How to take decent pictures?

[MaidenLili]

Hey all!

As a result of only recently becoming forum active, I find myself in a conundrum: I now have reason to post piccies of my shinki, but have never had any experience at all with photography. Graffias insists, naturally, that she won't appear in any photos unless I make her look glamorous, so I guess I'm outta luck until I figure out how to get this to work out right.

I'm working with an old 2 megapixel digital camera, and all the photos I take seem to turn out rather blurry, despite attempts to provide good lighting and to steady the camera on a pile of sturdy books.

Anybody care to give the poor newbie some toy photography advice?

Thanks a bunch!

~MaidenLili

[halconfenix]

first and foremost: get a tripod and look for a timer function in your camera

2nd: lighting is key factor when taking pics, the more natural light the better

[timelord_science]

Make sure to use the micro/macro function (it's usually a little flower icon) !

[Benio]

Save your files with the largest file setting your camera uses. This will give you the opportunity to "zoom in" in your pics while using image editing software and not have jaggies in the picture.

[Deviant Anomaly]

I'm working with an old 2 megapixel digital camera, and all the photos I take seem to turn out rather blurry, despite attempts to provide good lighting and to steady the camera on a pile of sturdy books.

Sounds like you might be getting a little too close to your subject matter and the camera isn't able to focus. I'd pull back a bit and experiment with different distances until you find the clarity you're looking for.

What type of camera are you using?

[MaidenLili]

Hey,

Thanks for the tips, all. I heard about the distance thing in some other forums too and tried it, it seems to work a lot better from a ways further back.

Unfortunately, my camera doesn't have a very good zoom, and the "macro" mode on it produces pretty bad results. I'll post pics later for examples; if anyone's got any advice on macro mode usage that'd be pretty nifty. I've seen it recommended several times, but I have yet to get anything good out of it. For reference, I'm using an old Kodak DC280 Zoom. It's passable, but I'm really thinking of getting a newer one.

~MaidenLili

[riltht]

Hey,

Thanks for the tips, all. I heard about the distance thing in some other forums too and tried it, it seems to work a lot better from a ways further back.

Unfortunately, my camera doesn't have a very good zoom, and the "macro" mode on it produces pretty bad results. I'll post pics later for examples; if anyone's got any advice on macro mode usage that'd be pretty nifty. I've seen it recommended several times, but I have yet to get anything good out of it. For reference, I'm using an old Kodak DC280 Zoom. It's passable, but I'm really thinking of getting a newer one.

~MaidenLili

For the macro mode, try holding down the shutter button until it becomes clear.(Might not work, but it's worth trying.)

[Glace Leau]

Usually, the point of macro mode is to be able to take pictures of small things closer up. With it on, though, the camera has to be more still. Are you using a tripod/stack of books and/or a timer? And if you're taking pictures from further back the macro won't be too much help.