[TheForge] Re: Photographing your work

Wed Jun 4 23:14:00 2003

Phlip:

For what we do as smiths, I've found the digital camara meets all my needs in photographing work and other general uses.

I use a Nikon 2500 from the Coolpix series. Cost about $500 in December. Each manufacturer includes a CD to download the program necessary to manipulate your images in your computer. There are numerous aftermarket programs like Picassa and the like, but they charge either monthly fees or a purchase price.  For my needs these are superfluous. I'm an experienced photographer with darkroom time going back 30 years. I've found the real benefits of digital are: it offers immediacy in getting image from camara to computer to usable form, immediate review of image in the field or studio, and no developing expense if you have a color printer on your computer. Chain drugstores enable you to do enlargements in their facilities quickly.

The Nikon and many other makes have a built in flash that engages far too often for my taste. I keep a piece of masking tape over the flash lens to diffuse and block it when it goes off. Makes for softer images. Digital is excellent in low light environments. The subtlties of finishes and hammer marks takes a little work to capture well, but it all is getting to know your camara's capabilites in the ambient light environment. 

I'd go on but it is hard for me to sit long now that I have this thing forge welded and stuck in my prominent arse. LOL.

Reynolds

So, I'll ask_ What's YOUR choice of camera- function vs cost? Do you have a computer program that coordinates with your camera, to give you the best possible images? If so, what is it? Are there any tricks of lighting and arrangement that give you the best possible images to display your work? If so, what are they? Phlip

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