More Little People ... for C&C

[IzzieK]

Very creative captures, are you manually focusing on these?

Yes John...somehow I cannot think in any other mode. You think I should use aperture priority? and Auto ISO? These are all indoor shots near the door going out to the deck so natural light only...what do you think?

Thanks for any added info on how to improve my shots of this little people. I created this as part of my P52 theme and I want to solve the shooting creases first before I invent another scene to the P52 theme...'Will appreciate your response....

[IzzieK]

Rockwell's list is woefully out of date.

A perspective control lens is an ideal specialty lens to rent for a weekend or a week for a project like this. The compositions and lighting could be determined ahead of time to get maximum use of the lens for the shortest period of time and, thus, least expense.

Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that stopping down a regular lens all the way to achieve maximum depth of field would work just fine with these images.

Thanks again Mike...

[IzzieK]

I love the concept of these Izzie. I strongly urge you to consider focus stacking for these, or consider ways to make your compositions with less depth required (all of your subjects on a similar plain) to help with sharpness.

Thank you Simon...I appreciate your comments and suggestions. I will get down to it as soon as I can.

[george013]

I have only used MUP once -- when I attempted sky photography. The first I wanted to try a motion effect, but nevermind...

Reading all the responses here I think I know where my problem lies.

I appreciate your comments and suggestions. I will try it sometime before the week is over as I have my P52 to think of, shoot and process to keep up with it. Thank you.

I'm not sure if we understand each other. With mirror up I mean the function where there is a delay between mirror up and the opening of the curtains. It's just a camera function. It should be used special with rather long exposure.
A motion effect is done with parts of the image, like panning. Not with camera shake.
Go on with it. I know it's difficult and you and others, including me, can learn a lot of it.

George

[IzzieK]

Hi Izzie,

OK, I let you off too easy last time - even you said so - well, stand by ....

#1 Massive camera shake shot at 1/20s
Good choice of subject and surface to ride on

In experiment mode like this, your letting me off easy is not helping me. I become complacent.

#2 I don't think this needed an observer, or if you do have one, I suggest they sit on something with a different colour to the milk - perhaps a Brazil nut in its shell.

I see primarily insufficient Depth of Field (DoF) here (shot at f/7.1), but a lower camera angle may help too.

#3 Great little cameo scene, again spoiled (somewhat) by insufficient DoF; shot at f/8

#3 is my favourite

If you re-shoot - and I hope you do, please don't just 'snap' them;

If the lack of light warrants, shoot with a tripod
Either focus stack or use a smaller aperture to increase DoF
Shoot them on a non-textured and non-patterned surface, I find the wood grain very distracting

Cheers, Dave

I was thinking of sitting him in my little skateboard actually but it is not his scale so I changed my mind and used the bit of garlic...thanks for the suggestions...I'd do a reshoot perhaps with a different scenario...

Oh, one last thing, I think they need faces, how are your painting skills?
(yes I do know how small they are <heh, heh, heh>)

Bad in small thingies like this one. I'd have to go to Toys 'R US for bigger versions than HO size. I still have to sort out my fishermen set. When I got the first set, I was disappointed at how small they are and now I am stuck with a few sets I bought with it. Then this opportunity to use them came...Now I have to perfect my shots...

Thanks again, DAve...your opinion and suggestions matters to me. 'Appreciate your help.

[IzzieK]

Too cool Izz!

The Sky is the limit! Run with it!

(I see “stock photo” potential written all over this!)
Thanks for your comment Terry. Coming from you, it means a lot. I will have to perfect my shot first before I can think ahead. At the moment I am just enjoying myself at what I can create. Thanks again.

[IzzieK]

Izzie, I like the garlic mining shot. Needs a little more dof.

Thanks Dean...it definitely need a re-shoot...appreciate your comments.

[IzzieK]

Great imaginative work, Izzie. I love the garlic miner. You just need to work on your technique a little.

Yessir. I will. My problem is that I do not shoot this in my studio. I shoot this downstairs in the dinette near the door to my deck, then I have to run upstairs here in my pooter. That is my exercise for the day, going up and down the stairs. So when I get tired doing so, that was the end of me...Thanks for commenting. It is nice to hear from you at last!

