Help with Photographs Please

[horseshoes]

Hello. I'm hoping somebody can help me. I take lots of photographs of lots of different items but I just can't take a photo of white porcelain. I don't know any technical terms, but my camera (Olympus X-15) has a little focusing think which goes green when it's OK to click - it stays red when out of focus. I've tried putting it on macro and super macro, flash and no flash but to no avail. What can I do? It's drving me MAD! Thanks for any help.

[horseshoes]

The sun has well and truly one in now and I tried to photograph it outdors but it's still the same. Is there something I can adjust on the camera perhaps?

[scotman]

What is wrong with the photographs you are taking?

[horseshoes]

Thanks Trim - I'll give that a go tomorrow.

Scotman - I can't get white porcelain focussed. My other photos are fine it;s just ALWAYS with white porcelain.

[heathfield]

Following up on Trim's suggestion, rather than blank card, something with a distinct picture or pattern might be more suitable. Autofocus works by sharpening up differences in contrast in whatever the camera's seeing. You could try auto-focussing using a suitable object, but then release the shutter button without taking a picture. Next, remove whatever you've focussing on, then press the shutter button fully and quickly. This way, the camera might (repeat, might), not have time to change focus before you've got your image.

[Wak]

I would be inclined to stick a small piece of black paper on the object and then let the camera focus on that and take a picture.
When in the print editing stage, remove the black image by cloning a suitable white image over it, always assuming that you are using a photo editor with a cloning section?
I would also try placing the object on a darkish velvet cloth as a background and use a natural side lighting from a window facing North(ish).

[Wak]

As a further thought on getting the object in focus, if the camera allows you to select the aperture, use the smallest available (f22)? as this will give you the greatest depth of field.

[sophie_1003]

If you haven't got access to photo editng software I've found that by copying th picture into Paint; zooming right in so the pixels can be seen and using the colour picker tool before 'painting' over the area affected pixels you want touching up works very well!