New camera, hopefully I'll get better with practice

[nightbreed]

Got a new camera and I've been trying to get some decent pics, but it seems I have little talant in the area of photography

Any of you talanted peeps have any advice it will be gratefully received

Anyway these are the best I could do.

G.aureostriata

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A little closer

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A.versicolor

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again closer

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[nightbreed]

C.cyaneopubescens

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G.pulchra

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B.vagans well to the best of my knowledge

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closer

I need practice and I'm trying to get to grips with the cameras controls (this is my first digital cam) but what do you think guys?

 

[Dr Pies]

Nice pics mate
Far better than anything I can do with a camera anyway. Keep em coming..

 

[king7]

no tips

nice pics and im sure you will soon get better

 

[Aviculariinae]

Hi,

Natural Daylight is the best for taken pictures,get them out into your garden,you should get some nice shots then!

 

[danread]

There is no problem with those photos, some of them came out really well. One hint for getting better pics, try and get photos of the tarantula without any artificial settings in the background (i.e. tank sides, waterbowls etc). They tend to look a lot better when displayed on a natural background, even if it is just soil. Also, try and use your camera in manual focus setting. Set the focus at a distance you feel happy with, and them move the camera back and forward til the picture seems really sharp in the vewfinder.

Good luck!

 

[Psoulocybe]

I don't agree w/ danread at all.

Manual focus isn't going to make better pictures... but how far from the bugs were you when you were taking these? It looks like they were too close for the lense. Generally , you need a meter to focus unless you're in macro mode... then it just depends on the camera.

What kind of camera did you get?


And, for some tips....

Rule of thirds (google it)

Natural settings when possible.

there are no rules.

natural light or multiple light sources.... w/o using on camera flash. diffusing the light does wonders too...

good work so far!

 

[Imegnixs_Cinder]

As Psoulocybe already asked, what camera did you get can I also ask whats the shutter lag like on it? Im looking to get a new one, have my eye on the Minolta Z5 I have the fuji s5000 atm and I find the shutter lag is awfull!

 

[danread]

I don't agree w/ danread at all.

Manual focus isn't going to make better pictures... but how far from the bugs were you when you were taking these? It looks like they were too close for the lense. Generally , you need a meter to focus unless you're in macro mode... then it just depends on the camera.

Those photos are clearly taken in macro mode, normal focus on a mid range camera isnt going to allow him to get that close.

Why isnt manual focus going to help him get better photos? I'm not saying its the only way to do it, but one major problem people often have with macro photos is the auto focus ends up focusing on the substrate or the nearest part of the subject. By using manual focus, it give you complete control of which plane of focus you want to use in the picture, and it often helps get the overall picture in focus.

 

[Nick_schembri]

The B.vagans does not look much like a B.vagans to me.

 

[Imegnixs_Cinder]

Glad you mentioned that Nick, I was thinking same thing myself, looks too orange on the legs but maybe its just the light?

 

[GabooN]

to go along with danread's MF suggestion, also if your camara allows it, play around with the aperature settings, that way more of the spider can be in the depth of field (not saying it was really a problem with those pics but you might come accross it).

Basically it will allow more things over a greater distance to be in focus, and when working this close up to such small subjects it makes a difference.. unless you want to focus on one body part specifically.

im bad at explaining things sometimes

 

[Psoulocybe]

ok, he has a fuji F610

I'm not sure about aperature priority on this model, but the macro mode should work like a charm. you just have to find that sweet spot. take a bunch of pictures, and you'll learn what distance you can work with.

with 6 MP, i wouldn't be surprised if these were crop shots and not macro shots.

 

[nightbreed]

ok, he has a fuji F610

I'm not sure about aperature priority on this model, but the macro mode should work like a charm. you just have to find that sweet spot. take a bunch of pictures, and you'll learn what distance you can work with.

with 6 MP, i wouldn't be surprised if these were crop shots and not macro shots.

How in the name of........did you know what cam I have? :?

They are macro shots but I did crop in a bit to get a little closer, 6MP is sweet

I havent got a clue about the aperture priority either, I am such a noob when it comes to cameras (the only other cam I've owned for years was disposable)

MF really did help you should of seen the pics I took before I found that little gem

Thanks for all your comments and advice guys

Oh yeah I'm not sold on it being a vagans either the colours are all wrong in that pic though, I'll try and get some better ones tomorrow.

 

[Psoulocybe]

exif data....

plust the little camera i put in the corner of your bedroom figures that'd be the first place you'd use it

aperature is a little long to explain here, but here is a really basic run down of it:

http://www.searlstudio.com/digital-photo-blog03080511.htm

if you were in macro mode, you just have to find out where your lens' focal depth is.

generally, macro mode on a P&S isn't going to give you aperature control... you may just be at the mercy of the camera... but you should be able to pull some sweet shots w/ that sensor.

i'd suggest having some better lighting first. it'll make things soooo much easier.

 

[Imegnixs_Cinder]

Any idea what shutter lag is on it? Or does anyone know any camera at all that has good shutter lag time? Pleaseeee people, I'm desperate for help here lol.

 

[nightbreed]

Ahh cool, that was kind of freaky though

my wife has gone a vibrant shade of red

Yeah I tried using natural light today but being in the UK it was a little overcast so I gave up and used the built in flash.

Thanks for your advice and the link I'm going to have a look at it now.

Cheers

 

[nightbreed]

Any idea what shutter lag is on it? Or does anyone know any camera at all that has good shutter lag time? Pleaseeee people, I'm desperate for help here lol.

I'm a noob I only just about know which side to look through so how would I find out what the lag is? is it ISO?

 

[nightbreed]

A.huriana, ignore the shocking state of my nails I really must stop biting them

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Not a tarantula, but I was out and about a bit today after the weather brightened up and took this, original pic.

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cropped and touched up pic.

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[danread]

Shutter lag is the delay that occurs between pressing the shutter release button and the actual moment the picture is taken.

As people mentioned before, it's a good idea to try and get the smallest aperture possible when taking macro photos (the smaller apertures are represented by the larger F numbers, slightly confusing i know). By having the aperture set to its smallest setting, it creates a larger depth of field, meaning more of the subject is in focus. The downside is that you need more light to be reaching the subject otherise very long shutter speed are necessary, which result in blurred pictures if you arent using a tripod. So for this you need to be taking photos on a bright day, or to be using a flash.

If you have the manual aperture function on your camera it is often represented by an "A" n the function wheel (but it might not be, have a look in the manual).

Cheers,