new camera

[kellyink]

just bought a new camera (digital). i've been using a 35mm til now.

its a nikon cool pix L3, is this a good camera for getting nice pics of tattoo, without the blur, and can i get good close-up shots with it?

[dethzen]

Since you've already bought it, you can experiment and see how it does, and let the rest of us know... I have a Nikon CoolPix 5600 and I absolutely love it... it took a little getting used to using digital, but I like the instantaneousness of it now.

[undercover art]

You should be able to snap a picture, and then zoom in on (crop) the photo. Most digital cameras have this feature, you can move the photo around, zoom, change brightness,etc.. from the edit menu while in the photo folder (your saved photos). When I use digital, I take a picture that takes best advantage of the light source, and then zoom in to show what I want to focus on. The great thing about digital is that you can snap tons of pics and experiment with what works for you without development fees. I would recomend that when you snap a pic of a tattoo for your portfolio, you use a tri-pod (everyone shakes), have the person being photographed sit on a stool if posible (cause they shake a lil too), take the photo with as much indirect light as possible (important for digital), try to take all tattoo photos in the same place and in the same manner (consistency is important), and take about 4 or 5 pics each time, they don't cost you anything since they are digital, edit out the ones you don't like.

[liarsenic]

I swear by my Fuji S3000

[brokenlaser]

Most all nikons are pretty much the same in menu. Set it for scene, close up (the two flower thingies) then either turn the flash off, or set the flash for background flash. This way if the tat is fresh it won't reflect the flash, or at least minimally. Then follow everything Undercover Art suggested. Nikons rock, got 3 of them. Do read the manual, and play with the camera, they all got their own personality the wonders of digital is you can shoot your ass off and pick whats good.

[undercover art]

The object of the indirect light is to eliminate the need for a flash, or at least to help minimize the light "bounce-back" that occurs with a flash. Also to help reduce flash "blob", clean and dry the tattoo and snap a pic without any vaseline or ointments on.

[kellyink]

You should be able to snap a picture, and then zoom in on (crop) the photo. Most digital cameras have this feature, you can move the photo around, zoom, change brightness,etc.. from the edit menu while in the photo folder (your saved photos). When I use digital, I take a picture that takes best advantage of the light source, and then zoom in to show what I want to focus on. The great thing about digital is that you can snap tons of pics and experiment with what works for you without development fees. I would recomend that when you snap a pic of a tattoo for your portfolio, you use a tri-pod (everyone shakes), have the person being photographed sit on a stool if posible (cause they shake a lil too), take the photo with as much indirect light as possible (important for digital), try to take all tattoo photos in the same place and in the same manner (consistency is important), and take about 4 or 5 pics each time, they don't cost you anything since they are digital, edit out the ones you don't like.

i was messing around with the camera last night and figured out the zoom option, and bieng able to move the picture around to get it centered or what not. my question now is, by zooming in on a picture would that alter the clarity? you say i need plenty of indirect light, im not good at photography, so i assume this would be the same as if you were to draw a picture of say still life, your indirect light would be the light that is reflected by other objects like walls, tables, or floors for example.

[DGapp]

I've always thought natural light was the best. I also shoot in the "sport" mode where the lens is snapping faster pics.

[fcp1011]

nice tip dgapp...thanks

[STARMedic]

When all else fails....read the instructions.....It can save your life when the device your using says "Front Toward Enemy"......

Bruce

[hotdiggitydawg]

i was messing around with the camera last night and figured out the zoom option, and bieng able to move the picture around to get it centered or what not. my question now is, by zooming in on a picture would that alter the clarity? you say i need plenty of indirect light, im not good at photography, so i assume this would be the same as if you were to draw a picture of say still life, your indirect light would be the light that is reflected by other objects like walls, tables, or floors for example.

Yes it does lessen quality, but to what extent depends on the size of the cameras sensor and the size of the finished print... if you're not going any bigger than say A4 don't worry about it, you'll never really notice..

Any type of light is good as long as diffused and bright enough, reflected light is good because it is diffused....

Don't forget... Think 'SHARP', Camera shake kills a good image, I reckon about 70% of the bad images i see of tattoos are due to camera shake...

[framey]

i use a canon ixus
totally idiot proof lol

[DGapp]

i use a canon ixus
totally idiot proof lol

I could fuck that up...

Gimme a shoebox camera!