How to photograph your collection

[Erwin L]

detail close up

[Erwin L]

other detail close up

[Erwin L]

another detail

[Erwin L]

black and white

[Erwin L]

antique look

[panzerguy]

Ring light pic

flourescent ring light with the center magnifying lens removed. you can take pics with this as the sole light source.

[panzerguy]

ring light pic result

play with the distance/shadows by moving camera up/down and adjusting zoom, and "wa la"

[panzerguy]

ring light

bought mine at Staples - $25

[panzerguy]

ring light set up

a no brainer

[panzerguy]

last pic example using ring light and SONY F717

metal body Sony F717 - no longer produced, but still can be found for sale used.

No tripod needed (camera adjusts to brightness automatically by using fast shutter speed = sharp pics).

No shadow box needed.

just need 1) table, 2) camera, 3) ring light, 4) 2 hands, 5) outlet, and 6) tasty militaria - only can be used for small stuff

[panzerguy]

very last pic - ring light

what the heck. blue background

[Marc Garlasco]

Nice option if all you are doing is badges. But I like the box for the versatility and for larger items. And the box is diffuse light and works for taking book-quality photos. The ring is ok for the web though.
Marc

[Robert P.]

Very good tutorial Marc,

I also like natural settings...

Robert

[Robert P.]

and unnatural...

Robert

[Robert P.]

I took this shot on a tripod, low-light condition, using a high (for my camera) f-stop, high EV setting, macro setting. The lower shutter speed and low-light condition really caught the natural tone of the badges. I was pleasantly surprised. I was getting ready to buy a new camera until I found out how to use a higher f-stop, and set my camera's turret on 'A' (aperture) setting for full field of view shots. I just set my camera back about 18" from my subject, choose a higher resolution setting, use the higher f-stop on 'A' setting, and automatic shutter release (same results as 10-second timer). It doesn't matter how bright my artificial lighting is - I just set my EV to compensate.

I use a Sony DSC-F717, so my settings are different from what Marc's camera uses/demands. My f-stop only goes as high as 8.0, so I'm a little handicapped.

Robert