[IzzieK]

These are so imaginative Izzie. I do agree with the others about DOF. Keep at it.

Thank you for commenting, Rita...I do appreciate it very much. I am still learning so I will certainly do a reshoot.

[IzzieK]

I clicked on this post with no idea what to expect but not having high hopes. Just goes to show... Izzie, these are awesome. When I scrolled down to the canoes I thought it was genius but the garlic is my favorite. Really cool. The onion rider has some technical issues. Overall nice job.

Thank you very much Dan...Your comment sounds like I made some improvement even just a little. I need to do a reshoot, maybe another scene, who knows? I'd go to The Fruit Store tomorrow to see what I can find...Thanks again...

[bnnrcn]

I love this project Isabel IMO all you have to do is to be a bit more carefull technically when shooting.

[IzzieK]

I'm not sure if we understand each other. With mirror up I mean the function where there is a delay between mirror up and the opening of the curtains. It's just a camera function. It should be used special with rather long exposure.
A motion effect is done with parts of the image, like panning. Not with camera shake.
Go on with it. I know it's difficult and you and others, including me, can learn a lot of it.

George

Thank you for the added info. My instruction for MUP had been for my D300s step by step on astrophotography and that was what I was trying to say to you that I did only once.

I did not intentionally shake the camera. I was making an excuse about it.

I will soon resolve my shake problems on my next submission to the Week 3 February 2016 portion of my Project 52. I have been busy doing corrections today I do not think it is worth editing an image that is hard to achieve because HO gauge little people are so small. I went out and bought 2 sets of O gauge people.

[IzzieK]

I love this project Isabel IMO all you have to do is to be a bit more carefull technically when shooting.

I had not given up yet, Binnur. As I told George a while ago, I went out this morning to buy a more ideal size of the working little people and some vegetables and animals to work with. I will soon extract those images from my SD card and start editing and putting them together to submit them in my February Week 3 P52 project tomorrow. They are cute, ain't they? There is something there that is very appealing...

Thank you for passing by. I know these little ones are not perfect but I hope those new ones I just bought will be at least admissible. I do appreciate your comments...looking forward to see your comment on my P52 February project tomorrow...

[ShaneS]

Can't wait to see more Izzie! You have an eye for this and just need to get the technical bits down...

[Mike Buckley]

You have an eye for this and just need to get the technical bits down...

Exactly!

[TonyW]

I'm late to the party here. There's such a lot of imagination and originality here that it makes me envious.

[rpcrowe]

BTW: I expected to see something else... The term "Little People" is an acceptable term for people who are short of stature as in: http://www.lpaonline.org/

AND with St. Patrick's Day coming, "Little People" is an Irish term for leprechauns... Do I believe in leprechauns? Only on March 17th each year

[george013]

Thank you for the added info. My instruction for MUP had been for my D300s step by step on astrophotography and that was what I was trying to say to you that I did only once.

I did not intentionally shake the camera. I was making an excuse about it.

I will soon resolve my shake problems on my next submission to the Week 3 February 2016 portion of my Project 52. I have been busy doing corrections today I do not think it is worth editing an image that is hard to achieve because HO gauge little people are so small. I went out and bought 2 sets of O gauge people.

Izzie,
I assume you're using a tripod.

If I'm right the lens you use, 105mm, has a magnification factor of 1. Meaning that an object of 20mm will result in an image of 20mm on your sensor. If you shoot landscape, it's filling 20mm of the max. of 24mm on your D810.
Maybe you should tell more about the equipment you use, which 105mm lens, the distance to the object and if and how much you cropped.
I'm sure others can tell you more about it. I'm just trying to give it a start.

George

Edit.
I checked the H0 spec and what I read the scale is 1:87. So the persons are about 2cm high.

George

[IzzieK]

Can't wait to see more Izzie! You have an eye for this and just need to get the technical bits down...

Thank Shane. I was struggling with the models. They can't seem to understand they needed more makeup or something...I'd continue experimenting but I need to keep up with my P52...amazing that I was able to reach this far... Thank you for passing by. I appreciate your comments and critiques.

[IzzieK]

Exactly!

Thank you Mike...I was hoping to be at least, creative, in some way but it can be tiring...thanks again for this added comment.