Ugly Hedgehog Newsletter

Hi,

I use my Canon S5IS for eBay photos and always use the automatic setting. The S5IS doesn't seem to take as clear and crisp pictures when compared to less expensive cameras from 6.1 pixel Canon cameras I have used in the past. Since item photos are my interest is there a simple setting other than automatic that will improve the quality of my photos?

I purchased a Sunpak RD2000N Camera Flash 2 weeks ago and the flash is so powerful I have to use the flash all the way up vertical and it is still too bright in 95% of my photos. I know nothing about photography and all the complicated options the camera offers. Could the S5IS have an internal problem.

Thanks,
Pat

notnoBuddha

As to flash for eBay items I would suggest you do not use. Place the item next to a window {otside light} with a non-invasive backgroung sush as a bed sheet or bedspread and us a tripod or camera rest of some sort to reduce shake. Raise you ISO speed to at least 400. The picture quality required for such is so much lower then gallery display. Good luck

Jwilliams0469 Loc: Topeka, Ks.

You had not said if you turned the EV adjust down or not. If not press that button until the red indicator light reaches -1. if that's not bright enough, press it again. Defaut would be -0-. You may also try cleaning your flash electroids on your camera. I'm not to formilure with the S5IS but if it's digital your going to have flash controls in your menu as well, may want to turn it down as well.

If all else fails go to your local hardware store and get you a few clamp lights for $7.00 - $8.00 and some tissue paper. clamp the lights to something that will allow one light to shine over, but also behind the object and the other to shine front side of the object making sure the tissue paper (white) is placed in front of each light. ISO probably should be set to about 100 or 200 and your f/stop at f/2.4, focus manually for a crisper shot and always use a tripod!!!

Good luck!

P.S. You should use 120w light bulbs in the clamp lights! And make sure to use your internal flash if you have one. It will help!

KathyinNH Loc: Kingston, NH

Just be very careful when using tissue paper and high watt lights as the tissue can catch fire very easy so be very cautious.

Jwilliams0469 Loc: Topeka, Ks.

Yes I agree and never thought to say that very important fact. your tissue paper should be atleast 6inches away from the open light. But if you get it to far away the light will dull and become darker. Just be exremely careful when useing any type of paper not to leave the light on when not in the room or not in use.

KathyinNH Loc: Kingston, NH

I was just curious do you do many weddings? I would love to do them but I get cold feet. I'm paranoid that I will botch up on one of the key shots which is something you can't do in wedding photography, there is no retakes and that scares me. I have only done a few friends weddings and they have all been satisfied, but when I did my son's wedding on June 11th of this year and blew it on the photo of the bride and groom entering the reception hall. Being in the wedding party made it hard. I had to rush in to take the shot and only had time to do one shot and it was a little pixelated and really should have been deleted but unfortunately that was the only one I had to put in their 91 page photo albumn. I don't know what I would have done if that was a paying customer.

Jwilliams0469 Loc: Topeka, Ks.

Not sure who this question is towards? Myself, yes, I do wedding shoots every month. The key to weddings is to know exactly what will be happening at the exact time of the event. A normal wed-to-be couple will let you go to the practice event a day or two before the wedding. This is when you should be there and keeping a memo, or writing down what will happen as the day goes along. That same day after the practice, talk to the bride and groom about what they expect to see in their photographs. Then walk around the site to see where your best place's are to shoot. I normally create a map of the area, then I put a circle at each spot that I believe will be the perfect shooting area. Remember to always, always, choose more than just one spot. I normally have at least 5 different spots depending on the size of the wedding. same will go for the before and after events of the wedding. Believe it or not most brides and grooms want a few of then getting ready for the event as it should show the frustration of wanting to look perfect. Outdoor events are great, but indoor events are normally not lit for photographs. Take as many pictures as possible, I normally have my camera set up for rapid-fire. 20shots per second. I never know how many I've taken through-out the day but I always take a second memory card and a few extra sets of batteries for both my flash and my camera. Normally I can watch the entire event in pictures! (just to be safe) Then I go back to the studio and spend a few hours to sort out the ones that are exactly what we talked about on the previous day. I take those to the couple and if they agree, it's back to the studio and time for editing, job well done.

KathyinNH Loc: Kingston, NH

That's great that you do them every month. Do you offer photo albumns if so how many pages do you include? When I did my sons wedding I had 92 pages. I went a little overboard on his. Do you have a web site where I could view your wedding photos? I'd love to see them. I still would love to get into wedding photography.

Thanks for all the great info.