I can’t believe I’ve searched this entire site and found not a single article on photography tips for layouts. I know years ago I read something from this company on it. Does someone know where it might be buried?
Maybe it’s not such a problem with HO scale, but getting close enough on N-scale to see anything, plus keeping the background sharp as the foreground doesn’t seem like a no-brainer to me.
Thanks for any leads!
My model photography site in my signature has many tips, not specifically for N scale, but might be a start.
What a great website you have! Exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks for the tips and advice!
I would recommend using photo stacking software. It will give you great depth of field, which is a big challenge photographing N-scale.
I use Combine ZP which is freeware. Others use packages like Helicon.
Almost every realistic N scale photo I’ve ever seen has been made using stacking software, especially helicon focus. I haven’t looked at what’s been posted, but basically all you need is a camera with aperture control and manual focus, because you want the smallest aperture you have (largest number) and multiple shots focused at different distances. This puts the focused bits together giving you a photo that would really be physically impossible.
I don´t think photographing an N scale layout is much different from taking pictures of an HO scale layout. The basic trick is to bring the camera down as much as possible, and as close to the object as possible. Just think of the viewing angle a scale person would have and try to simulate that. I also prefer a slight (and I mean slight) upward angle to simulate view a person standing next to the rails would when looking at a train.
The camera I have is a no frills Panasonic Lumix DMC LX1, about 6 years old. It does not have a high amount of mega pixels, but a high quality Leica lens, which has no aberration in close- up photography.I use manual aperture setting, but automatic focusing. Works quite well.
Here are some examples:
