Anyone got any good photo tips?

[Ashley]

Sean, the nose on the last one, I LOVE it!

 

[Sean]

It looks really good till she gives the camera a kiss and she has done that.
It's less of a problem with the iPhone than the Nikon D200.

Sean

 

[ambiente18]

Bah! Photographing cats is super easy! For shots like these, it takes some prep: Play with four legged photo subjects with wand toys or laser pointer until fatigue and exhaustion set in (for both you and your cats; but mostly you), then feed cats/kittens heavily; all they can eat. Don't skimp. Wait patiently until they pass out, preferably in one location, like the couch. Pour self stiff alcoholic drink. Turn phone and TV off. Send skeptical, can't-be-bribed-to-help, human better half off to another room and close the door. Quietly clear a table or other desired platform. Grab camera with fully charged battery, set to desired setting. Tuck said wand toy inside shirt or clench in your teeth. A new, rattly, noisy wand toy they haven't seen before is even better. Replenish drink. Moving with stealth and efficiency, gently grasp groggy, overfed, play-exhausted cats/kittens one by one and place on platform or table in a row facing you. When all are sleepily assembled and before they waken, pull wand toy out from between your boobs or teeth, and flick it urgently back and forth in front of dazed cats/kittens. Position self so camera is at cat chest level. Ignore your groaning knees and back. Re-activate camera and start clicking. Don't stop. Keep flicking wand toy, fast and furious. Gently bop the lazy ones with half-closed eyes if absolutely necessary. Snap, snap, snap with your camera. Keep snapping. Pray the camera battery holds out, and your knees. Pick up now wide awake and very alert cats/kittens who jump to floor, and plop them back on table/platform while avoiding vulgar cursing out loud. Snap, snap, snap. Sigh deeply or curse again when it is obvious the cats/kittens are onto your scheme, clearly over the photo op and are now very hungry. Again. If you are really, really lucky, out of say, 239 pics, you will get two or three pics that are....barely acceptable. I am not kidding. This is a good goal to achieve when photographing cats. Fix self new, double-shot drink; you deserve it. Golden Rule #1: Photoshop or other apps are your best friend....remember this above all. I use Irfanview. Crop out the dusty ceiling and dirty dishes from your pics. Finish drink. Share cute kitten/cat pics on forum and FB. Vow to hire professional photographer when you can afford it or win the lottery

Thanks for the great advice . But what kind of camera you need to have ( as minimum and as maximum) for this photo shoots?

 

[Sean]

When I just happen to be taking the quick snaps I tend to use my iPhone because it
lives in my shirt pocket. the other times I get out my Nikon D200 SLR. I have gotten good
photos with both cameras but prefer the D200 because of the image aspect and file size.
More data to work with in Photoshop. My hardest thing is shooting many shots. I am from a
time of film and that cost money for a large amount of shots and hope that you get one.
That is why I was asking about setup tricks. If you can setup a shot and only take a few photos
and have most be good vs 500 shots and 1 is good.

Sean

 

[Pam Flachs]

Thanks for the great advice . But what kind of camera you need to have ( as minimum and as maximum) for this photo shoots?

I currently use an old Fujifilm FinePix s700 digital on its last legs. The flash won't pop up and is duct-taped open, lol. It's also slow as molasses, although I have got some pretty decent pics with it using the auto setting with macro (close-up). I'm not savvy enough to mess with the other settings it has. It helps to make sure the batteries are very fresh or re-charged, and if your camera takes AA batteries, that the power wattage is at least 1800 NIHM, 2300 is better. That info is on the side of the batteries or the package it comes in. It really makes a difference. I also make sure the SD card is empty, and actually have several, but my favorite is the 8GB card, and I can take tons of pics before it is full.

I wish I could offer more advice as to what camera to use....I am currently in the market for one that will take faster pics without breaking the bank, and as I don't want to mess constantly with settings, finding a point and shoot that takes fast shots is proving a challenge My camera only can take two fast pics in a row, and it's too much of a pain to do, so I just take the regular one-at-a-time shots. Using the flash slows down a camera considerably (mine, anyway) so I try to take pics in good light, not always an option for candid shots.

 

[Sean]

You could look into one of the older D-SLR's I can use my D200 in full auto and
fire faster than I can push the button. Then when I want to really work on some thing I can ajust
the way the camera acts if I need to. But the older D-SLR's have come down in price and there
more and more on the market as used cameras.
But the best camera is the one that you feel comfortable with and that can be anything from a
cheep point and shoot to a Hasselblad large format camera. But keep in mind that with the
D-SLR type you can get different lenses and they very in quality and price. The only one I
see that has a downfall is the Sony because you have to use there lens system from Sony and it's $$.
Look at Fuji, Cannon, Minolta and Nikon. Everyone makes a lens for then and you can get less costly
lens or very $$ ones. It really depend on your need. BTW the Sony Camera is a nice camera.
I just don't like to be stuck with one lens source.
Here is a photo that I also took with the D200 I just switched the lens to some thing with more reach

I am looking for a nice closeup (Macro) lens for my next purchase.
Sean :-drink

P.S. Photo of the Wild Horse Monument on I-90 Vantage,WA

 

[ambiente18]

I currently use an old Fujifilm FinePix s700 digital on its last legs. The flash won't pop up and is duct-taped open, lol. It's also slow as molasses, although I have got some pretty decent pics with it using the auto setting with macro (close-up). I'm not savvy enough to mess with the other settings it has. It helps to make sure the batteries are very fresh or re-charged, and if your camera takes AA batteries, that the power wattage is at least 1800 NIHM, 2300 is better. That info is on the side of the batteries or the package it comes in. It really makes a difference. I also make sure the SD card is empty, and actually have several, but my favorite is the 8GB card, and I can take tons of pics before it is full.

I wish I could offer more advice as to what camera to use....I am currently in the market for one that will take faster pics without breaking the bank, and as I don't want to mess constantly with settings, finding a point and shoot that takes fast shots is proving a challenge My camera only can take two fast pics in a row, and it's too much of a pain to do, so I just take the regular one-at-a-time shots. Using the flash slows down a camera considerably (mine, anyway) so I try to take pics in good light, not always an option for candid shots.

Thank you very much, I will think what kind of camera to buy (now I have Canon IXUS 950 IS )

 

[HappyS]

We just try to use a camera with the continuous taking of the pictures where it takes 3 shot per second so we get 5 photos and 1 useable one! :D

 

[WitchyWoman]

Well I was good 'n stiff tonight trying to get pics of them with some new toys and it didn't work.

 

[Sean]

Have you tried Catnip? I have 3 catnip addicts and after they get there snort
then really calm down. I had totally forgotten about that. No photos tonight
just play and catnip.

Sean