Taking Quality Pictures of Long Guns

One thing I did just remember - timer. No matter how fast or lightly I'd depress the shutter release, I would always move the camera just a tidge, so now I always use a timer.

Wow, looks like I deleted the pics from Photobucket that I had posted earlier.

Remember sometimes you can make an image work by showing the whole gun but that can be tricky. If you're trying to photograph the entire gun then finding the right angle can really help.




Sometimes you can get up close and personal with long guns and it will work just fine or even better. Cropping is difficult for some and just requires practice and experimentation.

I thought I'd list some other photo threads on THR here. They are worth a look as well:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=358268&highlight=photography


http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=57796

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=300696&highlight=photography

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=222019&highlight=photography

And here's one with advice on what digital camera to get and some lighting tips

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=289056&highlight=photography

Here's a thread on taking handgun pics with a scanner:

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=285623

This is a short thread on light boxes with links to other threads.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=291168&highlight=photography

Here's one on how to capture muzzle flash:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=255637&highlight=photography

And here's the "Image matters" that I believe is also on the THR library.

http://www.alumbankweb.com/img_matters/

Great thread!

Best thing I found was to shoot outside, but not in direct sunlight, and to shoot from an angle. Have the gun propped up on it's side and don't shoot from straight on. It seems to give depth to the photo.

Great thread, with a lot of great info.

I bought a light green, microfiber blanket from the local "Big Lots" store (about $10) and use that as background. The green color enhances the look of wood and presents with enough contrast to set off the metal components of the subject. I works OK in well lit shade, but is better if photographed at twilight, or in early morning light.

I realize the question was asked about full length shots and I had some. Problem is they were taken (the photos) for an auction site and deleted after the sale.

Without getting fancy--

Outdoors, anywhere in the shade or with overcast light.

Indoors, by a big window but not in direct light.

Make sure your white balance is set, most compact digitals can do this. I like a telephoto perspective to not make the gun appear disproportionate, but sometimes you want want to do so (ex use a wide angle to make the barrel look longer).

To get fancy: www.strobist.com

The biggest problem most people have in getting good pictures, of anything really, is lighting. They either don't have enough, or it's too harsh and and you get glare. You need lots of light, and it needs to be indirect or diffused light. Natural light works great too, but if your using a digital camera you can adjust the white balance and fix the color effects from artificial light.

So your post prompted me to try to take a good pic.....all I can say is it was tough! I didn't do anything special...I just put up a sheet and tried some different arrangements......I took a few hundred pics and very few came out very good at all. Just take lots of pics and try various angles and I think you'll end up with a few good ones. Natural light worked the best. The good news is you don't need to waste film with a decent digital camera....Just snap away.

Am I the only one that has noticed that taking a good picture of the entire rifle is difficult.

Click to expand...

Heh.I find taking any picture of anything difficult. I just seem to have real problems getting pictures to come out clear, and decent looking. Having them be especially nice, fancy, etc like a lot of people here can do is somehow WAY beyond my ability.Granted, I have only a mid-level digital camera with no tripod, but plenty of people here manage to do way better than me with equal or lesser equipment, so, it must be me.