How to photograph a shuttlecock
Three photos, good light, nothing else in the frame.
A reading needs three photos of the same shuttlecock. Each one shows something the others cannot.
The three photos
- The whole shuttle. Step back until the cork and all sixteen feathers fit in the frame. Shoot from the side. This photo shows the overall shape, how evenly the feathers stand and how the shafts run.
- The feathers, parted. Use a finger to part two or three feathers and move in close. This photo shows the surface of each feather: marks, creases, split edges.
- Against the light. Hold the shuttle in front of a lamp, a window or a second phone's torch, and shoot with the light coming through the feathers. This photo shows how thick and even the feathers are.
Light
Use plenty of light. Daylight near a window is ideal. If a photo is too dark or blurred, the site asks you to shoot again and gives no reading.
Keep the frame clean
- Use a plain background. A dark one makes white feathers easier to see.
- Keep people out of the frame. Photos showing a person are deleted as soon as they are detected.
- If you do not want a brand mark published, do not worry: photos showing a brand name or logo stay private and never enter the public records.
New or used
Say whether the shuttle is new or has been played. A used shuttle is not marked down for wear; the reading notes that damage may come from play.