So you want to take better photos of your trains and layout? Well, you can…. But it takes time and effort to do it. My first bit of advice: If you are in a hurry, or just don’t have much time… Go do something other than take photos! Run the trains or something. I find that I don't get anything I would want to show to other folks if I'm rushed. This is truly the “voice of experience” talking here! Set aside a block of time that will be nothing other than for photos. I also find that I do NOT like help. They always seem to see the scene differently than I do. Personal preference I guess.

OK, let’s get down to business. As I said in my summary, this article is NOT for those of you who want to be a “truly great”. Nope, it is for the rest of us that do this for fun and just want “pretty darn good” photos. If you want to be that great, go buy those big fat books that can be found at any good camera store. For me, I do this for fun and want “Simple And Fast”! I like those words!

Anyway, the first thing we should talk about is if you are going to use film or digital?? You get a very different product from the two. Film gives you a much “richer” final product (almost ALL major films are still shot with film), but digital is WAY easier and more flexible. I have gone to all digital, as…. Well, I don’t care if I win the contest. I just want “pretty darn good” shots.

Now that we are talking about cameras; I can only say one thing about digitals. DON’T BUY CHEEP!! OK, I’m one of the cheapest guys I know, but the bottom of the line digitals are junk. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to go out and get the $1,000 camera. (I would LOVE one… any of you have an extra to give me??) What I am saying is you can expect to pay between $250 and $400 for what you need. The magazines don’t want any photos much less than 3.5 M, so get at least a 4M. (Am I creating competition for my self??)

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A fast focus is not a big deal, but what is a big deal is lots of OPTICAL ZOOM. I will say this only one time: DON’T USE DIGITAL ZOOM ON YOUR PHOTOS! It only cuts down on the photo quality. Pay a little more money and get a much better camera with optical zoom. It would also be nice to have the option of manual focus, but usually you only find that in the high-end cameras. Owww yes, I also ALWAYS use the “timer” feature when taking photos. It helps with the “jiggle” factor.

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Moving right along, from now on I will be referring only to digital photos. That is what I use and that is what I (kind-of) know. We need to talk about what to do with the photos once you get them in the camera. All cameras come with a photo manipulation program that will at least “kind-of” do what you need. What I am going to tell you now is you need to go to COSTCO and buy a program called “Photoshop Elements”. (Remember… I am a “cheep-guy) Or you can go online and find it for a little more at http://thenerds.net. No, I don’t have stock with these folks, but I wish I did! Life is BETTER using this program. Do you like those shots you see in the magazines all the time?? Do you think they looked like that when they took them?? FAT CHANCE! Another time I will put out an article on “Easy Photoshop”, but this is enough for now.

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The next question has to be; Do you want a snapshot or a photo? Do you understand the difference?? Well, here are my thoughts on that. A “snapshot” is what you take of Aunt Martha at the family reunion picnic. Something you can look back on and remember how much fun you had and how drunk Uncle Harry got that day. Do you think any magazine would want to buy that photo?? Now, a photo is something that does more than show you something. It tells a story, and even better it makes you FEEL something. You go away thinking that is something special. With our model trains, I want folks to think “I know that place….. Where is it”? I want it so real they think it IS real! How often do I make these special photos….. Well, I do better on the lottery. (I’m still “poor” by the way) But, at least it gives me something to shoot for. From now on in this article I will be talking about “photos”.

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Let’s talk about light for a minute. For most situations, there is no such thing as "to much" of it. Well, too much in just one spot is WAY BAD, but overall it is great. I usually find that a flash does not do as well as without. Almost always that means you need a tripod. (Owww no…. more to buy!!) Yes, you need one. I have a crummy old “clunker” that almost works OK. Unless you plan on making a living at this you don’t need the real good stuff! (And if you CAN make a living at it, let me know how!) I use lots of moveable lights for my photos. The more light you have, the better the color will be. Try moving them around for different lighting effects. I know folks that shoot outside, but living in the North Land I don’t get out much until the summer months. And then it is “work time”! (Yes.. about time!!)

