NEED HELP WITH TAKEING PICTURES?

[rigwelder]

I need to sell some knives, arrowheads and whatever to pay uncle sam this year. all i have is a 4mp kodak easyshare camera. i usuaaly have to take pictures in the dark to even get a decent picture,,,, i dont think i can turn the flash off? ive seen these light boxes,,,,is that what i need? i just need some advice.

[Darksev]

I take my pictures (I'm getting better) with an older Olympus 3.5MP Stylus digital. fun little camera, all weather model . Taking any knife pictures anywhere in my house is an absolute failure. I don't have a light box or anything of the sort. The only place I can find that works for me, is my utility room. It's plain white drywall with a dual overhead florescent bulb behind one of those semi-opaque diffuser covers. If I'm careful about glare off the blades/silver, I can get really well lit true color photos. the downside is you see my storage shelves, the side of my toolbox and my grandfathers old ratchet set box in every scene

I use no flash, and I keep the camera in "macro" mode, but just at the edge of the macro range (on my camera it's about 10 inches or so). aside from a place with nice big overhead floro's, the only thing I've tried that's worked well is outdoors in indirect light.

[Hukk]

I use no flash, and I keep the camera in "macro" mode, but just at the edge of the macro range (on my camera it's about 10 inches or so). aside from a place with nice big overhead floro's, the only thing I've tried that's worked well is outdoors in indirect light.

I take my pictures outdoors in natural light and in indirect light as well. But my camera, is an Olympus 765 with a 40x zoom and it has no macro. It has a 10x optical and a 4x digital for a 40x camera. I'm always at least 2-3 feet from my knife. I use the opposite that Darksev uses. But I also use indirect light outdoors as he does. With the way I take pictures, the biggest problem is gettng to close, but sometimes using my upper body to block unwanted light. Getting too close is a problen for me. Call me old-fashioned but that's what works for me and I need to make a lightbox. One that will do photos and serve as a dual purpose by being set up to expose stencils that will have my name on them so I can etch my name in a knife blade or tang. Good luck, I think everyone needs to find out what suits them the best.

[Blade Runner]

Rigwelder I too use a cheap 4mp Z700 kodak easyshare camera. The flash has got to go off to take good knife pictures. With my camera in the pass mode I can access the manual settings which follow. Macro, center spot, and center zone. I also use a cheap home made light box which makes use of diffused light. Below are some pictures and my set up. Hope this helps.
Gary

[Blade Runner]

[Blade Runner]

[jonet143]

hey gary, that looks like my new styrofoam light box. your pics would be better if you had some nicer knives to shoot. i use a 2.0 mp and i think i'm ready to upgrade.
is that block in front of your lamps to block direct light?

[Blade Runner]

Johnnie, the "block" is piece of white styrofoam which helps alot with bolster reflections, ie the camera and your fingers etc.
Gary

[jonet143]

gary, since you're pics are really good......more questions....for rigwelder, ya know! what watt and style are your lightbulbs.

[Blade Runner]

I usually just use regular house hold 100 watt bulbs(soft white). Another tip is to set the camera on a tripod, then set the camera's timer where it will go off by itself. Then move your hands back. This way your hands are not reflected in the blades and bolsters.
Gary

[Blade Runner]

By the way rigwelder, when I said the flash has got to go off, I meant it has to be turned off.

[rigwelder]

i want to thank everybody for the good advice. bladerunner, was that you that outbid me on the stag wr. case & sons whittler last night. if it was, you stole it!

[Blade Runner]

Nope, not me

[rigwelder]

thought it might have been, the buyer was EBLADERUNNERS

[MLB]

rigwelder, I have found that when I hold a regular magnifying glass over the lens of the camra when taking the picture it tends to increase the amount of light intake into the lens and I get much clearer pictures.