Very cool, Tony. I'd love to see any other dioramas you have! Your photography is exceptional and and an inspiration. I'm still using my old iPhone 10X, but you might be all the reason I need to get the new 12 with three lenses. Car to reveal any of your photography secrets?
@john-shamblin ... one of the secrets is visible on the first photo, a second one is a quality lens, a third one talent (but that is just 5%*) ... there at least 4 others I can think of.
BTW, your 10X is equipped with great camera, I was always amazed of the quality of diecast pictures taken with iPhones. Also, I always wonder why your close ups are so "granular", do you apply a filter for that effect or enlarge the photo too much?
*In the old country they say that success is achieved with 5% talent and 95% effort.
@john-shamblin I believe Tony's pictures are done "old school": DSLR camera, high quality lens 60 or 100mm, tripod is essential because one has to use small aperture to increase the depth of filed, strong and diffuse lighting +/- flash, perhaps a dose of digital editing, and lots of patience. My pictures usually fail because of insufficiency of the last component. Some point-and-shoot cameras are also very good especially at day light. I think John Merritt uses P&S camera... The phone cameras "cheat" by digital enhancement and can produce amazing photos.
but hold on, didn't you have all that equipment? if I remember correctly you had background in design?
Ha, I guess you wanted to hear from Tony, not from me ... well anyway, I typed it already.
@john-shamblin I believe Tony's pictures are done "old school": DSLR camera, high quality lens 60 or 100mm, tripod is essential because one has to use small aperture to increase the depth of filed, strong and diffuse lighting +/- flash, perhaps a dose of digital editing, and lots of patience. My pictures usually fail because of insufficiency of the last component. Some point-and-shoot cameras are also very good especially at day light. I think John Merritt uses P&S camera... The phone cameras "cheat" by digital enhancement and can produce amazing photos.
but hold on, didn't you have all that equipment? if I remember correctly you had background in design?
Ha, I guess you wanted to hear from Tony, not from me ... well anyway, I typed it already.
@perrone1 Tony, what are your secrets?
Chav, as always my friend, your advices are 'spot on' sir!! Yes, John/Chav, the secret in the first photo is definitely a tripod. Stability, no shake, is essential. I also set the camera (Nikon D610) on a self timer (2 seconds) so that at the time of exposure, my hands are no where near it. I also shoot at maximum depth of field with apertures of f/22 to f/45, depending on the lens used. That means long exposures so that stability is crucial.
Chav, right again, I use three lenses that cost far more than a new camera body.
Main lens is Nikkor 24-120, Close-up is the Nikkor 105 and I also use, but not for model cars, the 70-300. John, I also have used a poster board for our review shots making them into 'studio shots'. But I REALLY love the backgrounds that you employ! Keep 'em coming, they are terrific!
@john-shamblin I believe Tony's pictures are done "old school": DSLR camera, high quality lens 60 or 100mm, tripod is essential because one has to use small aperture to increase the depth of filed, strong and diffuse lighting +/- flash, perhaps a dose of digital editing, and lots of patience. My pictures usually fail because of insufficiency of the last component. Some point-and-shoot cameras are also very good especially at day light. I think John Merritt uses P&S camera... The phone cameras "cheat" by digital enhancement and can produce amazing photos.
but hold on, didn't you have all that equipment? if I remember correctly you had background in design?
Ha, I guess you wanted to hear from Tony, not from me ... well anyway, I typed it already.
@perrone1 Tony, what are your secrets?
Chav, as always my friend, your advices are 'spot on' sir!! Yes, John/Chav, the secret in the first photo is definitely a tripod. Stability, no shake, is essential. I also set the camera (Nikon D610) on a self timer (2 seconds) so that at the time of exposure, my hands are no where near it. I also shoot at maximum depth of field with apertures of f/22 to f/45, depending on the lens used. That means long exposures so that stability is crucial.
Chav, right again, I use three lenses that cost far more than a new camera body.
Main lens is Nikkor 24-120, Close-up is the Nikkor 105 and I also use, but not for model cars, the 70-300. John, I also have used a poster board for our review shots making them into 'studio shots'. But I REALLY love the backgrounds that you employ! Keep 'em coming, they are terrific!
thank you for this unselfish share of your wisdom .......... they tell me the couch will be here first thing next week !!
Very cool, Tony. I'd love to see any other dioramas you have! Your photography is exceptional and and an inspiration. I'm still using my old iPhone 10X, but you might be all the reason I need to get the new 12 with three lenses. Car to reveal any of your photography secrets?
John, I have very few dioramas. Of course the FM Garage version with the '58 Corvette:
TFM also put out a "Barn Find" Corvette but I do not have it set up, it is just a facade.
Thanks, Chav. I've been impressed with my iPhone camera after trying a couple of "old school" quality cameras a while back. Some of those grainy photos were taken with those old cameras. I tried several different lenses, but never could seem to get the depth of field right. My sister is a retired photography professor, and says her iPhone takes better photos than any of the high-dollar cameras she's had over the years.
.......... they tell me the couch will be here first thing next week !!
