Nugget Photography 101

Agreed, I would like to see some weed pictures in between titties.

 

I need the intermediate class.

I've always used the auto mode, but I wish someone would tell me which of the many functions this thing has should I use.

 

I'd say try turning the flash off, and putting your bud under a really bright light like WBM said. The flash ruins pictures.

 

not necessarily. flash usually works best for budshots because the light reflects all of the colors of the weed, the crystals, etc.

 

zalzal, try playing around with the flash.

are you using macro mode at all? that's what seperates blurry bud shots to the really nice pics you see herbsntheburbs and spliff! posting all the time. it's usually a flower button on the camera.

once you learn macro, take a pic using each flash and see which one turned out the best. play with all the features on the camera, and you'll learn a lot more about it.

 

I've actually had a similar thoought in the back of my brain for a while. Guess I wasnt alone.

 

like i said. INTERMEDIATE class, please.

My camera has macro (for around 5 inches away) and super macro (focus on something right on the lense) -- I use both to get a good combination of shots. I also vary between flash, natural outdoor light, and bright artificial light.

I've got a Konica Minolta Z6, and the Exposure mode wheel on top has the following options:

• Programmed AE
• Aperture priority
• Shutter priority
• Manual
• Auto (Portrait, Sports, Landscape, Sunset, Standard)
• Portrait
• Sports
• Landscape
• Sunset
• Night portrait

which of these to use... well thats what I'm still figuring out.

 

I use Aperture Priority all the time. Take a few classes at the local college, I really don;t have the time to give you an in depth explanation.. But I can give you a few pointers.

- Dont use MANUAL with your experience yet. Wait a while

-ISO is light sensitivity. Your camer probably goes from ISO 100, 200, 400, 800. In a place with very high light (bright sunny day, or well lit bud shots) use ISO 100, or the lowest you have. ISO's higher than that are for low light situations. I've done model work at ISO 400, but it was a much better camera than the one you have. ISO 400 and 800 will be FAR too noisy. Digital noise is ugly.

-Shutter Speed is how fast the shutter takes to open and close. With a faster shutter speed you can catch things moving at high speeds in freeze frame.. Like sports shots of football players or a basketball player dunking that perfect shot. A slow shutter speed is good for landscape shots.. Or in our case, bud shots. Now, the slower the shutter speed, the less light gets let into the camera So with too fast a shutter speed, the picture will come out far too dark. With too slow a shutter speed, far too much light will be let in and the picture will be too white, and in some case turn completely white.

I can't go into Aperture right now.. But here's a few pointers on budshots for an intermediate shooter.

-Use external lighting, such as a desktop lamp with a swivel-head which can swing down low over the bud.

-Start with Program Auto mode. You get control over the ISO, the exposure and a few other modes that may or may not be in your camera. Use a low ISO with high lit budshots.

- If you are unable to find a tripod.. Make one! Balance the camera on a table or your leg. Improvise! This will remove blurring completely from low-shutter sped shots.

-Use a background.. Such as a piece of white paper. This will allow the macro mode to do it's job of focusing on the bud. It also brings out much more colors in the bud.

Do yourself a favor. Head down to the bookstore, a Barnes N Noble.. Ask for the Photography section (Yes, there is one).. There's a wide selection of books that you should sit down and take some notes with. You don't even need to buy it.. Just take a few notes in the book store.

Hope I could help! Any more specific questions, don't hesitate to email me!

durchii@gmail.com

Durchii, Photographic Consultant for YOU! haha.. I need some T-shirts.

 

The macro mode on my camera always fucks up and goes blurry

 

yeah, sometimes it does that for me, sometimes not.

what's a good distance to hold the camera away from the bud? i'm assuming that'd depend on a few things..

 

It depends on simply the macro ability of the lense on your camera.

See, my point and shoot has an optin for manual focus. That is always the best to use when you cannot trust macro. If you do not have a manual focus on your point and shoot, simply try different distances with the macro. They're not perfect.. And they do require some work on your part.. But you can definitely work things out.

 

Yeah so, this is about the best shot my digi can take,

 

Sorry for double post, but I just took these, it seems the OP has succeeded in learning me some nugget photography!

At first I was like, macro mode? WTF is that?

Now I'm like, dude, check this out...

 

or you could just put your bud in a scanner (with a coin also for scale) and get beautiful crystal clear budshots on a white background

 

OMG, I dont think I can do much better than this without a better camera, this bud is beautiful!!!