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How to Photograph Scale Models?

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  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Chicago, USA
How to Photograph Scale Models?
Posted by MonsterZero on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 8:12 PM
Taking even the simplest shots is giving me a hard time (picture not sharp enough and focus problems). I tried finding resources on the web but I can't; probably not using the right keywords. My goal is to obtain quality like in this Dragon picture. Plain and simple background but the model looks razor-sharp focused and nicely lit.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 10:45 PM
Okay, that's a serious studio shot, probably done with a large format (big film) camera with expensive lighting and a very long expposure time (throgh a very small aperture{lens opening}). If you're shooting with a digital camera, you're ahead of the game with white blalance and the ability to dump poor shots without paying to process them. I have what (today) would be considered a middl eof the road digital but with some really good optics (lens). I take my model pictures on my work desk with three incandescent lamps that I can move around to reduce shadows. Since I do a lot of figures, I can get up close and personal. I use a piece of remnant from a fabric shop as a backdrop. It's a light grey. I never shoot outdoors and try not to rely on the flash, since both create harsh shadows. Looking at that picture, it has a very diffused light source from the upper right, probably bounced from an umbrella and some less strong light from the camera. The exposure was probably pretty long on slow speed film with a very small opening in the lens to let light through.

So, what you should check out on your camera...Is here a "Macro" setting, a button with a littel flower icon? Can you adjust any settings? Use a tripod and set the aperture to the biggest number of the shutter speed as slow as possible. Worst case, use your zoom feature if you have one and back off from the model. Crop the model in the viewfinder and use the flash.

Hope this helps.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

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