neroter12
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posted on November 2, 2003 02:00:31 PM new
ok, I know this has been covered before but you know....I just uploaded some pictures and why is it on photo's you can see imperfections not visable to the naked eye?
What looks to me in very good condition, if buyer blew up pictures and scrutinized -- they would see nicks or something that you really cannot see just looking at the piece. How do you get them to see what you see in person? What do you do? Touch up pictures??
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photosensitive
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posted on November 2, 2003 03:51:23 PM new
What kind of light are you using? If it is on-camera flash or bright sunlight this can magnify any differences in the surface. If this is your problem (and this is only one of the possibilities) I suggest you try a soft diffused natural light. Outside in open shade, not too early or late in the day is very effective.
I don't suggest retouching because this could lead to conflicts with an eagle eyed buyer. I sometimes adjust the color to be closer to the object and at most might edit out a reflection or hot spot in a shiny object.
If you can put up an example of a picture that has the problem you are talking about it might be easier to make suggestions.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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neroter12
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posted on November 2, 2003 04:09:59 PM new
Thanks for the suggestions, photo. I will try mid-day light. I don't really feel like bringing the picture up right now getting off in a few. Its a wooden ribbon spool thing. To the average eye you wouldn't see like - some jigs in the wood on it - but you can in the photo. It just looks 10x's more exacerbated than it really is. I don't try to deceive my buyers but digital photography is really amazing for capturing these minute details. (maybe I need to zoom out?? 
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photosensitive
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posted on November 2, 2003 04:44:54 PM new
Just make sure it is soft mid-day light. If you have an area outside with an overhang that faces an open sky that is good. What you are telling me does sound like light.
Have you ever noticed those ads for some "snake oil" type skin treatments. In the before picture the woman looks like an old boot with deep winkles and the after her face if smooth and looks good. Notice the dark shadows on the first picture and the soft even light on the second. I will swear on the grave of Daguerre that the two were taken a minute apart and the only change is not the "snake oil" but the lighting.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
[ edited by photosensitive on Nov 2, 2003 04:45 PM ]
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wendywins
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posted on November 2, 2003 08:12:05 PM new
Hey Photo!
On the subject...any suggestions for photographing blue, black, dark grey, or purple when it is VERY closeup? I have an okay camera but it has a tough time with the darker colors? Lighting again?
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photosensitive
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posted on November 2, 2003 08:29:05 PM new
Yes enough light and a good photo editing program. A program like Photoshop Elements and its levels control will do wonders for dark colors.
If one side is in shadow a white card placed out of the camera range can bounce a lot of light into the dark areas. Have someone hold a sheet of white posterboard on the dark side and move it in and out untll you see it get lighter. It is like having another light on that side. If you are alone find an object to lean it against.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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wendywins
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posted on November 2, 2003 08:50:17 PM new
Thanks!
I will try out the white card against the color.
The problem is this is a card of fabric samples that are about 1" square and I try to get the fabric to take up the whole photo so I will have the camera right on top of the sample practically.
The odd thing is that the samples are glued onto a white board but when I photograph the dark colors, the white background becomes beige and way off color. Maybe this is where the reflection from another white item comes in.
I'm going to try it right now!
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Japerton
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posted on November 2, 2003 09:51:33 PM new
Go to Ikea or someplace similar. Buy three pointable lamps (mine are $9.99 floor lamps, I love them a lot!).
Slap in three color corrected bulbs (sylvania daylights are very good, and cheap!).
Then do three point lighting. Back, Key (strongest at approx 45 degree angle from where you are standing) and fill (further back therefore weaker, and at the other side of you approx 45 degree, again). Don't get it? Google will have tons of this stuff.
This will give a more natural all _around_ light. Feel like you need to diffuse? Get some cooking parchment paper and some wooden clothes pins. Voila. (or feelin' fancy? try your local camera shop for gels)
60 watt should be enough for small stuff.
One strong light will play up _every_ crevice.
Just ask the "Golden Girls" lit from top to bottom and all around.
J
They all looked like 16 year olds. 
~~~~~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~~~~~
All the monkeys aren't in the zoo,
Every day you meet quite a few,
So you see it's all up to you.
You can be better than you are,
You could be swingin' on a star
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wendywins
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posted on November 2, 2003 09:53:32 PM new
Thanks Japerton!
I have one gooseneck lamp that I have bent to be running the light horizontally over the board and this seems to help but I will definitely get a couple more so I have abundant light!
Wendy
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photosensitive
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posted on November 3, 2003 05:17:43 AM new
Wendy,
Good advise from Japerton. I was visualizing a three dimensional object in available light with the white card reflector advise. That would be less helpful with a flat sample card. The fact that the white background is off color suggests that your light source is too warm. The daylight balanced bulbs are the right way to go. Also many digital camera have a "white balance" setting that can adjust to different color temperatures of light. Your manual should tell you how to adjust if you have to use a non-daylight source.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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sanmar
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posted on November 3, 2003 10:11:53 AM new
I take my pictures on a closed in porch facing east with lace curtains on the windows behind me. I shoot on a medium blue background & get reall goody results.
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neroter12
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posted on November 3, 2003 03:53:44 PM new
I always thought most of my pictures came out pretty nice. (Some come out better than others. But way clearer than alot of auctions I browse; though not as dazzling as true pros auctions.)
I take them in various spots with different lighting. I do notice the flash does not always reflect the true color of the item, so try not to use it that much. (Really want a new camera, but that will be awhile unless Santa Claus is berry berry good to me
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