Bow Pics

[The Butcher]

Everyone wants good bow pics.  I try and take them, and all my pics end up looking like they are a mile away.  How do you take a pic, that shows the detail, but is not huge to download?

[hunter319]

Get a tripod and set up your shot by looking through the view finder.  Gage the distance around your subject and zoom in.

[Outwest]

Any more advice on this subject?
I cannot get good pictures of the bow.
If I get close enough for any detail the picture is of just a portion of the bow.
I see pictures of large sections, or most of the bow that have very good detail.

Thanks
John

[swampthing]

Make sure you are focusing on the bow first off. Never just press the shutter button all the way and let it fly. Press the shutter button "LIGHTLY" "AND" only "HALFWAY." Now watch the LCD and see when, and what, it focuses on. If is not the bow move it a little further /or/ closer and press shutter halfway again.You may have to play around till you get the camera to focus on your area of choice. Focal point, the squares will turn green or just appear and stay on the focal point of the shot. If they are not on your subject, let up button, move subject, zoom a little in or out, you'll get it to focus on the subject just may take a couple of tries.
      Better to take 3 pics of different areas to show detail of the bow than trying to get one full length shot to show as much.
 A lot of cameras will allow you to focus at a range of about 6" away or so, the tough part is getting the cam to focus on the bow and not the backround. Try aiming the camera, so the bow, is directally in the center of the frame, you may have to find a different backround in a different area so that the cam will focus on the bow. Some cams have a "macro" button, it tells the cam to focus on close up things, inches. works good at a wide setting to let you get some more bow in the pic than when all zoomed in. Button looks like a flower with 2 leaves just below it.
     The way to get good pics is with good light. Sunrise/sunset beams are the best for pretty pics, but Daylight is good for showing accuracy.
         Once you have the good light you'll need to set thes camera's "white balance" to "cloudy." It will be in the cameras menu screens, might say, "WB" hit ok, scroll through and look for the symbal, in there, that looks like a cloud, hit ok. Some cameras have a "Color Mode" as well. Will have choices like; standard, natural, vivid, warm, etc.. etc.. pick "vivid" or "warm." Hit OK. now get out of that menu screen, usually just tap the shutter button halfway.
Sound complicated to a first time user, but really only takes a couple of secs once you get in there.
  If you hate it, absolutley hate it, just go back to the menus and set it all back to AUTO, and STANDARD. That way you'll enjoy the pale grey/blue pics you have always got with the setting that were designed in a lab to be "perfect."

[Outwest]

Thanks Swampthing.
I'll try your method.
Usually just shoot everything in auto cause I didn't know better.

John

[Winterhawk1960]

If I want good close-up pictures with a lot of detail, I take the pictures in manual mode.....if your camera has it. If not, the light meter in cameras is set to "over-expose" almost always when you shoot in auto mode. I set mine up to take bursts of three pics, one two clicks under, one at what the camera wants, and the last one at two clicks over.

It also helps if you have a "macro" setting on your camera. I haven't used a tripod to take any pictures........but it wouldn't be a bad idea to do so. I just take enough pictures that I'm bound to get a few good ones. NEVER just take one picture........always take more than you think you will need and you will have some pretty good shots.

I hope this helps

Winterhawk1960

[Ralphie]

I photograph a bow full length both broadside,showing belly, and back. Then looking down the bow, to show straightness.The broadside views are easy; just string it, hang it, frame it vertically,and shoot. Fill the frame with the bow.

Shooting down the bow is more difficult; you need to keep a greater area of sharpness down the length of the bow, in order that the bow can be clearly seen down it's entire length.
The picture needs a lot of what is known as "depth of field",or rather, sharpness both before, and after the point of focus.
You must control the point of exact focus.
You need to control the camera to do this.
I would also, highly recommend a tripod.
Set the camera on Aperture Priority and set the aperture to the highest number.
Focus the camera ONE THIRD down the bow, and lock the focus, while you compose the shot. Focusing 1/3 into the photo spreads the sharpness evenly across the bow.

Bow details are important. Tips, risers, posted #'s, any defects that would detract, from the condition, should be photographed.
(Surprises when buying and selling, are generally not good.)
When photographing details I use a tripod and use the Aperture Priority setting.
 Overall sharpness is generally good.

**(Many point and shoot cameras lack adjustable settings, and are less than ideal for bow photography.)
Ok,
good luck.
Ralph

[Ralphie]

Butcher,
About the "huge to download part";
this is what I do:
take the card out of the camera,
put it into a card reader,

take the file of pictures from the reader,and put it on the computer desktop,
open up photobucket.com
upload photos from the desktop to photobucket,
Instructions how to upload are above in this forum
If you do the uploading correctly, ending with the right file size, the photos fit perfect into a post on one of the forums.
You can always PM me if you need help.

[Horney Toad]

I like to take pictures of both sides of the riser, plus a picture of the whole bow strung, tips, etc.