This report covers:
- Backgrounds
- The two rifles
- The point
- Example
- Background “eats” the subject
- Plain background
- Tripod
- Steady
- Summary
Today we look at backgrounds for airgun photography. I will also show you the tripod I use for my better shots. Let’s get started.
Backgrounds
Backgrounds are what is behind the subject and they set off the subject of a photo. The photographer who photographs airguns for guest blogs needs to make certain that’s all they do and nothing else. Let me show you why.
Here is a picture reader RidgeRunner sent for his Falke model 50 report. It has not been retouched.
The photo of the Falke model 50 that I received from RidgeRunner.
There are at least two things about this picture that could be improved. First, the light is coming from the left side and the dark rifle stock is not as well lit. There are things I can do in PhotoShop, but they have limits.
Here I have PhotoShopped the photo a little to make the rifle more visible. I only spent a minute doing this. There are other PhotoShop tools I could use to make the image better but they take a lot more time.
The second issue with the picture is the background is busy and detracts from the subject. In low light like this it’s difficult to see where the rifle ends and the background begins. I found it too difficult to look at so I removed the background and showed the rifle only.
This is the image you see in RidgeRunner’s guest blog reports. It isn’t perfect but at least you can see the rifle.
The two rifles
Here is the image of the two rifles Ridge sent to compare the relative sizes of the Falke 50 and an HW30.
The image RidgeRunner sent me.
I spent 20-30 minutes on this image — trying to lighten both rifles and also differentiate them from the background. Here is what I got.
After some time in PhotoShop this is what I was able to do with the image.
The point
The point I’m making here is don’t allow either of these things to make more work for you. Light your subjects as evenly as possible — remember the indirect lighting trick from Part 4. And choose a background that does not detract from the subject. What I’m telling you here may go against artistic guidelines, but I do it for a reason. What we want to see in guest blogs are the airguns.
Example
Let me now give you an example of my point. Remember that revolver I showed in Part 4?
The best photo of the revolver from Part 4.
What if I put that revolver on a busy background?
Nope. A busy background is not for the revolver. Where is the hammer?
Background “eats” the subject
Some backgrounds are inappropriate for different reasons. One is the background that “eats” the subject. By eat I mean it obscures or covers up details. Let’s see.
This background obscures parts of the subject. You can’t see the cylinder crane in this one.
Plain background
Now let’s look at the same subject with a plain background. I have done no image enhancement on this photo.
The same revolver photographed on a plain background with no image enhancement.
Tripod
All photos shown today that I took except for the ones you are about to see were taken with the camera mounted on a tripod. I often use a Benbo tripod. Benbo is a British brand that’s based on a machine gun mount that has a bent bolt.
My Benbo Traveller tripod.
The Benbo is a professional tripod and not cheap. How expensive are they? I traded an HW55 Tyrolean for a large one. I don’t think anyone should consider a tripod like this unless they take a lot of product photos. But there are wonderful tripods that are very inexpensive.
For just ten dollars you can buy a used tripod that will do everything you need. I actually looked this up on eBay for you. I have a used Vivitar 42-1-4 tripod that’s ideal for guest blogs. Reader Ian McKee gave it to me. On eBay the cheapest one of those I saw was selling for $18, which is still a bit costly. But I did find an even better tripod selling for just ten bucks. It’s also a Vivitar, and it extends from about 8 inches to 52 inches. Five dollars will probably buy something useable at a garage sale (car boot sale for the Brits).
Vivitar 42-1-4 tripod. This one extends from 10 up to 42 inches.
Steady
A tripod allows you to compose the picture instead of just pressing the button when everything is in the frame. If you don’t have a tripod and can’t get one, find some other way to steady the camera. But remember — a tripod helps you compose the picture by leaving your hands free.
Summary
In this report we have looked at backgrounds and the use of camera tripods. If you want to write a guest blog and take good pictures, these are some things to remember.
Tom,
Without cropping is it possible to take pictures manually (without a tripod) avoiding the feet?
Siraniko
Siraniko,
I do it all the time. I just have a background problem.
Most often I find myself standing on chairs and taking photos from straight above the “subject”. Resting your arms on the chair back and extending your arms over the “subject” can help you hold the camera almost as steady as his awesome tripod.
