Part 5. : Let's step forward
"Shooting things"

Now let's recall the functions of a digital camera which were described in the past issues. To master how to take a picture of small objects under room-lamp illumination, I'll review the outline of related past articles. If you want to know more details, click the links included in this article.

Photo 1.A.
Setting a camera to [P] Mode

Setting Exposure Mode

The simplest and surest way to capture an image of small objects is to set a camera to [P] Mode. Just by setting a camera to [P] Mode, you can capture an image almost with no problems.
If you want to adjust the blur effect of a background, set a camera to [A] Mode and set the aperture to your desired value (cf. 2.2.1. "Shutter speed and Aperture", and 2.2.2. "Scene Mode, [P] Mode, [A] Mode, [S] Mode, and [CSM] Mode.")

Photo 1.B.
Macro Mode and Flash Cancel Mode

Setting Focus Mode and built-in flash

When you take a picture of small objects, you need to get close to the objects. So set your camera to Macro Mode (flower mark) (cf. .2.3."Focus modes and the self-timer") and move close to the objects.
By using a tripod, you can surely take pictures even in a dim room. To take beautiful pictures under room-lamp illumination, set your camera to Flash Cancel Mode. (cf. 2.2.3. "Mastering the built-in speedlight")

Photo1.C.
An exposure compensation value is displayed on the LCD display

Using the Exposure Compensation function

You can adjust image tones freely regardless of brightness of objects. Though many beginners tend to think that an image captured in a dark place becomes dark, this is not true. By using the exposure compensation function, you can fairly adjust image tones. I urge you to master the exposure compensation surely. (cf. 1.3.3."Adjusting the image brightness")

Photo1.D.
Use of the white balance function adjusts image color correctly

Using the white balance function

There may be combination of fluorescent lamps and tungsten lamps in your room. And outside light may come into your room through the window. It is best to use only a single type of light, that is, only fluorescent light, or only tungsten light. Then take pictures, using the white balance function. This results in good color images.

If you cannot limit a light source to a single type, or if you care about delicate color tones, use the Preset Mode of COOLPIX series. (cf. 2.3. "Adjusting color with White Balance")

Prepare the following things.

1. a tripod
2. a photographing stand to put objects to be photographed
3. a white paper or cloth for a background
4. a wall to support the background paper (cloth)

Other than a tripod, you can substitute some things in your home for the above things.

Photo2.A.
Mounting your camera on a tripod

Mounting your camera on a tripod

You must use a tripod as described earlier. Room illumination is not so sufficient in many cases, so you are prone to cause a camera shake. To avoid this, you must use a tripod.
By using a tripod, you can also check the effects of the exposure compensation function and white balance function with the LCD display, keeping a frame of an image fixed. And you can also check the effects of a reflector and a diffuser, as described later.

Photo2.B.
Set a background by hanging down a paper or cloth along the wall

Setting a photographing stand and a background

You can use a dining table, a Japanese 'kotatsu'(foot warmer), and a study desk as a photographing stand. A color or a pattern of a background paper (cloth) may be changed to fit with an object. If you have an adequate paper or cloth larger than a given size, you can use it as a background.
Set a photographing stand close to the wall, and set a background paper (cloth) by hanging down it along the wall. The reason for hanging down a paper along the wall will be described later.
Don't put a fold on a paper or cloth.

Set an object and take a picture

Photo 2.C.
Set an object near to a camera, and

Photo 2.D.
Adjust a camera position using a tripod, and take a picture

Photo2.E.
The resulting image. Tones and color can be adjusted by the exposure compensation and white balance functions

Well, the first stage has been finished. Take pictures only with room illumination. Examples here are photographed under fluorescent illumination.

For a captured image, you should check:

1. whether an edge or a corner of a background paper (cloth) appears carelessly in the image, and
2. whether tones and colors of the image are reproduced correctly.

If there is any problem with the two questions, you can solve it as follows.
For 1., change a size of the background or moving an object.
For 2., use the exposure compensation and white balance functions.

Photo 2.F.
Exploiting pictures of Japanese kimonos and sashes to find their coordination

How to exploit captured images

Though you can retain captured images on your computer, it is also interesting to exploit prints of the images. As shown in Photo 2.F., if you make prints of many Japanese kimonos and sashes, you can coordinate kimonos with sashes and find the best coordination.
If you note information on an image on the back of each print, it's also very useful. For example, if you note a recipe on the back of a food picture, it'll help you cook the same food.
And these pictures are worth showing other people. Let's show off your pictures.

Photo 3.A.
Arrange objets and take pictures of them

Photo 3.B.
Arrange objects nicely. You can set a support behind an object to show the object better

Photo 3.C.
The resulting image. It's like a real advertising photograph, isn't it !

Next, try to take a picture of plural objects after having taken a picture of a single object. By devising arrangement and position of objects, you can take such a picture as an advertising photograph.
What I am describing now is, strictly speaking, arranging and selecting techniques rather than a photographic technique. In this case, an artistic sense is more important than a photographic technique.
If you set a support or something behind an object so as to make the object look better, you can widen your expressional ways to arrange objects. But be sure to check that the support is hidden behind the object.

