Hey Guys,

I was wondering what kind of camera everyone is using for such awesome pictures!  I haven't really had a camera to use, and now I'm investing in a digital one.  Is there a low priced one that would work fine for this?  I want to be able to put them on my website, and be clear, with good lighting.
Actually, I already bought a cheaper one from Wal-Mart, but it seems to be so picky with the lighting, that I just can't get it right!  Too dark (yellowy) without the flash, and SOOOOo bright with the flash, that you can't even make out the colors!  :'(  I think I'm going to have to return it, unless one of you can shed some light on my problem!   
Any advice would be VERY welcome! 
Thanks for your help!
Sara

to take the photos of my puppet I used a plain digital camera - Samsung Digimax S800.
the most important think ever - the light. you will not be able to take any good picture with bad light. try to prepare you puppet session during the daylight and then play with the light - try to avoid situation where the sunrays go directly to the puppet's face; the best option may be to put your puppet at an angle of round 90* towards the source of the light, measure the light (if your camera has that option), try to adjust an exposure and then shot.

if you would like to use a flash - try to reflect it somewhere. what I mean: do not direct your flash directly to the face (you can reflect it by directing the light towards a light-colored wall or something) or you can do a little trick - take a white sheet of paper and use it as tool to reflect/disperse the light. you can play with it - try to hold it above the lamp or a bit on the side, should work.




hope that helps.

ah, I've almost forgotten - by dispersing the light you can avoid the shadow behind your puppet and thus flatten, overexpose it.

oh, another idea (sorry...) - you can also use two sources of light using two desk lamps with quite strong bulbs (try to buy a bulb that gives a white not yellow light) - place one lamp at the back of your puppet and second one in some distance away from it (at some angle, you can even play with that angle and fit it to your preferences) - you can reach a nice artistic look of your puppet that way - an outline around your puppet's head and body with a good illumination at the front of it.
maybe I have something like that... I will try to find and post it if got it.

OK, I took some photos of what I was talking about.
they're NOT good ones because I haven't... a second desk lamp, my bulb isn't strong enough, I had to use a torch (!!!) in my mobile phone (don't even ask...) to light puppet's face, my tripod is dead so I had to hold my camera in my hands and there was no possibility to use a slow exposure and I had to use higher ISO ;P... but now you have an idea what I was talking about.
do not look at my background please (I did cut it out anyway: there was a windowsill, my slipper, my pillow and other funny stuff.....) and use something light and smooth for your puppet photography - but if you would like you can make a higher contrast to mark your puppet off from the background use contrasty colors, but try to avoid bright ones. of course you can use a picture for the background too, everything depends on a character you made.
ps. play with photoshop/any other graphic program too.

ok, here they are:



hope that helps.

I just use an inexpensive Kodak easy share digital camera.  You shouldn't need to spend much more than $100 in the US for one that will work well for you.  If you catch a sale you might even be able to find one for less.

I found that the secret for getting a good picture is the light.  When I have to take pictures at night its really hard to get a good shot.  But now I've got a couple halogen lights from home depot and these will give me plenty of light to get a good exposure.

You could get a HP digital camera 5 MP for 90-100 good enough for you! (Staple may have this kind of offer)

Miguel!

BTW: What pattern you use to create the puppet girl you had before like avatar?

Miguel!

I have bought my friends good camera from Tiger Direct

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=7&name=Digital-Cameras

I love this place.................... if I just had the money, my office would look like a space ship.

Billy D.

BTW: What pattern you use to create the puppet girl you had before like avatar?

Miguel!

Are you speaking of the current avatar, or the one before? 


My current avatar is actually Na's pattern that she offered for us to try.  The picture above is a different pattern that I don't think is available anymore.  You could ask Billy Fuller.  It's called Puppets With Personality...great pattern!  He may have it available...otherwise, not sure how to get it! 

Thanks everyone for your imput!
Sara