Another issue I have is indirect lighting. I am learning to compensate, but it can be difficult as I have large windows which allow a good bit of light in when and where I do not want it. Low, white ceilings would likely help, but I live in a log cabin with wood cathedral ceilings. Indirect lighting can be difficult, but I am starting to learn.
I also need to find a simpler background, hopefully not too dark. My problem is my eye likes to feast upon the various wood grains around RidgeRunner’s Home For Wayward Airguns. There are really very few “plain” surfaces around here.
BB beats on me all the time about my poor photo skills. I am a bit slow, but one of these days I will catch on.
RR,
Consider yourself beaten. And check out those cheap tripods on eBay or at garage sales. They really do help!
BB
BB,
There are a couple around here. I just need to use them. I also need to use a different background.
I’ve been a bad boy.
Siraniko,
Since I use PhotoShop all the time I usually don’t worry about cropping. But I would use the camera’s zoom feature to crop if necessary. As long as the picture is in focus, I can usually work with it.
BB
Yes, plain background makes the foreground jump out.
Bed sheets are usually a good background…
-Yogi
Yogi,
Not a bad idea.
Yogi,
Yes, but not white sheets, please.
BB
Nice, medium blue ones are great. Actually, any color will work with the exception of white. White sheets reflect the light too much and obscure the dark features you are likely wanting to bring out.
Have I learned anything BB?
RR,
Since you’re doing a bunch of guest blogs (thank you !) I thought I’d add a comment on what setup I use for my photos.
Instead of a smooth sheet try using a light pastel colored flannel blanket – gray, blue, green or mauve works well. The slightly rough surface makes for a more even background with less reflections and shadows. I try to set the subject as far from the background as I can so the the background is out of focus.
I use a couple of goose-necked led floor lamps for lighting. The ones I have feature multiple color temperatures and brightness levels. Being able to twist the lamp head makes it easier to control where the light shines and manage too bright highlights and too dark shadows.
I put one lamp on each side for even lighting and a third to reduce the shadows on the background to help define the subject.
Just some comments from an old guy who has been an amateur photographer for half a century 🙂
Hope this helps!
Hank
Hank,
Those type of backgrounds will work great. I have just about licked the lighting issue, but apparently I still have background issues. I think my best photos are when I lay something on my kitchen table and photo it. It is solid walnut and has some beautiful swirls, knots and such in it.
I have to give BB something to fuss about with me. 😉
or black sheets…
-Y
Kinky.
Tripods are multi-use items. People use them for spotting scopes, binoculars, shooting off of, photography, etc. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on one (but can if you want to). Here’s a photo I found on a shooting forum.
I had already thought similar thoughts as BB’s to myself about the busy backgrounds in RR’s photos. Yogi’s idea is a good one.
I’ll bet this guy thinks of himself as a “great white hunter” after gut shooting that poor deer at a gazillion yards. I wonder how far it ran before finally dropping.
I do not care how much you chew on that rack; you are not likely to get any nourishment from it.
He is probably using a tripod on his camera right now.
Nice, medium blue ones are great. Actually, any color will work with the exception of white. White sheets reflect the light too much and obscure the dark features you are likely wanting to bring out.
In photography I am remedial or worse. But I take pictures of my guns and have found by trial and error that a solid neutral color light/medium blue smooth carpet in a room with no glaring lights puts the focus on gun details.
Deck
Light-colored carpet background and indirect sunlight can work too – image captured by iPhone 7S.
Basil,
A great use of light!
BB
Thanks Tom – says the amateur airgunner/photographer. 🙂
And no feet in the picture…bonus points.
We must strive to de-feet our photographic errors, RG!
Oh, the agony of de-feet!
Basil,
Here’s what can be done in PhotoShop in less than a minute.
BB
Nice result; the subjects are very clear and stand out as they should – do not have PhotoShop but have been thinking about playing with GIMP, soon as FM finds his Round Tooit for that. This was a fun, useful report B.B.
“…I removed the background and showed the rifle only.”
BB,
Wow! What a difference that makes; that’s really impressive. 🙂
Wishing you a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!
dave