Keys to Great Mando Photography?

[jjboone101]

I need advice/inputs from the expert photographers here on the Cafe as to the best way to get high-quality close up shots of mandos.

BTW, I have a Fuji FinePix S5200 digital camera with a 10x optical zoom (and I'm probably using less than 10% of the camera's capabilities...).

Thanks in advance for your help.

[man dough nollij]

I've seen threads on that here before. IIRC, Hans had some good pointers.

[MikeEdgerton]

I recall the thread you're talking about but haven't found it yet. Frank Ford has this (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/General/PhotoStudio/photostudio.html) page on his www.frets.com.

[jjboone101]

thanks. I'd like to avoid the prospect of fashioning a a make-shift "studio" as Frank outlines, if possible.~o)

[man dough nollij]

Here's the thread. (http://mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43765&highlight=photograph)

[jjboone101]

Great. Thanks!

[Capt. E]

I will agree that a polarizer is the single best accessory you can get. As far as the f stop is concerned, it makes no difference film vs digital. Depth of field is determined by the focal length/aperature ratio. Digital cameras tend to have a smaller focal length for the same angle of view due to the fact that the digital sensor is almost always considerably smaller than a frame of 35mm film. That accounts for the increased depth to field with most digital cameras. Plus the maximum aperature tends to be smaller. You just don't see digital cameras with f 1.4 lenses (except for slr's).

I will add one more thing. With digital images, you need to know the end use of the photo. If you are posting photos on the web, you don't need big files. A 3 megapixel camera setting will give you way more than enough.
If you are making prints, you don't need a resolution of around 300 ppi (pixels per inch). That is about the maximum capability of most printers. You take the size print you are making, say an 8 x 10, multiply the size by 300 and you get an image of 2400 x 3000 pixels. Actually, a 2400 x 3000 pixel image can be printed much larger than 8 x 10, but there are too many details to go into now.

[John Flynn]

You also have to encourage the mandolin. Say things like, "You look great! Oh yeah, baby, very sexy! Work with me baby, work with me!" :))

[woodwizard]

You also have to encourage the mandolin. Say things like, "You look great! Oh yeah, baby, very sexy! Work with me baby, work with me!" :))

:)):)) your crazy John! :)) just kidding :)

But that's what I would say too

[alanz]

You should not anthropomorphize mandolins... it upsets them.

[MikeEdgerton]

That was the thread, I thought Hans started it but it was indeed danb.

[Ivan Kelsall]

You have exactly the same camera as i have. I'm NOT an expert photographer,just an enthusiastic one. The 'preparation' for taking the photographs is all important. I always go for a good natural light if i can,if that isn't available then i'll go with an ordinary light source or flash photography.
For close up work a tripod is abslutely necessary to get rid of 'hand shake'. It's always puzzled me why digital cameras (at least the Fuji ones) don't have a screw thread for a cable release like the old roll film cameras had (have).That way you don't touch the camera at all. You need to switch over to 'Macro' mode & getting so close,you do need to make sure that your subject is well lit.
Just take you time with your set up & try a few pics first to see how they come out. With digital cameras you have all the time to play around with the set up,at no loss of film & development,so try a few pics on Auto.,if you aren't getting the results that you want,switch to either 'shutter
priority' or 'aperture priority' & try those modes. For my own purposes,Auto has always worked well.
Take your time & get the set up right & good luck,
Saska

[danb]

Yeah I can summarize my contributions to the first thread:

- it's pretty easy to take good shots outside with even cloud cover (a natrually diffuse source of light)
- add a polarizer to your lens to get rid of most bad reflections
- try lots of photos to get one good one, keep trying the same shot until you get it right

[grassrootphilosopher]

http://mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30916 was started by someone else and gives you quite a few aditional ideas about taking first rate mando pictures.

[JEStanek]

Saska,
Many of the digital cameras use wireless cable releases, at least my Nikon DSLR does. You may also have a timed release (2 second delay) mode with your camera if you don't want to get a cheap remote trigger (I got a non-Nikon one for my D40 for like $5 off Ebay). I like Kenrockwell.com (http://www.kenrockwell.com/) for DSLR user guides for almost all the main DSLRs and advice for shooting things. It's a great resource. His reviews can also keep you from turning into an utter gearhead buying the latest everything. Good sensible advice.

Jamie

[Timbofood]

Difference between amateur and professional photographer?
size of trash can (whether real or digital).

[Capt. E]

If you don't have something like an electronic release then just use the self timer. Works great for static subjects.