,103 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nice hand held shots.

    What was that expression? image

    Oh yeah!
    "Buy the book before you snap the shutter." image

    "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso

  • BarbercoinBarbercoin Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭
    I didn't read any other comments. I don't know what your skills were before, but these are nice. Oh......., and so are the coins.

    WTB: Barber Quarters XF

  • adamlaneusadamlaneus Posts: 6,969 ✭✭✭
    <critic>
    I see some areas of full white and full black. That means that you cannot see any detail in those areas. Other folks have mentioned it: Too much contrast. I generally try to avoid losing any detail anywhere because the brightness is off scale, either too bright or too dark. Gamma correction can be used, which is a way to adjust the contrast in a manner that does not toss out the bright or dark pixels.

    Focus. But then you are handheld. It's good for handheld.

    You appear to be using one light. Get a second.
    </critic>

    It's quite good! You are getting quite a lot from your camera! But if anyone asks for a criticism, i'll produce some.
  • RayboRaybo Posts: 5,337 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You actually read the instruction book ksteelheader?

    I thought you were a man.....................


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