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Daphne Back Road Bears
Laconia, NH USA
Posts: 6,568

Is there such as thing as a non-photogenic bear???????

Please tell me there is!
Please tell me it's not me and the 50 thousand lamps in my room, the 3 different digital cameras I've tried, the various colored backgrounds that didn't cut it....

Hey, maybe I ought to set up in front of my truck and turn those halogen high beams on ... maybe that'll do it! I'm afraid I'd put it in drive and run the darn bear over! I'm SOOOOOO frustrated!!!!!!! bear_wacko  bear_wacko  bear_wacko

I've just torn into the halloween candy! Teach me to buy it so early!

SunnieOne Sunnie Bears
Ridgecrest, CA
Posts: 1,167

Of course there is such a thing Daphne! I had a bear recently that looked so adorable UNTIL I tried to take pictures. I re-took the pictures at least 5 times and never could get good photos. But the bear looked great in person. Other bears I have done an entire photoshoot in less than 5 minutes because they were so photogenic.
Sonya

Daphne Back Road Bears
Laconia, NH USA
Posts: 6,568

Sonya,
Thank God! What a relief!
I'd never met a bear so cute in person that looked so ugly in photos.
Hopefully he'll find a new home while at Schaumburg because I'd never sell him if I had to put his photo on my website!
bear_rolleyes

Shelli SHELLI MAKES
Chico, California
Posts: 9,939
Website

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner Sponsor

I think dark bears are the devil to photograph.  No matter how hard I try to light them I fail miserably.  That's when a nice photo editing tool like "dodge" comes in handy.  It doesn't change the colors or the features of your bear but it does lighten up just those areas you paint it across.  Before you run over your bear with your truck be sure to check into what your photo editor can do.  It sometimes makes all the difference in showing off your bear as it REALLY looks, and not just as your (or my) photography condemns it to look!

bear_original bear_tongue  bear_original

Daphne Back Road Bears
Laconia, NH USA
Posts: 6,568

I have that dodge feature on Paint Shop, probably photo shop too! I've just never played with it to see what it does. Hmmmmm....... (scratching head!)

This bear I'm trying to photograph is two colors, one light, one darkish and I think that's part of the problem. From now on I'm only going to make medium brown bears! NOT! :crackup:

Delartful Bears Delartful Bears
Australia
Posts: 3,518

Don't get me started on brown bears and photographing.  My camera is OK with some browns, but other's it just hates!!!!!!!!!!   It's the same when my sister does dolls with brown coloured skin.  So frustrating.

I find some bears just don't turn out well in the photos and other bears look cuter in the photos.. annoying huh!

Yep don't drive over it - take it to the show so you won't need photos  bear_grin

Danni

matilda Matilda Huggington-beare
WA
Posts: 5,551
Daphne wrote:

Is there such as thing as a non-photogenic bear???????

Please tell me there is!

Well I'm not too sure about bears, but I can sure tell you that PLATYPODES are definitely NOT photogenic. bear_grin

chrissibrinkley Posts: 1,836

Have you tried good old day light?  I was so frustrated photgraphing last week..the lights, the angles, the presets on the camera..NOTHING was going my way and the shots all looked miserable.  I just went outside (more for the air and stress relief of it all) and those shots turned out the best.  Come to think of it I adore all of Paula's shots and each one is on a lovely garden stone. 
Not sure what I'll do in icky weather now...maybe I'll get all the indoor stuff down by then. Here's hoping!!!
:hug:
~Chrissi

Tracy ThimbleBeary Originals
Iowa
Posts: 2,049
Website

Yes, there is such a thing unfortunately bear_sad .....................I do what Chrissi suggested---try it outside.  If that doesn't work, then nothing will!! bear_grin

Laura Lynn Teddy Bear Academy
Nicholasville, KY
Posts: 3,653
Website

Laura Lynn Banner Sponsor

Daphne you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned that he is a light and dark bear.  THe camera's light meter is probably trying to "average" the exposure... so you don't get the best of either...  bear_wacko   I agree... try outside if you can.... a cloudy overcast day might be best in this case.

Daphne Back Road Bears
Laconia, NH USA
Posts: 6,568

Did you try the refridgerator? Outside is your best bet, but if you need some help with Photoshop just let me know. I've had some really dark yucky pictures turn out quite nicely after I played with them a bit. I have 4 photo editing  programs, and each one does one thing better than all the other programs, so I keep them all. Most are free anyway.

He's too big for the fridge! I just went grocery shopping and it's full!

I too have a number of programs and use each one for something different.

Girls - I'm going outside next! It was supposed to rain today which was getting me even more upset last night but the sun is out so I'm going to go do another photo shoot in just a bit!

Interesting....... making the bear (or platy!) is often easier and less frustrating than taking it's silly picture!!! :doh:

WildThyme Wild Thyme Originals
Hudson, Ohio
Posts: 3,115

I completely understand how you are feeling Daphne.... I've had a couple of bears who, while I thought were very cute in person, just stubbornly refused to look good "on film."  Not even really a lighting issue for me.... they just didn't "translate well" into a photograph....  bear_ermm

Good luck Daphne...sometimes it just requires a mental refocusing, or different lighting.... which you are pretty much guaranteed to get if you take a long enough mental health break!  bear_tongue   

I had tis problem a couple of weeks ago when photographing a bear in my studio.  My 13 year old was within earshot doing his Algebra homework, listening to my groans and other various expressions of frustration  bear_innocent   And he actually said, in his best "megaphone" voice imitation... "PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE BEAR!!"   :doh:

Pumpkin & Pickle Bears Pumpkin & Pickle Bears
East Sussex
Posts: 2,047

I've had that problem twice. This one of my bears that looks SO ugly in the photo and totally unappealing, but 'in the fur' she was actually quite sweet...
Lily_003a.jpg

Daphne, you are not alone!!!!

