Recommeded Photo Mod Applications and Programs

[vallsfantova]

Hi all

I have been thinking about start to do some Photo Modifications in which I would like to include Lazaretta, however she is good on her own. Which applications programs would you recommed to work on the phone or on the laptop?
As I would like to compete in future contests and I don't want to be catch off guard if a great idea arises.

Please let me know, thanks

[Pebbles82]

Hi - the photo competitions always say no adapted programs or photoshop type things. I think the thing to do is just take the odd photo when your Hamster is out of the cage at playtime or handling time and have a few toys round about so you can catch her doing something interesting or nice! The problem I find is, it's usually dark when Charlie is out of his cage and I don't like using Flash in case it hurts his eyes - plus the Flash photos aren't always that good anyway. I think someone posted advice on taking photos of Hamsters on here recently. I also used to be a semi-professional photographer many years ago (not pets though!) so the right light is the key thing and daylight is usually the best light, but sometimes if you have a couple of lamps on it can be ok, or put a tungsten bulb in one of your lamps so the pictures don't come out too orange.

I tend to just wait till cage cleaning time, which is when I pop Charlie in his pet carrier. If he's asleep in it when I've finished I just pop him back in his cage, but sometimes he's awake and playing and chewing toys or treats in his pet carrier, and then I'll get him out for 10 or 15 minutes and he quite enjoys a little play and I take some then.

It's just a bit of fun the photo competition and some of mine have been a bit rubbish - just managing to get a shot when they're not moving can be tricky!

So - if the light isn't very good you need your camera set for a high ISO to let more light in so you get a faster shutter speed. I think the best photos are the ones you take that just happen - I'm not very good at setting things up, and at the end of the day your Hamster is more important than a great photo - some people are very experienced at getting great photos though I think.

So bottom line is - have some interesting toys and props lying around next time your hamster is out of his cage for playtime and take a few snaps. Eventually one might fit one of the themes!

This is the kind of bulb I mean (I don't have one by the way but used to use them). Basically different kind of light bulbs give out a different 'colour' of light - we can't see the difference, but a camera can because of the way it measures light. All this kind of bulb will do is reduce the orangey glow when you take pictures in the evening with normal lights on, but sometimes I quite like the warm slightly orangey look! Professionals want perfect lighting though so they use tungsten bulbs.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro-Photographic-Tungsten-Daylight-Quartz/dp/B002U1NIKQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1429541687&sr=1-2&keywords=tungsten+bulb

The other thing you can do if you have a good camera and clever flash that you can set in different positions, is set the flash unit up so it is pointing up towards the ceiling - this bounces the light off the ceiling so the flash is more natural, but I still think the flash going off might bother a hammy. Daylight is best! At least the nights are getting lighter now! We used to wake Charlie for feeding and out of cage time around 5pm to 6pm, before little boy's bedtime, but have slipped into it being more like 8pm now when it isn't light any more, so he can just say goodnight to Charlie and play for 10 minutes or so.

[velma]

I'm afraid I'm not much help other than good white light (not energy saving yellow) & a fast shutter speed. Then do what I do & take 400 photos in the hope getting 1 good one! :mad:
I think hoppinghammy had a video on how she does her hamster shoots p, might be worth looking up :)

[Pebbles82]

Funnily enough I just watched that video. It's very good - although I wouldn't fancy using a wardrobe as it loks like a long drop. She obviously knows her hamster, but Charlie would just leap and get hurt lol. I find putting a blanket backdrop on a double bed or sofa is fine. She has some very professional looking lighting there, but you could do similar with a tall anglepoise type lamp and a tungsten bulb. I think daylight is easiest. I like her tip about keeping it to 2 or 3 minutes so as not to stress the hamster.

Here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16so8o4erVY