[zmil]

Hi Not sure about your camera

But the general rule for Photograph is More light !

The more light you have on the subject- the smaller the aperture - the greater the depth of field -and more is in focus

Even if you have to bring in some extra lights Some from the front - and side and a little from the rear
Try to eliminate any reflections (off the subject) by raising or lowering the front light
Try to eliminate shadows

Remember the Brain/eye compensates for what we see - the camera does not
So what may seem reasonable to the eye , can look harsh to the camera

Hope this helps

Regards Zmil

 

[zmil]

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 9 Jul 2008, 06:44) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I would suggest a good read of the manual to see exactly what your camera can and cannot do. I am still coming to terms with digital photography as I prefer my regular SLR for pictures. I know what I am doing with that whereas I am still figuring out how to recreate the same effects with the digital.

I only use the digital for photographs for the internet. However what I would say is get your self a tripod. Get as much, preferably natural, light on the subject as you can. Do not use flash at all. Smaller appertures give better pictures but you do have to balance this out with loss of depth of field. You need to consider each picture individually and what you want to represent in it. A book on photography would also be a good idea as this is a very broad subject.

Hi Neil you can get the best of both with a Digital SLR
It is amazing what you can do with them!
I took some photo's on a holiday in caves in our SW
using available light supplied by the National Park people to highlight the features in the caves
With Digital you can "set film Speed" (virtual film speed ) to 1600 ASA and not use flash
I just could not believe the results
"just like a postcard"
Regards Zmil

 

[zmil]

Hi Neil
yes The Mammoth , Jewel and Lake caves near Margaret River
Pictures can be grainy just as if you were using the real 1600 ASA film
I took some pictures in near total darkness
the only light of any strength was the camera's inbuilt light to assist in focusing
Those ones turned out grainy!
I was debating whether to take a tripod (glad I didn't)
Its a long haul

I'm still amazed at what you can do with digital
and the computer

Took a photo of my Grandson and Zoomed in to his eye using photo shop
you can see a perfect reflection of the photographer! on his cornea

Still , its harder to take pictures of little things , the closer you get the more your depth of field narrows

Regards Zmil

 

[zmil]

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 9 Jul 2008, 15:58) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks for that info Zmil. I have a feeling that it is going to cost me a lot of money. My EOS is getting on a bit and could do with an update.

The Digital SLR I use is the Canon EOS 20D bit old now as it a superseded by a newer model
So you can use the same lens and filters as yours
Did the same , replaced a EOS for a digital EOS
Regards Zmil

 

[zmil]

Nice Model

Next step would be to hide the background (non Model related bit)

Even if you have a piece of Blue painted cardboard as a temporary background
it helps in to highlight what you are wanting to show

But the rest is all good
Regards Zmil

 

[zmil]

Hi Neil
I think the new version of the EOS20D is the EOS40
Had a look at the Canon web site and its amazing what new improvements there are!
I wanted to download a manual as mine must be in storage
If you are accustomed to the 9 point auto focus of the EOS (it follows what your Eye looks at through the lenz)
The digital version is the same
The new models are definitely quick to respond
Regards Zmil