P.S. Hey, if you're that worried, you could always send the bear to me!!!  bear_whistle  bear_tongue

Daphne Back Road Bears
Laconia, NH USA
Posts: 6,568

Gemma,
I'm afraid I'm not as gracious and giving as Karen Lyons!!!
I WILL get his photos taken....

I just went outside... wouldn't ya know, by the time I rounded up the cameras, shoes and bear the sky turned overcase.... bordering on too overcast. But, I've taken a boat load of pictures and am in the midst of editing... they still aren't great. I'm convinced it's a setting on this new camera but I haven't a clue how to change it!

Had to look away from the pics for a minute but I'll post a couple momentarily!

Daphne Back Road Bears
Laconia, NH USA
Posts: 6,568

Here are the pictures: http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=10541

Check out that glowing head!!! I give up!!!

Jellybelly Bears Jellybelly Bears
Australia
Posts: 4,066

He looks great Daph!  and you went with the ruffle collar!  Love it bear_thumb

Daphne Back Road Bears
Laconia, NH USA
Posts: 6,568

Yes I did... that loopy ribbon collar I was going to do....... what a pain in the neck! I'll leave that to the experts!

Jodi Falk Bears by Jodi
Gahanna , Ohio USA
Posts: 3,463

pix-400.jpgI have a bear right now that doesn't photograph well. And he is really cute in person. And I have had people tell me that when they get their bear it is always so much better in person. So I believe that strange things happen some times . And no matter how hard you try or what lighting you use it never gets better. Just don't know why But it drives me nuts also. This is the little bear I can't get a good picture of . I am going to try

one more time

before I try to sell in on E Bay.

matilda Matilda Huggington-beare
WA
Posts: 5,551
WildThyme wrote:

I had tis problem a couple of weeks ago when photographing a bear in my studio.  My 13 year old was within earshot doing his Algebra homework, listening to my groans and other various expressions of frustration  bear_innocent   And he actually said, in his best "megaphone" voice imitation... "PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE BEAR!!"   :doh:

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

Jodi your picture is wonderful. That's the quality I'm striving for. :redface:
Now I understand the saying "sometimes your best just is'nt good enough" bear_grin  :redface:

Jodi Falk Bears by Jodi
Gahanna , Ohio USA
Posts: 3,463


Wendy, thank you..... but the bear really does look different in person. It is like I can't capture his personality for some reason. Very strange. But as you see it is a nice clear picture, good color,it appears to be a good shot but.... doesn't look like the bear. He is really cute in person , has a kinda mouse looking face, hard to explain :photo:  So some day when I shoot again , I will see if I can capture his personality when he isn't looking !! bear_grin

                                           Jodi Falk

Judi Luxembears
Luxemburg, Wisconsin
Posts: 7,379

Daphne.   Even bears can have bad hair days...but I think you are being a little hard on yourself.

Let me tell you what I saw a professional photographer do while photographing my lion and lamb set.  The white was coming out too bright and you couldn't see the nice texture of the lambs mohair so he took a piece of paper on on a clip stick and attached it to a tripod.  What this did was block out only a small amount of light over just the lamb.  It worked great.  When you're working with darks and lights I think the camera may have a hard time reading the subject.

SP_LIONLAMB_RESZ.jpg

So what you're seeing here in this photo is the lion getting the full amount of light while the lamb gets less light, as if he is more in the shade.

It's really neat to watch a professional photographer work..and see what they do with all the lights and such.


I think your bear looks great Daphne.

Daphne Back Road Bears
Laconia, NH USA
Posts: 6,568

I'm looking through the phone book right now for a professional!  bear_laugh

Jodi Falk Bears by Jodi
Gahanna , Ohio USA
Posts: 3,463

I had a pro at one time but.... at $350.00 an hour... well.... lets just say I can't afford it right now  :photo: But he really was good.

Laura Lynn Teddy Bear Academy
Nicholasville, KY
Posts: 3,653
Website

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Jodi Falk wrote:

    I had a pro at one time but.... at $350.00 an hour... well.... lets just say I can't afford it right now  :photo: But he really was good.

Oh heck!  If I had made that much when I was a photographer I may still be doing it  :crackup:

matilda Matilda Huggington-beare
WA
Posts: 5,551
Jodi Falk wrote:


Wendy,  So some day when I shoot again , I will see if I can capture his personality when he isn't looking !! bear_grin Jodi Falk

:crackup:  :crackup:

I still dont know what I'm doing with my new camera. I have found the darker colours the easiest for me.
The lights are a devil and the purple of Heather's bear comes out a 'blue' purple not a pink purple that is it's true colour.

I bought lights for my photo nook today. ... :redface: forgot to buy globes :redface:  they need the screwy ones.  :doh:

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