N0Spaceview
02-17-2007, 04:40 PM
Just some ideas. Get a good camera with a decent macro setting and at least 4 MP. You can now get some 6+ MP for cheap too. Don't spend all your money and time on the camera. Just get one with a fast glass lens (Canon, Sony, HP and some Olympus) that is made of high quality optical GLASS and not junk. You can do some online research to find out lens detail before you buy.

Pointers to getting great pics from my experience...in order of importance:

1) Good lighting. Outdoors on a bright day in shade is excellent. Also, a light tent is very helpful for crummy weather more esoteric stuff.

2) Learn your post processing software (crop, sharpen, noise reduction). You can get some good stuff from $50 and up. Some even free.

3) Correct white balance setting. You will fail almost every time unless you get this right (the auto setting often works well). When outside this is normally not a problem...indoors it almost always is.

4) Tripod. Use one any time you can.

5) Camera with high quality lens.

Try about 10 shots of every pic you want. Change up your shutter speed, aperture and slight angle changes. If indoors move the lighting around some for the same shot.

At the end of the day you might have 400 pix and walk away with 5. I think I toss out pics on about a 50 to 1 ratio.

Gotta love the virtual dark room!!