Pot Pictures ~ Tips and Tricks for taking awesome bud pics - GreenPassion.org - Dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Education

Richard Owl Mirror · #1 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 08:51 PM

Hello everyone, I was wondering if you would like to discuss tips and tricks for taking awesome photo's of your plants and buds.
What type of camera, lighting, settings on the camera do you use for the best results?
So far I have been unsuccessful in taking photo's while the HPS lights are on.
I am only able to take good photo's after the lights turn off.

Share your tips and tricks with others so we all might take awesome photo's to share.

dagobaker · #2 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 08:57 PM

i really need help there too
have a good camera "nikon 40d" but with the basic lens and flash they only come out good and not great
think i need a better lens and better flash.........and some skills lol

Richard Owl Mirror · #3 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagobaker

i really need help there too
have a good camera "nikon 40d" but with the basic lens and flash they only come out good and not great
think i need a better lens and better flash.........and some skills lol

Yeah I thought this topic would be good to discuss.
I know personally, I have a hard time holding the camera still.
I've learned to use the setting for fast sports shots so it takes the picture with a faster shutter speed. I'm not so steady and usually need to prop my hands against something to hold them still.
I have Polaroid digital camera, not an expensive one but, it's fun and I like that I don't have to worry about the expense of developing film to see if I screwed up the whole roll ;>}

ileso · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 10:37 AM

you'll need a tripod to get good clean pics. i also have a D40 but everyone i know has canon, and the lenses arent interchangeable so its hard for me to get a macro lense...
and i cant do the old turn the lense around trick because it doesnt take pics without the lense in place. bummer ...actually i can i just tried again.. with the lense in automatic

ileso · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 10:45 AM

its not a bad camera, good to learn with

justanotherbozo · #6 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 10:59 AM

high guy's, just thought i'd drop in and share some pics i took with my cheap-a ss camera (Polaroid t830, $100.00USD).

i'm still a rank amateur and too lazy to take the time to really learn how to
use it to it's full potential, but i do ok, lol.

btw, my pics come out way better since i got the tripod, lol.

Richard Owl Mirror · #7 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justanotherbozo

high guy's, just thought i'd drop in and share some pics i took with my cheap-a ss camera (Polaroid t830, $100.00USD).

i'm still a rank amateur and too lazy to take the time to really learn how to
use it to it's full potential, but i do ok, lol.

btw, my pics come out way better since i got the tripod, lol.

Nice pictures, I notice you do not take them under HPS or CFL lights but, natural light. I find I can get some good photo's when I take them under natural lights but, can't get a good photo while they are in their grow room with the lights on.
Unfortunately my plants can't be moved around easily.

I have a Polaroid t1031, I should get a tripod might make the shaking less likely.

ileso · #8 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 12:38 PM

youll have to fiddle with the settings for the light if your camera allows it. what cam you got? and ill see how its done... most digital cameras these days have that sort of option...

Richard Owl Mirror · #9 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ileso

youll have to fiddle with the settings for the light if your camera allows it. what cam you got? and ill see how its done... most digital cameras these days have that sort of option...

Polaroid t1031 ~ http://www.polaroid.com/media/com/pd...9830550891.pdf

ileso · #10 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 12:52 PM

ok then, in your menu you'll have something called white balance, this will be preset to auto. the other settings are cloudy, fluorescent, tungsten etc... try all six settings. i think tungsten should be the one that equalises the white light for hps.. but just try them out see what the differences are..

Richard Owl Mirror · #11 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ileso

ok then, in your menu you'll have something called white balance, this will be preset to auto. the other settings are cloudy, fluorescent, tungsten etc... try all six settings. i think tungsten should be the one that equalises the white light for hps.. but just try them out see what the differences are..

Thanks ileso, I gave it a try and nothing improved
I then tried CUSTOM and that seemed to bring out the green in the photo's.

CoNtRoVeRsIaL · #12 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 12:54 AM

I have a Polaroid 5.0

Im not a pro at it either but, for the best bud pics i find zooming in at 2.5 does great about 2 foot away,

I take mine either way but the best BUD shots ive took is in regular light with the flash on,

You'll have to really research your device to figure it out, there tricky,
Ive had my camera about 2 years and im still learnin

ileso · #13 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 01:11 AM

yeh, they arent all the same, but all work in similar ways... glad you figured it out.

ileso · #14 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 01:38 AM

heres a few links that might help

Colour balancing photos taken under your HPS in photoshop - 420 Magazine

Canna Porn : Cannabis Photography Tips & Tricks

moto4u · #15 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Owl Mirror

Hello everyone, I was wondering if you would like to discuss tips and tricks for taking awesome photo's of your plants and buds.
What type of camera, lighting, settings on the camera do you use for the best results?
So far I have been unsuccessful in taking photo's while the HPS lights are on.
I am only able to take good photo's after the lights turn off.

Share your tips and tricks with others so we all might take awesome photo's to share.

Great topic, Richard Owl Mirror!

I just happened to be browsing the main forum menu looking for some post/thread on this particular topic. I, too have been struggling to capture some quality glamor-shots of my girls

It would be nice to get Hatch, "tric-picr-EXTRAORDINARE" to weigh in on this topic. I have yet to see any images on GP that come close to his clarity and quality.

Again, GREAT Topic!

Thanks!

greenvulpine · #16 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 06:37 PM

For anyone that doesn't want to spend the money for a tri-pod a mono-pod will work well and can be much more versatile to use. I think you can get one for less than $20.00 at wally world. I like using mine for concerts and events where I need to shoot over peoples heads and also for hiking it holds up well as a walking stick.

How can I upload images here from my computer with out first putting it in my profile or an image server? Do I have to have them on photobucket first?

McBong · #17 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagobaker

i really need help there too
have a good camera "nikon 40d" but with the basic lens and flash they only come out good and not great
think i need a better lens and better flash.........and some skills lol

I also have a Nikon D40 and manage to take good pics of my buds with it, try changing it to Aperture priority, white balance to Fluorescent and you should get good results with your light still on, it may have a slightly blue or red cast to it depending on the grow light used.

Hope this helps

Peace

McBong

TalentedDave · #18 (**permalink**) 11-15-2009, 12:02 AM

OK...here's a completely different way to get images of your buds in very high resolution onto your computer without the use of a camera! It's so easy and the results so awesome. All you need is a flat bed scanner and some good software to go with it. I shall share my method.
1st you need some freshly cut buds which you gently lay on the glass of your scanner with the lid all the way open or removed entirely. You then gently lay white paper over the entire scanner surface and buds blocking all light to the scanner glass. Then it's scanning time. I use Adobe Photoshop to scan into and set my scanner at the highest resolution before I scan. The results are stunning with excellent depth and lighting. You can see every detail with great magnification. I don't have any examples to post but will when I do.
Please note that after scanning the glass more than likely will be sticky and will need a gentle cleaning with rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth.
Good Luck and please let us know when we are seeing scanned buds as opposed to photos.
~Dave

McBong · #19 (**permalink**) 11-15-2009, 05:44 AM

Good method but why ruin a perfectly good growing plant just to stick a bud on your scanner, use a camera and don't waste good bud just for a pic, in fact you wont even have to move your plant to get a pic, i don't move or cut mine for a pic.

Peace

McBong

TalentedDave · #20 (**permalink**) 11-15-2009, 09:22 AM

McBong,
You gotta snip it off the plant at some point or do you smoke it on the plant?:D