GB GONE Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 I just can't get good shots of how great some of my baits look???!!! I've got a lighting unit with "natural" light bulbs. I have a nice camera and use the setting for closer, detailed shots. Also bought Paint Shop Pro to help but when I reduce the size down..the detail of the bait goes. You can hardly see the color of the bait or the glitter??? I must be doing something wrong as I see some great shot of baits out there!!! Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BASS8BAITS Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Try some natural lighting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BASS8BAITS Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 The above picture of your bait is good but not great, only because I don't have a camera stand and the dog was barking at me as I was taking the picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted December 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Maybe I can just send all my baits to you for my pics Javier !!! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BASS8BAITS Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 That picture came out a little out of focus. But the sun shows off the colors. I'll take yor pictures and you can build me a website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojo Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Don't feel alone Jim! I've been working on pics of my baits too, in anticipation of getting my website finished. My brother is a professional freelance photographer, he shoots cars mainly for magazines. He used to be an editor at Rod & Custom and Custom Classic Trucks. He got ALL the artsy skills. I'm getting better with my shots, but I still do a LOT of touchups in Photoshop and call him on a regular basis for advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senkosam Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 A few tips to consider: Outside lighting with a dark background improves color and lighting (even sunlight coming through the window). Prop yourself on or against an object to keep from twitching or use a $10 tripod and the camera's timer for absolute, camera stillness. Try with and without the flash. This was taken without the flash: If in still life mode, use the zoom rather than moving the camera too close, crop the picture to reduce size, minimize and sharpen with the program and play with brightness and contrast settings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted December 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Well, here is outside lighting try. Little better!!! I didn't know I was going to have to be a photographer also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted December 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2004 OK..maybe because I only have 1 zoom option I have to get to close?? Also, do you save your images as jpegs or what?? Maybe that is the difference in how they look?? Mostly my outside shots are grainy when I reduce them down to the size for posting on Ebay or TU... Guess I need a new camera..Oooh honey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senkosam Posted December 16, 2004 Report Share Posted December 16, 2004 jpegs are usually the compression format, but gifs are okay if you don't mind a little loss of color. Reducing total pixels shouldn't result in grainier pictures, just smaller ones. If you're using a 1 or 2 megapixel camera, it's possible some detail is lost, but only when you magnify. jpeg quality is no different than the bmp format except much smaller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted December 17, 2004 Report Share Posted December 17, 2004 Senkosam....... your pictures are amazing! Jim........ I don't see a thing wrong with yours either. They look mighty eye-catching to me. The only thing I can think of is maybe you don't have a macro lense on your camera?? The "zoom" feature really isn't nearly as important as the macro lense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsac Posted December 17, 2004 Report Share Posted December 17, 2004 I'm not disagreeing with you Chris, I even recommended that Jim make sure his new camera has a macro function. But, I find myself using it less and less. None of the pictures I have posted in the plastics forum were done with the macro. They were also all done inside. Now for someone that doesn't have much experience with a digital camera, use the macro. That's what it's for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted December 17, 2004 Report Share Posted December 17, 2004 Did you use just the zoom Jake?? Your pictures are awesome! Maybe I'm missing something here?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted December 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2004 Ya..give it up Jake !! You could be a professional photographer from what i'm seeing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsac Posted December 17, 2004 Report Share Posted December 17, 2004 OK, I'll try and explain what I do. 1st, I take anywhere from 5-20 shots of each bait. It depends on the colors in the bait. If I'm shooting a bait with hi lites, transparent or has a 2 tone color to it, that's when I take a lot of shots. Standard opaque colors usually only require a couple shots to get a good one. I always take my pictures at an angle. This helps with any hi lites or multi colored pours. If I can't get the right angle with the camera, I tilt my bait so it's gets hit with the light from a different angle. If you can't use natural lighting, get the lights you're using close to the subject. That way there are less shadows to deal with. I never use the flash. We shoot our pics too close and all the flash does is create glare. The macro is a great feature, but it doesn't allow me to get the whole bait in the picture. Use the macro for a close up. Like to show the layers of the bait. For everything else, I usually just use the zoom. The picture I took of my creature bait was done with my Sony. No zoom, no macro, no flash. I just put the bait on a piece of paper and held it under a 75 watt bulb. I rotated the paper until the shadows were off the bait. This can be hard to get a good picture though because of the blur. Use a tripod whenever you can. I use the timer with the tripod a lot. This will give you the clearest picture. As mentioned in the thread in the docks, avoid 'commercial' brands like Kodak and HP. The lenses just don't have the same quality. Remember, HP makes computer stuff and paper. Kodak makes film. Neither of them got their name making cameras. Nikon, Canon, Minolta...all camera manufacturers, and good ones!!! I throw the Sony cybershots in there because they have the Carl Zeis lens. Sony makes great digital cameras and video cameras. It might not be how they started, but they have earned respect in the camera world. All of the pictures I don't take with my Sony, I use a Minolta Dimage Z1. You can look it up on the web. You can get the new Minolta (I think it's the Z10) for about $250. The older (about 2 years old) cybershots can be found for sale (new) for under $200. Some of my pics come out great, but I still make adjustments to almost everyone of them. It's hard to get a good clean shot of a plastic worm. The camera just has a hard time recognizing the colors. Look at web sites that have pics of worms. Then go pull those worms out the bag They usually don't look anything like the photo on line. I'm refering to companies like Zoom and Robo. Look at Robo's oxblood colors on line. You could never pour the correct color without having the worm in front of you. I know that's a lot to read, but I hope it helps. If anyone has any other questions, ask or PM me and I'll try and help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted December 18, 2004 Report Share Posted December 18, 2004 Thanks Jake. Lots of cool info. there! I'll have to give some of your suggestions a try. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camrynekai Posted December 18, 2004 Report Share Posted December 18, 2004 I use a HP scanner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senkosam Posted December 18, 2004 Report Share Posted December 18, 2004 Wow exceptional ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsac Posted December 19, 2004 Report Share Posted December 19, 2004 I've tried the scanner thing, but for veins and baits that don't lay flat, they just don't cut it. They don't give you an option to show the colors of layered baits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camrynekai Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 Thanks Senkosam, Woodsac, I guess its depends on the scanner....I have no problem seeing two or three color pours with the High brightness HP scanner....It beats most others, especially the LED driven ones. There are only a couple of baits you may be better off using a camera....but 90% of the baits out there can be done with a scanner. If you want to see other baits with multi color pours from a scanner I can also post them. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 Hi Tom, I wouldn't mind seeing a 3-color pour done with your scanner. I have a miserable time getting a nice picture with my digital camera, let alone my cheap scanner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camrynekai Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 Hi Tom' date='I wouldn't mind seeing a 3-color pour done with your scanner. I have a miserable time getting a nice picture with my digital camera, let alone my cheap scanner. [/quote'] The colors shown are Earthworm, Watermelon and black. I will post some others later when I get a chance to grab some other baits. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 Looks very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuMMeRBaits Posted December 24, 2004 Report Share Posted December 24, 2004 How are you guys going about using the scanners. Do you put the bait on the glass and close the lid, keep the lid open, put something else over the bait to help keep in the light. Also are you laying you bait down on it's side? My pic's come out pretty good on my 5mp Kodak Camera, but only when I am outside on a nice sunny day. Trying to find another way to do the pic's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted December 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2004 cam: What model scanner do you use?? Those scans are awesome and way easier than all this photo crap!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
