Playing with some new photo gear - NEW 'tutorials'

[Catlady711]

Ok so we don't have time to grab a white or silver thingy, or our critter is afraid of it, what do we do?

Our pop up flash can help save the day.

Remember the shot of our model Bear for the sunbeam? Well he's here volunteering his modeling services for you again.

Here's the problem, backlighting (light coming from behind something).



Ouch, I can't even see his face! If I change the camera so I can see him the whole background will be all white, not what I want. So I use the pop up flash without any paper on it because this is a very bright sunbeam.

Here's what we get with the flash on 1/2 power (factory defalt setting).



Better, I can see his face now. We're still going to get alot of too bright white from the sun because it's so darn bright today.

If we want to see more of Bear's face we crank up the pop up flash power to full and get this.



You can try using the paper with these shots but remember the pop up flash isn't very powerful so it certainly can't compete with a million mile a way ball of fire in the sky, but it sure can help with those dark shadows.

We can also try pop up flash at 1/2 power on the very first shot for this 'tutorial' instead of using the white or silver thingy.



It doesn't help the pix as much as the white or silver thingy's did, but it's quick, easy to use, and you always have it with you.


With ANY of the shots from ANY of these 'tutorials' I can change things on the camera or how I take them to make them a bit better yet, but I wanted to just do quick snapshots on purpose to make this easy for people to be able to do themselves at home with their own point and shoot cameras.

NOW....go out there with your point and shoots and try some of what I've shown you and post your results here! I really want to see your shots. If you have time and a cooperative pet (cat, dog, guinea pig, bird, or whatever) please post the before, after, and set up shots if possible so others can see too.

Ok Next 'tutorial' by request will be on white balance or color casts (as requested by Moesha). I'll see what I can do about getting those posted over the weekend.

[Randy_K]

Wow, your cats are patient! Mango is usually off on another adventure after my first shot unless he's sound asleep. I found that if I talk to him while he's snoozing he won't wake up. If I'm quiet he has to see what I'm up too...

[Moesha]

I will have to see what I can do with the lighting around here. They have a perch next to a window, but I bought them new kitty beds. They've been in the beds more than near the window. I don't have any light to practice bouncing back onto them. LOL Maybe I'll have to use something besides my furkids as models. I wish Morgan would be a good model like Bear was. They look so similiar.

[Catlady711]

Everyone, please vote. I'm curious how many people are actually interested in this 'tutorial' type of thread.

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=149746


Randy - Thanks for the pix. I dunno that my cats are patient, I just work with whatever one is in the lighting I'm wanting to use and will be there for awhile. When you have 7 cats, it kinda gives you a variety of choices. ROFL

Moesha - Even if you don't have light to reflect around, try out the piece of computer paper in front of the flash until it's warm enough that windows look inviting enough to entice the kitties out of the beds. lol

[Randi]

I can tell how exited you are, and you got some really good shots the other day. When John worked as a photographer, he used these tricks too, and umbrellas. It really softens it up.

These days, you can work on things like this in Photoshop, but back then it meant a lot more darkroom work if the light wasn't perfect. One time while John was in England, a customer called, he wanted 1oo prints of photo John had done for a poster. I volunteered to do them, but I had to give the face a few more seconds on each, so I was in the darkroom all night (it was a rush job). I got good money though.