Camera help please...

I had some time today and took some quick pictures with my Canon S90 in natural sunlight.

The canon is a 10 megapixel camera and be found for around $50-$85. This were taken with a tripod and it took me around 10 minutes from start to finish.





 
Lastly, this is a type of large light source, a single drafting lamp placed about 8" away from the object and I used printer paper taped all the way around to reflect light back in. A single 100w bulb too.

Mr. Riot, thank you and is there any I could see a pic of this setup?

I'd love to see pictures of other brother's light boxes.

Mr. FQ55, your pics are fantastic. I'm going to give my camera another chance and if I don't like the outcome....I'm going to look at a Canon. Your subject matter helps! I'd seriously think selling a kidney or something for that Sebenza!
 
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Here's a pic of that set up. I did it as an experiment with the minimal amount of "photo gear" necessary, most people could just sit at their desk and do this. I will add that this is a 100w bulb and I put a piece of paper across the bare bulb to diffuse it a bit. I would shoot from the gap in the paper but hold another piece just under the camera to reflect light back in.

2013-02-01000717_zps4b769676.jpg



-Xander
 
$5 light box pics and samples from a few years back. Cardboard box and curtain sheers.

fivedollarlightbox1.jpg


fivedollarlightbox2.jpg


fivedollarlightbox3.jpg


In the following photo (direct sunlight) the shadow from my finger is too defined, light like this is too hard and makes your photos have too much contrast.

fivedollarlightbox5.jpg


In this example, there is zero shadow from my finger, this lighting is too soft, lacks contrast / detail.

fivedollarlightbox4.jpg


Like Goldilocks, just right. You can see the shadow, but it's not harsh. Use the number of sheer layers to get the effect like this.

fivedollarlightbox6.jpg


Some props and pics.

fivedollarlightbox7.jpg


fivedollarlightbox8.jpg


fivedollarlightbox9.jpg


The above were all taken with a Canon Powershot S100 point and shoot.
 
Mr. Riot and Mr. Chief - Thank You both for the education. I see the light! And yes, pun intended! Who says you can't teach an old hillbilly a couple of new tricks.

My life is a tad busy right now, but when I get things straightened out, I'll put some pics right here for you all to critique.

Mr. Chief, that S100 is a tad too much in cost for me. Like I said before, I'm going to give mine another go before I buy a Canon.
 
Having full user control over shutter speed, aperture, and focus is critical. As is shooting RAW, as Chief pointed out above.

My 'good' knife photos have all been taken with a Nikon D5000 and the cheap kit lens. Only 12 mp but it shoots RAW with after-the-fact adjustments to white balance, exposure, and color settings (vivid, standard, etc.). And it's compatible with remotes (both wired and wireless) for tripod shooting.

By coincidence the Nikon D5000 is worth $200-300 now from used camera gear dealers. That's less than an average point-and-shoot camera, and half the price of a high-end smartphone (which are grossly over-rated for photography).

To see what else that camera is capable of, nearly all of the photos at my personal websites were taken with the D5000:
www.placesandpics.com
www.ratonphotos.com
www.ghosttowns.placesandpics.com/
 
All photographers come running..... myself included.

My advice is good natural light like a windowsill, not direct sunlight, but warm bright light. It improves any image immensely. Any digital point and shoots are going to be no better, and probably worse, than any smartphone camera.
 
I want to thank EVERYBODY again. I mean it. You all have educated me to a new level. Now to find the time to apply it all or try different methods and find out what works best for me.

Thank you my fellow brothers.
 
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