Avatar
Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_TopicIcon
Tips for Good Gun Photos
Avatar
wdelack
Blacksburg, VA.
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 870
Member Since:
January 22, 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
21
August 7, 2014 - 3:40 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

I found a light tent purchased from Amazon works quite well for indoor shooting.  The one I purchased included two light fixtures on tripods and color neutral CFL bulbs.  Also included are 4 color backgrounds.  Many of my newer gun pictures were produced via a light tent like in the picture below

 

Light-tent.jpgImage Enlarger

3PPCLined.jpg

Avatar
photohause
Sebastian, FL
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 2253
Member Since:
February 20, 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
22
August 7, 2014 - 6:08 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

That sir is going in the correct direction to much better lighting!

Photo

 If you're going to drink, don't drive. Don't even putt. 

Avatar
ontargetagain
North Central Ohio
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 23
Member Since:
January 5, 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
23
January 15, 2015 - 7:10 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

I have enjoyed photography for a very long time and for many years and currently still contribute to a wonderful photography forum called Fred Miranda. I will offer some suggestions to those that struggle with images and try to be general in my response.

First the more light you have the better the image will likely be. A single source light or single flash will often have very bright and very dark areas. If you have a flash that you can angle the light to bounce it off a neutral (gray) or white surface it will help scatter and diffuse the light which gives less contrast and that means more range of color and details.

Digital cameras have an Auto White Balance control so make sure 'WB' is set for Auto. What this will do is correct the color cast that household lights give (yellowish) or fluorescent lights (greenish) give off in color. However you still need window light or you can purchase light bulbs or compact flourescents that have 'Daylight' balanced light. This will show a Kelvin temperature rating of approximately 5200 degrees, regular incandescent house bulbs are more around 2700 degrees which is yellow. The higher the number the 'whiter' the light to the point of almost being a blue-white light.

If you can elevate your gun off the ground or separate it from a backdrop it will help eliminate shadows that are often cast. Use white foam board or even aluminum foil to help direct light to the subject. Angle the gun to help avoid direct reflecting light from light sources. A tripod or setting the camera on the table will help with sharpness in the images as at times the camera uses a slow shutter speed to gather enough light for the image however we can't hold it steady enough to prevent blur at these shutter speeds, kind of like holding your gun perfectly still on a target vs resting it on a shooting brace:)

Keeping the gun parallel to the camera will help ensure most all stays in focus, angling it away may show a selected focus area and other areas out of focus which is a creative tool used in photography with those experienced in how to achieve it with specific camera settings.

If you have a specific question regarding how to photograph or have a specific problem image let me know, I may have a way to 'fix' your image or a suggested method to re photograph it better to your likingsbig-grin

The above method in the light tent is an excellent choice for getting light in all the nooks and crannies! I think that is a bottle of bourbon though LOL

Hope a few of things you may find helpful........

Karl cool

Avatar
Shipwreck
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 27
Member Since:
January 5, 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
24
February 8, 2016 - 10:34 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

I generally have to go outside and use the sun for good lighting. However, direct sunlight causes shadows. I prefer cloudy days the best. Otherwise, I've had issues with the camera trying to get good photos of those small black objects we call guns.

Avatar
mister callan
Mid-Atlantic
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 491
Member Since:
February 21, 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
25
February 8, 2016 - 11:15 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

For the best outdoor lighting go somewhere in the shade. Direct sunny light is way too harsh, you want softer, more diffused cloudy days for the best effects.

Indoors, if you don't have studio lights DO NOT use the camera flash. that's the absolute worst light ever. Its much better to use window light with the gun close to the window so it gets lots of it. You don't need fancy equipment, but it does make it easier.

 

The simplest light accessory is a sheet of craft foam from Wally-World. Just prop it up so it catches the window light & bounces it back at the gun. Guns are mostly dark colored so if your camera has a "bracket" option turn it on. If it only has exposure compensation (+ or -) try setting it to + 1.5 or even + 2.0 to add detail to the dark areas.

Matthew Quigley on handguns:

“I said I never had much use for one. Never said

I didn't know how to use it.”

Avatar
TonyRumore
Oklahoma
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 9
Member Since:
January 13, 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
26
February 8, 2023 - 7:52 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

If you have some nice equipment to take a gun pic, you can shoot it on any background.  But if you're the typical GunBroker seller with a point-and-shoot camera, DO NOT put your gun on a WHITE background!  The camera is going to pic up the white background, auto-darken the shot, and your gun is going to look like a black silhouette blob. 

Tony

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 658
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 67
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
Steve: 10330
SHOOTIST357: 4788
Dave_Ks: 4300
Ole Dog: 4079
Stinger: 3454
Supermagfan: 3250
zoommb: 3161
IHMSA80x80: 3014
Blacktop: 3004
brucertx: 2311
Newest Members:
FLAZ2025
FLAZ2024
AshleyPusia
Massofut
FrancisVak
Del Padre
TheGreenWeenie
hammerhead57
crypto7cheed
Safiylalt
Forum Stats:
Groups: 11
Forums: 42
Topics: 16847
Posts: 148395

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 87
Members: 11681
Moderators: 4
Admins: 1
Administrators: Jody
Moderators: lbruce, Charger Fan, rwsem, SCORPIO