Hirst Arts Castle and diorama done in 60mm. (2 Viewers)

[mikemiller1955]

Hey Mike,

Yea, I took them in front of the monitor.

Just propped up a soldier on a box of Kleenex.

I'm new at this and if you don't know how to do any better, then you improvise.

I'm learning, but the idea worked for any picture on the internet, with no distortion in the detail.

Watch out for the bulb flash on the sreeen's monitor, "no flash" shots only.

Michael

 

[thebritfarmer]

Great idea standing it in front of a monitor, Randy and I discussed this early last year when we were talking about photo backdrops.

 

[mikemiller1955]

You know, Randy made a good point to me.

You don't need a full page printout of a photo for a closeup diorama shot.

5x7 is probably big enough on a closeup photo.

After cropping, maybe even smaller.

 

[PolarBear]

Randy, thanks for the compliment and especially the enhancement you emailed me.

I did not edit it through my Kodak software, but am sure I can pretty easily.

Do you use a flash or just your 3 light set-up?

Do you use close-up or zoom?

How close is the camera actually to the figure when you shoot if you use close-up?

Your edit makes it look 100% better.

Thanks for the tips too. I'll get better.

I'm beginning to realize how important a good photo is. I've noticed a big commitment from more hobbyist lately on the forum to photo editing. Everybody's photos are getting better.

I'm sending you a stock copy of this photo. I had little success in printng out a high quality copy of it on the paper I have. When enlarged and printed, the detail blurred. I'll go to Office Depot today.

I actually took that photo with my soldier standing in front of the picture on my computer monitor screen. I didn't use the print out of the photo.

I just reduced the photo on my monitor to the size I wanted.

Then propped up my soldier so his feet were level with the monitor's photo, turned off the flash so it wouldn't glare off my monitor and squeezed off a few.

It held all the detail pretty well. Again, I'll get better.

You're a really nice guy to check on me. Very cool of you.

Thanks for all the photos you emailed me. Nice to know who I'm talking to, I'll reciprocate.

Michael

Ok here goes:

1. No flash--just my 3 light setup
2. zoom-- no closeup lens for the Sony Cybershot
3. Distance of figure from camera--about 10 inches-see setup photo and result below. It depends on the scene but that would be my general rule of thumb with this camera
4. Mike's stunning photo touched up with a wee bit o' Photoshop to take out date stamp, adjust color and contrast

 

[mikemiller1955]

I'm so jealous, I want to take good photos too,

Michael

 

[PolarBear]

I'm so jealous, I want to take good photos too,

Michael

Hey Mike that's not fair. I said I was jealous first

I just emailed you some stuff on your background photo.
I forgot to ask --who made that great figure? I do not see it in the K&C Crusaders.

Randy

 

[debrito]

I'm so jealous, I want to take good photos too,

Michael

Your photos are good. Just make sure that you use proper light but no flash. The Flash will reflect in the toy soldier and the results are not as good IMHO. Also use a tripod to consolidate your camera.

Cheers

 

[thebritfarmer]

Very nice Randy and a great shot also Mike.

You don't use the macro function on your camera Randy? Maybe that is where I am going wrong. (I have a cybershot also) What mode do you use, I had mine on incandescent but changed it to auto.

 

[PolarBear]

Very nice Randy and a great shot also Mike.

You don't use the macro function on your camera Randy? Maybe that is where I am going wrong. (I have a cybershot also) What mode do you use, I had mine on incandescent but changed it to auto.

I do use MACRO. I only use Incandescent for my 3 light setup. In a room with outdoor light coming in I use daylight otherwise on Incandescent it makes the photos blue.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Hey Mike that's not fair. I said I was jealous first

I just emailed you some stuff on your background photo.
I forgot to ask --who made that great figure? I do not see it in the K&C Crusaders.

Randy

It's a Del Prado ($9.95 before discounts).

Randy, I have downloaded Picasa 3 software (free by Google).

I have successfully removed the "post date" on the photo, just playing around and have greatly improved the photo over my original, almost as good as yours.

I'll check my mail, thanks, Michael

 

[thebritfarmer]

I do use MACRO. I only use Incandescent for my 3 light setup. In a room with outdoor light coming in I use daylight otherwise on Incandescent it makes the photos blue.

Thanks for the info Randy. I think my problem then must be not enough light. I will adjust my setting and give it another try.

 

[1879fanatic]

Thanks for the info Randy. I think my problem then must be not enough light. I will adjust my setting and give it another try.

Scott,
Don't you Maple Leaves have to wait for spring for any daylight? And then, won't the igloo melt? All kinds of problems to face
Keep taking pictures and you'll find the results get better and better.
Mike

 

[thebritfarmer]

Scott,
Don't you Maple Leaves have to wait for spring for any daylight? And then, won't the igloo melt? All kinds of problems to face
Keep taking pictures and you'll find the results get better and better.
Mike

The biggest problem we face is the sun being blocked when the polar bears walk past our windows.

 

[PolarBear]

It's a Del Prado ($9.95 before discounts).

Randy, I have downloaded Picasa 3 software (free by Google).

I have successfully removed the "post date" on the photo, just playing around and have greatly improved the photo over my original, almost as good as yours.

I'll check my mail, thanks, Michael

Good Show Mikel. You're moving faster than the Road Runner beep beep

 

[mikemiller1955]

I'm getting the hang of it Randy.

I can still see the date air brush area, but that won't be a problem in the future, I'll just turn it off on my camera.

The picture now seems more vivid and detailed using the Picasa 3 software, but I think I can do much better, I'm just now learning what the effects can do and how to use them.

Thanks again,

Michael

 

[kilted vampire]

I'm getting the hang of it Randy.

I can still see the date air brush area, but that won't be a problem in the future, I'll just turn it off on my camera.

The picture now seems more vivid and detailed using the Picasa 3 software, but I think I can do much better, I'm just now learning what the effects can do and how to use them.

Thanks again,

Michael

Oh? In what way do you think it is better? I am curious because my pictures could use a little help.

 

[kilted vampire]

Great idea standing it in front of a monitor, Randy and I discussed this early last year when we were talking about photo backdrops.

I did that with a Lawrence of Arabia Figure. Randy sent me a Desert scene that jut looked too cool...er uh hot...any roads it looked great. The flash reflection looked like a burning sun.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Oh? In what way do you think it is better? I am curious because my pictures could use a little help.

To me it looks much brighter and crisper, more vivid in the colors, especially the banner. Even the detail in the brick looks sharper. You can do a lot in those photoshops.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Nothing new here.

Just practicing taking better photos, I hope.

Thanks Randy.

 

[mikemiller1955]

A few Del Prados, they don't seem popular on here, but "bang for the buck", in my opinion, the best buy in 60mm.

I love the second guy from the right, just looks "grizzly, with his foot on the treasure box.