Thumper
04-30-2013, 08:34 PM
I was gonna add "for Len" to the title, but heck, I'll take advice from anybody! For my e-Bay sales, I take a lot of close-up pictures. It's really simple to be able to just set stuff on my desk or makeshift light box, snap a few pics and post them. BUT ... I have a problem I can't seem to work out. Remember, I'm a "point & shoot" guy and just have a little Nikon Coolpix (16 megapixels). Most of what I take is on the "macro" setting as people want close-up shots of what they're buying. On many items, I have a heck of a time with EVERY little flaw showing up. Heck, most of the time, the flaws aren't even visible to the naked eye. I'll usually take a pic, look at it, then say, "WTF is THAT???" I've tried flash, filtered (tissue paper) flash, indirect lighting, bright office lights or desk lamp, different angles, etc. etc. etc. Many times I can improve the shot, but I'm very seldom totally happy with it. I also get a lot of "orange" coloring on some highly reflective surfaces which sucks when I'm taking shots of razors as it looks like "brassing" which is a comon problem with razors and indicates excessive wear. Problem is, my photos show "wear" where it doesn't even exist.
Now, if I take the product outside and use bright sunlight with no flash, I get about a zillion % improvement. BUT ... it's a hassle to have to wait for daylight (I do most of my work at night) and haul everything out to the pool deck, snap pics and haul everything back upstairs to my office. Is this just the nature of the beast, or is there some simple solution I don't know about? Don't say, "Buy a zillion $$$ camera" 'cause that ain't gonna happen. The camera actually takes great pictures ... it's just these super close-ups (especially of shiny surfaces) that drive me bonkers. Flaws that don't really seem to exist, highly exaggerated "minor" flaws and that "brassy color" are my main problems with artificial light.
Any suggestions that a simple minded point & shoot guy can use? Or do I just need to learn to live with the shortcomings of a budget type camera and keep flailing blindly along?
Now, if I take the product outside and use bright sunlight with no flash, I get about a zillion % improvement. BUT ... it's a hassle to have to wait for daylight (I do most of my work at night) and haul everything out to the pool deck, snap pics and haul everything back upstairs to my office. Is this just the nature of the beast, or is there some simple solution I don't know about? Don't say, "Buy a zillion $$$ camera" 'cause that ain't gonna happen. The camera actually takes great pictures ... it's just these super close-ups (especially of shiny surfaces) that drive me bonkers. Flaws that don't really seem to exist, highly exaggerated "minor" flaws and that "brassy color" are my main problems with artificial light.
Any suggestions that a simple minded point & shoot guy can use? Or do I just need to learn to live with the shortcomings of a budget type camera and keep flailing blindly along?