Photographing your Boat continued >>>

Tips on Taking Pictures of your Boat continued >>>

Choosing a good back drop for your photographs can be very important.  Granted, sometimes you are not in a position to do anything about this.  However, if you are photographing your boat at home stand it in front of something plain.  An old sheet will do or even a brick wall.  Keep your boat about 2-3 feet away from the backdrop if possible (see pictures right).

Some people think that bright sunshine is the best light to take photographs in.  In fact better pictures can be achieved when it is slightly overcast and bright.  This minimises the harsh shadows you get in bright sunshine and helps to show off the detail on your model.  I am not saying don't take pictures when it is sunny but just to weigh up the conditions and look out for harsh shadows.

If you are taking pictures of your boat in the sun then you can reduce the shadows by placing a reflector (large sheet of white card) on the shadow side of your boat.  Place this as close as possible to your model but make sure it is not in your viewfinder before you take the picture. The reflector will redirect some of the sunshine back in to the shadows on your boat.

Another method for minimising shadows is to use fill-in-flash (if available on your camera).  When your flash is set to fill-in it will fire (even in sunshine) and help to improve detail by lightening up the shadow areas.

When using flash inside you will find that it gives a very harsh light when not diffused or reflected on to the subject.  A diffuser or reflector just help to soften the effect of the flash.  With most compacts it is difficult to fit a diffuser or reflector but there are a few gizmos available.  When it comes to SLRs there are quite a few devices available and a trip to your camera shop should sort you out.  A simple method of diffusing light from an SLR flash gun is to wrap a cotton handkerchief around it.  Make sure you don't cover any light sensors.

To take close-up photographs of your boats there are three important factors to consider.  The first is that you must have a camera with a macro or close-up mode. The second is you must keep your camera rock steady and the other is that your focusing must be spot on.  The best way to do this is to use a tripod.  This will not only keep your camera steady but will also allow time to focus accurately without your camera moving.

When taking close-up photos it is very easy for your body to cast a shadow on your model.  Look closely for this in your viewfinder. If necessary move your boat or adjust your position to minimise this problem.  The two pictures shown right were taken using a 35-105 zoom compact with macro mode.