Post by pcarrell on Dec 24, 2007 15:43:50 GMT -5
Not everyone has a killer layout. Lord knows I don't right now!
While I'm still working on my layout, I can still turn out good looking unique pictures by using a few tricks. I work in N scale but these same principals can be used in any scale with the right size background pics.
First, realize that what the camera see's doesn't always have to be the real thing.
Second, photoshop is your friend!
Let me show you what I mean.
I can turnout good looking pics of my own rolling stock and loco's with just a few simple tools. All you need is a good portable light, a few good scenery calenders, a section of ecent looking track, some rolling stock, and a decent camera.
First, you find a calender pic suitable for a background. Bend it and prop it so it stays in a verticle position with the horizon where you want it. Then grab a piece of track and position it in front of the calender. Now add the loco or rolling stock you want to photograph. Lastly, position the light so that the subject is well lit but the light doesn't reflect off of or leave a shine on the "backdrop". It'll ruin the illusion if the background has a shine or reflection of the light. Now, frame your shot and shoot. Don't worry too much about the sides, top, and bottom. Photoshop can crop them out. Just make sure that the overall angle is the one you want and that the horizon is level. It tends to look goofy if it isn't. Thats about it!
Now, since a picture is worth a thousand words, lets take a look at some pics!
Here is a pic I shot before editing...........
And here it is after I cropped it down and made some color adjustments................
Now that you have the idea, lets look at a couple more!
See, it's easy!
It's not a layout, but at east you can have some fun with it while you work on "The Grand Project".
Now go out there and take some pics!
(And show them off here if you like! I'd like to see what you come up with!)
While I'm still working on my layout, I can still turn out good looking unique pictures by using a few tricks. I work in N scale but these same principals can be used in any scale with the right size background pics.
First, realize that what the camera see's doesn't always have to be the real thing.
Second, photoshop is your friend!
Let me show you what I mean.
I can turnout good looking pics of my own rolling stock and loco's with just a few simple tools. All you need is a good portable light, a few good scenery calenders, a section of ecent looking track, some rolling stock, and a decent camera.
First, you find a calender pic suitable for a background. Bend it and prop it so it stays in a verticle position with the horizon where you want it. Then grab a piece of track and position it in front of the calender. Now add the loco or rolling stock you want to photograph. Lastly, position the light so that the subject is well lit but the light doesn't reflect off of or leave a shine on the "backdrop". It'll ruin the illusion if the background has a shine or reflection of the light. Now, frame your shot and shoot. Don't worry too much about the sides, top, and bottom. Photoshop can crop them out. Just make sure that the overall angle is the one you want and that the horizon is level. It tends to look goofy if it isn't. Thats about it!
Now, since a picture is worth a thousand words, lets take a look at some pics!
Here is a pic I shot before editing...........
And here it is after I cropped it down and made some color adjustments................
Now that you have the idea, lets look at a couple more!
See, it's easy!
It's not a layout, but at east you can have some fun with it while you work on "The Grand Project".
Now go out there and take some pics!
(And show them off here if you like! I'd like to see what you come up with!)