Any photographers in the house?

sometimesdee wrote:

Does anyone have any tips on how to take a baby's passport photo? I checked out this site, but, unfortunately, a mushy newborn and my 4-month-old AbsurdBaby are two different situations. Also, that site doesn't mention a single thing about what to do on the camera end. I have a Nikon D5200 and no idea on how to use it, other than on automatic (which makes it, essentially, a really expensive point-and-shoot).

What are the specific challenges you're facing? My guess is AbsurdBaby moving around too much to get a clean shot. If so, you'll need to get to know your camera settings a bit to make it easier, but here's a rough guide:

1. You'll want to be in shutter speed priority mode. That's S on the dial.
2. Make sure you're lens is as wide as possible--if it's the lens it came with, that'll be 17 or 18mm. This ensures maximum light hitting the sensor.
3. in your menu settings, find the option to adjust the ISO. Set ISO to automatic, with a max of 6400. This allows the camera to set the ISO automatically according to the light. The great thing about these cameras (I have the 5100) is that they shoot very clean even at high ISOs. (Higher ISO typically = more image noise.) 6400 might be a tad too high, but I don't think your camera need to set it higher than 2500 or so
4. Set your shutter speed to 1/500. That will make it easier to get a clear shot even if the little one's not staying still.
5. Set the shooting mode to constant, so that you can just hold the button down and it will take multiple shots.
6. From there, I think that website's instructions should work. The more ambient light you have, the better.

Hope that helps! If I missed anything let me know.

I know in Canada it needs to be done at a authorized establishment.

Looks like they actually listened to people freaking out about the CC prices.

You're still locked in to subscription-based, but this at least makes the cost acceptable compared to my current cost of "Upgrade Photoshop every 4 years or so." The only people CC was a value for previously were those who paid for every new Adobe product as soon as it came out.

I love 50mm f1.2. That is all. This is handheld, without a crazy ISO setting, I'd have to look at the actual specs when I got home.

IMAGE(https://sphotos-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1239866_10151810670664106_1959384278_n.jpg)

Anyone want a french copy of Lightroom 3?
I give you a good deal! New in smellophane!

groan wrote:

I know in Canada it needs to be done at a authorized establishment.

The US State Department actually has guidelines for digital photos. It's pretty damned hard to find a place that will do passport photos for a baby (grown-ups can go to just about any drug store or post office).

Mao is right; I have a heck of a time trying to get AbsurdBaby to stay still. When he is still, he's either looking down, to the side, or is just plain drooling. I wish there was a way to do continuous shots with the flash.

Well there is, but you need studio equipment.

sometimesdee wrote:
groan wrote:

I know in Canada it needs to be done at a authorized establishment.

The US State Department actually has guidelines for digital photos. It's pretty damned hard to find a place that will do passport photos for a baby (grown-ups can go to just about any drug store or post office).

Mao is right; I have a heck of a time trying to get AbsurdBaby to stay still. When he is still, he's either looking down, to the side, or is just plain drooling. I wish there was a way to do continuous shots with the flash.

I used to shoot passport photos. Our rules were that the baby could sit on the parent's lap and be held by said parent. If the person is a good photographer they should be able to get the baby to look at the camera. it's not THAT hard.
ok, sometimes it is.

The person has to be on a white background, and nobody else can be in the photo. Do you suggest I cover Absurd with a sheet and then have him hold the baby?

You shouldn't need a flash and that might not be pleasant for the little one to have that going off repeatedly. The 5200 can shoot very clear photos in pretty low light so you should be fine with just some average level of natural light entering the room.

Edit: since you only need the head, the sheet cover and hold idea would definitely work. If you need any post photo editing I'd be happy to help with that.

We're not allowed to do any post-photo editing, other than cropping to the right size. Thanks!

sometimesdee wrote:

We're not allowed to do any post-photo editing

Hmm, I guess you'll have to resort to props.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/xYGKWm4.png)

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/umTDe1e.jpg)

sometimesdee wrote:

We're not allowed to do any post-photo editing, other than cropping to the right size. Thanks!

Huh. We ran into no issues doing that for our son's passport photo when he was born. Maybe the embassy was more lax about it than the state department is, not that they'd have any way to tell though.

I guess if the shopping is good enough for them not to notice...

sometimesdee wrote:

I guess if the shopping is good enough for them not to notice...

Usually it's just lightening the background so it's consistent and white or off-white enough. Maybe the face too, if underexposed. Not actually editing in or out any parts of the face.

Oooh. I may send you a couple of pics and you can see if any are okay to use, or if I have to try again.

sometimesdee wrote:

Oooh. I may send you a couple of pics and you can see if any are okay to use, or if I have to try again.

sure, post them somewhere I can grab them or PM if you want to email 'em

I got a camera again for the first time in three years or so. I'm pretty rusty, but here is what I took this past Saturday when we went to the Night Market and Food Festival.

https://plus.google.com/106492023269...

I like the first two photos.

Edwin wrote:

I got a camera again for the first time in three years or so. I'm pretty rusty, but here is what I took this past Saturday when we went to the Night Market and Food Festival.

https://plus.google.com/106492023269...

I like the first two photos.

hahaha I'm in there, right in your first shot.

Was that just a random capture?

Yeah, I had no idea he was there and never saw him. I also just held up the camera above my head and took a shot of the crowd.

So Chairman_Mao is the lady in the hat and green pants?

Finally, the photographic proof that Mao is stalking Edwin.

fleabagmatt wrote:

So Chairman_Mao is the lady in the hat and green pants?

I'm those 3 Asian guys on the left. All of them.

Quintin_Stone wrote:

Finally, the photographic proof that Mao is stalking Edwin.

This is that part in the movie where Edwin goes back through every photo he's ever taken.

I'm looking through my photos from the next day at Rainier to see if you were in any of them.

https://plus.google.com/photos/10649...

Also feel free to critique. I know I need to cut down on some.

Edwin wrote:

I'm looking through my photos from the next day at Rainier to see if you were in any of them.

https://plus.google.com/photos/10649...

Also feel free to critique. I know I need to cut down on some.

IMG_8111, I imagine Clover standing on the trail shouting "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"

Edwin wrote:

I'm looking through my photos from the next day at Rainier to see if you were in any of them.

https://plus.google.com/photos/10649...

Also feel free to critique. I know I need to cut down on some.

I see you're using the EOS 20D--since there's a fair bit of dust and dirt appearing in your shots, you might want to get the sensor cleaned. There are DIY kits for that as well, if you're comfortable doing so, but you absolutely do not want to touch the sensor with your fingers. It might only need a good blast of air if the particles are large enough.

Otherwise, I really love #33 so far. Still looking through them.

Yeah I noticed that once I started looking at the photos last night. =\

My mom stored the camera for a while without a cap on and I suspect some got onto the sensor in the camera bag.

Oh yeah, that'll get dust for sure.

others I like:
53
135
159
202/203 (if only Rainier was a bit more visible!)

Also the gifs at the end are fun.

Only thing I'd add is to get a UV filter if you're not using one already. I believe that would help cut down on the haze that appears in shots of more distant objects.