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The single most important thing I can tell you is….. Are you ready….. Take LOTS of photos. The odds are with you. Do you think you will win the lottery if you buy only ONE ticket?? Fat chance! (I like that phrase) I always take 2,3 or even 4 photos of the same thing. I try it with flash, then not, then a bit closer, then back, or a different angle. Who cares!! It’s digital after all and it costs no more!! You just dump the junk ones later.

The next thing is a bit of a personal calling. I HATE photos that look “GOD LIKE”! You don’t know what I mean? How many photos look like you are flying along in a balloon looking down at things? Unless you have ever been up there then this is not what you see in real life. Get down where you would expect to be. Do you want “real life” photos?? Then THINK “real life”!

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Now you need to get REALLY CLOSE! Yes, one photo of the entire layout is fun, but then you have to move WAY in. I could (almost) say there is no such thing as being “too close”. Of course there is a major problem with getting in close. Yes, you can actually SEE what isn’t done well, or done at all! Do you want them to see that bare spot?? Do you want them to see where you sloped that glue?? Do you really want them to see where you didn’t have that last part and you filled the hole with cardboard?? To the rescue!!!! PHOTO SHOP!! (More on that in another article)

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On to the next thing! (I’m really on a roll now) This might be the most difficult aspect of good photos. “Subject Placement”. I like to think of myself as a “technician”, NOT an “artist”. I would like to be an artist, but there is just no way. When I am uncertain, I add more stuff into the photo. There is no such thing as TO MUCH DETAIL! Move things around and take more photos. Try a different angle. Or TWO! Change the lighting and take more photos. Add something and take more photos. After all, this is all about HAVING FUN! If you don’t like the photos…. WHO CARES!! Just take some more.

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Owww NO!! He is going to “get technical” on us!!! (Well, just a little) All of the “better than junk” cameras have the option to change the setting when taking the photos. And yes, I’m VERY sorry…. But you will have to Read the directions! (Owww… No, not that!) Yes, that. If you want the best photos, you need to do some testing with your camera. Set up a “test shot” and run a bunch of photos. Try ALL of the different settings on the camera. Yes…. All of them. Leave the lighting the same in all of the photos and see what you get. Next, move the camera in closer and closer and even CLOSER and figure out what your camera can and CAN NOT do. Yes.. Yes, I know this takes time. But what did I say Wayyyy back at the start?? If you haven’t got the time…. Go do something else! Now, go through those photos and WRITE DOWN what you see. It will come in handy later. You might ask….. “Did this guy really do this”” (Ya right) Well, not at first. And you know what my photos looked like? I can’t say the word here, but more like “snapshots”. (Can I use those “other” words here??)

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So you think you have something some one else might like to look at? Are you sure?? Well…. I say… WHO CARES!! Put it out there! We are “hobbyists” after all. As the adds on TV says.. JUST DO IT! Soooo….. What is the hold up?

What was the hardest part of the whole thing for me?? Getting the stupid photos on the web page! By the way, DO open a web page on www.myrrlayout.com. It is FREE (Yes, something at last is really free) and WAY good fun. You might even make me look… well, look just OK. (Don’t you dare make me look bad!) Anyway, you need to make the photos small enough to work with. In the next article I will cover Photo Shop and how to make these photos small enough to get on the web. I had a heck of a time doing this. OK, I’m just an old boat captain from Alaska and don’t know much about computers. My (New) friend “NORM” who hosts this web page was wonderful. As far as I am with web pages… Can you say “Has not a clue”? That’s me. Well, besides selling GREAT backdrops and stuff (Go have a look) Norm really wants these sites to work. And YES…. I did a bunch of dumb things that he worked out for me. THANKS NORM! Sooo …. You need to get out there and take some photos and show me what you are made of!! Or, at least what your trains are made of.