[Jewelry making - Article 01414] - Re: [Orchid] Learning jewelry photography

[The Doctor]

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    I'll probably get a lot of argument from this view, but that won't
    be unusual :-)  Having been an amateur photographer for a long time,
    I don't find it particularly difficult to set a background, select
    lighting and shoot. And I think this attitude came mainly from a
    rare interview with Ansel Adams I read a long time ago. I don't
    recall the exact words he used, but basically, he took a LOT of
    shots of the same subject, bracketing exposures, rearranging
    lighting, using different lighting, lenses, film, etc. He said that,
    out of a hundred feet of film (most pros shoot bulk film by the
    foot), he was happy to get two good frames. I took that to mean that
    a great photographer never stops experimenting. 

    In the past, photographers and photo editors used airbrushes with
    marvelous results. Today, most everyone uses Adobe Photoshop. A
    common cliche in photography is "The camera doesn't lie." However,
    if you've ever tried to photograph an opal or diamond (or most
    gemstones, for that matter), you'll quickly realize that the camera
    simply can't capture on film (or digitally) the incredibly complex
    look that our eyes see when we view them. Once you learn the
    interrelationships between the basic functions of any camera (focal
    length, shutter speed, aperture, optics, etc.), and the
    characteristics of the film you shoot (color balance, ISO, grain
    structure, etc.), there is little else, other than lighting, that
    you can control, except in the darkroom. That's where Photoshop can
    help. 

    Photoshop is a "darkroom in a computer." My experience (not
    necessarily others') has taught me that once I've used every focal
    length, exposure, lighting (etc., you get the point), possibility,
    the rest can only be accomplished in the darkroom (and since I went
    digital, I wish my old darkroom equipment could find a home). To
    make good photos of gemstones, first learn as much as you can about
    macro photography. Then, go to the bookstore and spend the 50
    dollars or so on a good Photoshop tutorial. Better yet, google GIMP
    (GNU Image Manipulation Program), download their software which is
    very similar to Photoshop, and go through their free online
    tutorial. GIMP's engine and interface are so similar to Photoshops'
    that I'm surprised there isn't a lawsuit pending. It will take a
    good deal of time to learn the possibilities of each and every tool
    available, but if you really want to be a good photographer,
    darkroom skills are as necessary (perhaps even more so) as your
    camera skills. 

    One caution. When manipulating jewelry photos, it can be tempting to
    make it look better in the photo than it does in life. There are
    people on eBay who are very good at it, and they are the reason that
    many don't trust eBay for gems and jewelry. Just keep it real and
    you'll never have to give a refund. 

James in SoFl

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