Test Pic

How can I make this picture look better? Tell me quick before I go get my Glock!!!!! :mad: :mad: :grumpy: :grumpy:

These digital pics make me want to end my suffering!!!! ARRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!

I would rather wash my face with a cheese grate than fool with this crap!

Everyone else has these professional looking pics they just throw up on the forums like its nothing. Mine look like crap.
 
First Id increase the size (resolution) of the image on your camera, second it looks like the grass in front of the knife is in focus more than the knife itself. Though the pic is a little small for me to be able to tell ;)
 
Here are the stats on my digital:

2.1 MP total
4x digital zoom
hp instant share
video clip
optional dock.

That is all I know about this camera that you can get at Walmart for around $100.

Don't get me wrong, it takes decent pics for the price, but I want some of those outstanding knife pics anyone else is getting.

My biggest problem is taking the original, which is 1.1 MB, and getting that to fit within 100 KB. How do you do that w/o sacrificing quality?

Am I going to HAVE to get a better camera to begin with?

Thanks.
 
I checked out the link on Cooper's box. That is an interested idea, and there is no doubt his pics are top notch. However, I would much rather take pics that showed a natural setting. After all, that is where Rats belong. :)

Thanks.
 
Hey Terry,

If you have your pics hosted at something like photohut or whatever, use the little
insertimage.gif
button in the message editing screen to post a direct link to your images. You will need to hit the button before and after you paste the url to your photo to surround the url with [img ] and [/img ].

If you do this, there is no restriction on the file size. HOWEVER, it is still very important to get the images around 120-180kb for those who use dialup. In your photo editing software, see if there is a "Save for Web" option, or something similar. This usually cuts down on the file size without taking the photo quality below what a standard monitor can display.

Hope this helps some.

:D -360
 
Best way to take better pictures is to practice, biggest advantage of digital, you can pretty much take as many pictures as you want for free(use nimh batteries). Get to know your camera and how it tends to react to certain lighting and focusing conditions, and learn how to take advantage of it's strengths and avoid situations that cause it to take flakey pictures.
 
Terry Newton said:
Here are the stats on my digital:

2.1 MP total
4x digital zoom
hp instant share
video clip
optional dock.

That is all I know about this camera that you can get at Walmart for around $100.

Don't get me wrong, it takes decent pics for the price, but I want some of those outstanding knife pics anyone else is getting.

My biggest problem is taking the original, which is 1.1 MB, and getting that to fit within 100 KB. How do you do that w/o sacrificing quality?

Am I going to HAVE to get a better camera to begin with?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Take note that digital zoom is not the same as optical zoom, and should never be used. All that will do is zoom in on the pixels and blow them up- something that can be done better in an editing program. Digital zoom will decrease the quality of the picture.

If you email me the original, I could look at it as the one you posted might just have compression issues. You should be able to take good looking pics with that camera with the right lighting.
acolonelofcorn "at" yahoo.com
 
Terry Newton said:
......

My biggest problem is taking the original, which is 1.1 MB, and getting that to fit within 100 KB. How do you do that w/o sacrificing quality?

Am I going to HAVE to get a better camera to begin with?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

To make sure the images are 100 KB or smaller look at the files in "My Computer" and set the View setting to Details. If the image is too big you can open it in "MSPaint" (Start - Run - MSPaint - OK), click Image - Stretch/Skew and set the Stretch Horizontal and Vertical to 25%, 50%, ect. A little trial and error will be needed. While you are in Paint, you can also crop the image by dragging the little black square in the center of the right and bottom edges. To crop the other two sides, go the Image - Flip/Rotate and rotate by 180 degrees. After cropping, repeat the last step to "right" the image. Use File - Save As to save the resized image with a new name (e.g. PBF_25pct.bmp). That way you keep the original image and know how much you have reduced the new image.

~Drew
 
Terry Newton said:
I would much rather take pics that showed a natural setting.
Click to expand...
You'll find that *most* of the best shots taken outdoors are shot in one of two locations:
1. in the shade. This helps eliminate the sharp shadows cast onto the background surface by direct sunlight striking the subject.
2. anywhere, on overcast days. If the sky is overcast, the light striking your composition is very diffuse and non-directional. This will help eliminate the sharp shadowing described above.

Remember, those are suggestions, not cast-in-stone rules for shooting outdoors. As noted, practice with your camera will tell you more about what your particular setup needs to function well in your locales/situations than any of my ranting.

Note that shooting without using the on-camera flash (which is the only way I like to shoot) may require a tripod be packed along to handle the slow shutter speeds caused by using only available light. Consequently, getting a lightweight tripod becomes a factor. Keep an sharp eye out at garage sales or thrift stores if you want to save your bucks for knives, not knife photographing equipment. ;)

Follow the link in my sig below to access a BUNCH of info on shooting knife pictures.
 
And just to reiterate what RokJok said, lighting is really everything in photography. When shooting indoors or outdoors I recommend not using the flash if at all possible. This of course means more practice with you camera to find out when you can and can't shoot without the flash, due to camera shake, backlit subjects, etc. For indoor macro shots, always try to get enough room or spotlighting on the subject to negate any need for the flash, the pictures will generally look at least 10x better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top