Lapidaryforum.net
General Category => Photography => Topic started by: iceopals on October 23, 2014, 01:14:07 PM
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Oh boy!!! I'm thrilled! And thank you for putting in this category.
I loved the shot of the Navajo Splash Jasper that got this started and I am really looking forward to the specifics of how it was shot. I have some thoughts, but would love to learn more.
I have been shooting jewelry for a while now, but each and every person probably has their own techniques.
Most I shoot for website use (please do not check out the shots on my website, they are old and must be redone- so much learning since then), and jury entries for shows. Each require different specifics, but at least some overlap exists. I would love to get some comparisons, so I will start by adding a shot that I took recently and maybe that will get things going.
---back after dinner...
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All righty then! I promised to throw myself on the sword first. :icon_scratch:
This is a shot that combines several interests. In addition to the question on photography, the bracelet is different because it is made with a number of techniques, some of which are topics on this forum.
First, photography-- I like a black background, and I like a reflection. The only photo-editing I have done is to go in and remove the dust on the background and lower the reflectivity to a semi-ghost image rather than a 100% reflection (which it was originally, but that is very confusing to the final image). If posting this to my website or to a jury I would also go in and tweak the colors of the silver and play a bit with contrast and brightness levels.
Second, the bracelet- It has a Bisbee boulder turquoise stone set in a sterling silver bracelet that has fused edges, is depletion guilt, and then metal clay accents are added all over.
Thoughts-- I know there are a number of different thoughts on backgrounds. I really like the graduated grays also. My problem with that is getting that durned piece of jewelry or stone to sit correctly against my graduated paper. I would LOVE advice on that. I know I can select the jewelry or stone in PS and then paste it on the graduated background, and so far that is the only way I have come up with to really get the image to come out correct. So................ :glasses9:
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Sorry, no advice to give on picture taking but that is one nice piece of jewelry :headbang:
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I like a black background also but I am too lazy to set it up now. When I was studying photography I just use one piece of paper and made it the base and the background by bending it in a curve so it laid flat then curved up the back of the light box. This can be done on a larger scale with people and canvas but it is best to have people sitting or laying on something so they do not look like they are floating.
Now I just toss them on my comforter or set them on the table. I bought a new really high powered flashlight that I lay on a pillow so I can aim it and shoot away. I do not have to worry about winning a bunch of photo contests that way. lol
Jim
BTW Great tut, photo and cab.