The reason for hanging down a background paper (or cloth) along the wall

Photo 3.D.
If you set a background paper without hanging down along the wall,......

Photo 3.E.
Then, the real background (?) appears in an image

Photo 5.A.
If you take a picture without a reflector,......

Photo 5.B.
Then, the deep shadow appears like this

Photo 5.C.
But if you use a reflector,......

Photo 5.D.
Then, the shadow has been brightened

You may sometimes care about shadows in a photographic image. This is because a photographic image is a non-moving image. But in a moving image like video, you probably don't care about the same shadows so much. This is one reason that photography is called "art of light and shadow".
We generally focus attention on a subject itself rather than the shadows in an image. But if we focus attention on the shadows, we can create a one-rank-higher image.

When you reflect light of a light source by using a reflector, you can brighten a shadow. By adjusting an angle of a reflector, you can adjust brightness of a shadow to some degree.

Photo 6.A.
If a picture is taken without a reflector,

Photo 6.B.
Then, shadows have appeared on the front sides of cakes

Photo 6.C.
If reflectors are set on both the right and left sides of the subject,......

Photo 6.D.
Then, the shadows have become fairly brighter

Photo 6.E.
If the background (after the cakes) is darken by a black board,

Photo 6.F.
Then, the upper part of an image has become dark a little

If you make several sizes of reflectors in advance, you can use them in various ways. If you make a black reflector, you can create a much darker shadow. Thus you can freely control light and shadow in your image by using a reflector.
Though the principle may be simple, the reflector can greatly alter the impression of an image. Try to capture many images, using a reflector.
The photographic merits obtained by using a reflector for small objects are also effective in taking portraits. Difference between them is only a size of a reflector.

Photo 7.A.
Prepare a translucent milk-white film, a frame, an adhesive tape, and a scissors

Photo 7.B.
Cut the translucent milk-white film to the size of the frame

Photo 7.C.
Attach the film to the frame with the adhesive tape

Photo 7.D.
It's very simple !

You can use almost all translucent milk-white materials as a diffuser material. I use a milk-white trash bag. A milk-white shopping plastic bag, a bag made of calcium carbonate, a translucent tracing paper, and a thin cloth are also usable.
A material having a high degree of transparency is improper to a diffuser. A thick material is also improper because the amount of transmitted light decreases.

Photo 8.A.
When a picture is taken under fluorescent illumination,......

Photo 8.B.
The resulting image is fairly good

Photo 8.C.
When a picture is taken under fluorescent illumination using a diffuser,......

Photo 8.D.
A spoon is particularly taken beautifully

A diffuser is used mainly to moderate highly shined areas, while a reflector is used mainly to brighten a shadow.
Comparing Photo 8.B. with 8.D., you can realize the effect of using a diffuser.
A highly shined area is an area where light of a source is intensively reflected. In a room, reflected light of fluorescent and tungsten lamps forms highly shined areas on the surface of shiny objects.
A diffuser diffuses light from a light source. When a diffuser is set near an object, the diffuser gives an effect as if a large light source were set near the object.
In Photo 8.D., comparing to Photo 8.B., the spoon especially looks different, giving a high-quality appearance to it.
But a jelly looks better in Photo 8.B. than in Photo 8D. It's a little difficult which image should be selected.

Photo 9.A.
When pendants are photographed under only fluorescent illumination,......

Photo 9.B.
Then, things around the gold and silver pendants are reflected on the surface of them

Photo 9.C.
When a diffuser is used,......

Photo 9.D.
Then, highly shined areas of the pendants are moderated beautifully

Photo9.E.
When a position of the diffuser is moved a little,......

Photo9.F.
Then, pendants are partially moderated and partially shined

Photo9.G.
In the case where a photographer or his/her camera is reflected on the surface of an object, use a black board like this

In Photos 9.B., 9.D., and 9.F., accessories on a glass board with a pattern, of which each cost is several hundred yen (about several dollars), are photographed.
Though I don't to meant to praise myself, use of a diffuser makes the accessories look like high-quality brand-name goods.
Shooting of shiny gold and silver objects is very difficult because things around objects are reflected on the surface of them. You can prevent such reflection by using a diffuser. I strongly recommend using a diffuser.
When objects such as gold or silver accessories, jewelry, and a watch are photographed, a photographer or his/her camera is sometimes reflected on the surfaces of the objects. In this case, make a black (gray or white) board having a hole in the center of it, put a camera lens through the black board, and take a picture.
But be careful when you use a type of camera of which lens retracts into the camera body upon turning off the power. That's because it might cause a failure of the camera. In NIKON COOLPIX series (COOLPIX 885, 880, and 775), you can prevent the failure by using an adapter ring.

Now I have just come to the end of this issue. I hope this article help you take pictures of small objects. Don't think that shooting of small objects is difficult. Once you think so, it becomes really difficult. The truth is that shooting of small objects is not so difficult. I urge you to take pictures of your small favorite objects with your digital camera.
The next issue is Part 6 "How to view photographs to take your "masterpiece"
Wait and see !