Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a Sony Cybershot 5.1mp camera, and I cannot take a good pic of my boas. I will be the first to admit I don't know the first thing about photography but really want to learn all I can. Please give me any advice you think will help. The camera has so many different settings and flash options I just cannot get it right and even if they look half way decent by the time I finish cropping them to size they look like crap. Not to mention I cannot get decent lighting to save my life. Thanks alot Vinnie Caruso

I have a Sony Cybershot 5.1mp camera, and I cannot take a good pic of my boas.

It would actually help if you posted one of your bad pictures. That way we would be able to tell what the problem is.

I will be the first to admit I don't know the first thing about photography but really want to learn all I can. Please give me any advice you think will help. The camera has so many different settings and flash options I just cannot get it right

It sounds like you need a good book about photography. You need to learn the basic principles of shutter speed and aperture and how they relate to the type of pics you get. Many times the books that come with the camera give an adequate introduction to these principles.

even if they look half way decent by the time I finish cropping them to size they look like crap.

Obviously you are getting close enough. I don't know how close the Cybershot allows you to get, but you need to figure out how close you can get. There may be a macro setting. Most cybershots get within 10 cm in their macro setting. At that distance you should be able to fill the frame with something the size of an orange or less.

Not to mention I cannot get decent lighting to save my life.

You need to see if there is a possibility of reducing the flash power (flash exposure compensation).

If you post some of your shots and tell us the model number of your camera, we can help you more.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas