[Jewelry making - Article 00698] - Re: [Orchid] Photographing Jewelry 101

[Lisa Gallagher]

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    This is always a very vigorous topic, but it's one that has so many
    facets to it that it's always interesting to hear what other people
    have found important and useful. Actually, the last time this was a
    topic it inspired me to change my setup and I've been very pleased.
    Anytime I do things like this I try to be creative and make use of
    inexpensive materials to do a professional-looking job. I don't want
    to spend a ton of money to have someone else take my pictures, nor
    wait for someone else to do it, so since I'm already a very avid
    photographer I of course want to be able to take my own pictures. 

    My first setup emulated a tute I saw at Amy O'Connell's website,
    www.lapidaryart.com. Basically she created a box with a draped black
    paper in it, lights in front, and a camera on a tripod. Most things
    were photographed while held vertically with various support options,
    which might have to be removed digitally later. A suspended black
    wire, for instance, could hold a pendant, or little vertical wires
    coming up from below could support earrings. Also had to be removed
    from the image. Necklaces are clipped at each end to the top of the
    box, so just the front center part (or as much as you want, so long
    as the box doesn't show) is in the picture, sort of showing it as it
    would be worn. Doesn't work for every necklace, but pretty good.
    Other things I just put on the black paper itself, like bracelets &
    rings. I didn't always like the suddenly fuzzy background look of the
    paper, though, when it's shot that close-up. 

    When I was inspired by the discussions of this last time, I Googled
    and checked out recommended sites, and I found there are tons of
    ideas of ways to setup your own light tent, without paying the
    hundreds of dollars that some places want you to spend. Someone
    mentioned using a large white translucent storage tub, turned on its
    side, and I thought I'd try that out. I even had one sitting unused.
    Fantastic! And cheap! ;-) My setup now consists of said tub, on its
    side, with yet another barrier layer when needed of white fabric
    over top. I ditched the PVC pipe stands (and trust me, it's not easy
    to clip lamps to a round pipe!) for simple snake necked desk lamps
    that sit on the table (card table) on either side of the tub, or next
    to and above, or next to and in front of, or wherever works for that
    image. Some things require that you get closer to or farther away
    from the overall setup (rings vs necklaces, for instance) and that
    changes the lighting needs. Inside the tub, I have a piece of very
    smooth black paper that covers the whole bottom and goes up just a
    few inches in the back. Actually it hangs down a bit in the front,
    too, just to ensure complete coverage. I suppose you'd want white
    since you want a white background. Anyway, on top of that paper I
    have 4 empty film canisters, any such thing would do, and then a
    sheet of non-glare glass on top of that. Glass size = inside of tub
    size. Mine is actually a bit longer, but basically just as wide as
    the tub. As someone else mentioned, that has the piece floating
    above the background and makes the background much smoother in
    appearance. No more worry about little paper fuzzies suddenly showing
    up in macro mode, or other imperfections in the paper or fabric on
    which the piece is sitting. I tried, as one person on-line suggested,
    a black marble tile & setting the things right one that, but then
    there were little light-reflecting flecks, and that was distracting.
    I don't know, maybe they found a more solid colored marble than I
    did. Plus, it's darn heavy to move around! Each time I set something
    up I play with the lights to get them to give just the right effect
    for that particular piece. I've used a big flashlight with a plastic
    bag over it (what I had handy) to add a little fill light now & then,
    and I've used white fabric or foam core to block things (me, the
    camera, whatever else is nearby) from reflecting when something's
    been extra smooth & reflective. Usually if I'm shooting a few pieces
    at a time, I'll try to, for instance, shoot all the rings at the
    same time, then move to the necklaces, etc, to minimize having to
    change the lighting for each things. 

    The other points, of course, are that you need a tripod and you need
    to have a macro function on your camera. You don't have to have a
    super expensive camera, but you do need macro. I also prefer to have
    the ability to manually adjust my camera's settings, and my camera -
    although in the "point & shoot" price range - allows me to do that. I
    have an Olympus Camedia and love it. I find the other ones have so
    many darn "modes", and none of them really worked for what I wanted.
    I couldn't get the depth-of-field I wanted without doing it manually.
    So, unless you want to spend the $$ on a fabulous D-SLR (which I'd
    love to one day), I highly recommend the Olympus as a really nice
    camera that gives good manual options, macro, and still a lower price
    tag. 

Lisa
Designs by Lisa Gallagher
www.lisagallagher.com

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