Diamond ring question

[Sendide]

Hi dear fellas,
my friend just got engaged and wants me to take a nice picture of her ring (three alligned little diamonds in gold ring).
does anyone have such experience? is it better to have it off hand or in a finger? which backgroung would be more valuable? black or whilte or ...?
I plan to use the 100mm macro USM. will a flash help to reflect some light from the stones? twinlite 24EXor offset 550EX?
thanks in advance
best regards
Khalid

[sp00g3]

Hi dear fellas,
my friend just got engaged and wants me to take a nice picture of her ring (three alligned little diamonds in gold ring).
does anyone have such experience? is it better to have it off hand or in a finger? which backgroung would be more valuable? black or whilte or ...?
I plan to use the 100mm macro USM. will a flash help to reflect some light from the stones? twinlite 24EXor offset 550EX?
thanks in advance
best regards
Khalid

My word of advice is to try not to use a flash, however, you want the sparkle so I would set up some flood or studio lamps. The flash does some wierd washout with diamonds, maybe its just me. :)

[Penguin_101_1]

Maybe a star filter?

[Sendide]

good points guys
thanks

[Vegas Poboy]

Most of the time Jewelry is shot with a light tent so you get just enough light to catch the sparkle without blow out of the detail. Just a quick test put your light behind a white sheet when you shoot.

[vfilby]

There is a link from the B&H website that leads to free photo lessons. From there you will find a lesson that deals specifically with rings. The direct link is:

http://www.bhwebphotoschool.com/lessons/c5050diamondRing/index.html

Enjoy,

[slejhamer]

Taking a "product shot" of the ring by itself seems very impersonal to me.

Here are some alternatives; you can personalize the other items to the individuals:

http://www.acclaimimages.com/search_terms/engagement_ring.html

http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_pages/0018-0310-1417-0058.html

Or something a bit more formal like the third one from the bottom:
http://www.shutterbug.net/features/0404sb_formal/

Be creative, make it special for your friends!

[midnightvue]

I took a shot of my wedding band and my fiance's engagement ring (couldn't get her band to stay put) but the shot ended up coming out pretty good I think....
http://www.xtremesaturn.com/patrick/rings04.jpg

My setup was very ghetto rigged but my 500w work light was angled towards the ceiling and the rings were in a box that I made.

[Sendide]

thanks a lot guys,
impressed by the experience here and there that you guys have in almost every photography field
this forum is the best
regards
Khalid

[SWPhotoImaging]

If it's a keepsake photo for the bride, you want the bride-to-be's finger in it. If it's a photo for her to send home to mom (or for insurance purposes), you want a midget's (little person's?) hand modeling it for proportional impact. If you are taking a photo for eBay, then you want it to be like a jewelry catalog, devoid of hands or other personalizing elements.

[Kabz]

There is a link from the B&H website that leads to free photo lessons. From there you will find a lesson that deals specifically with rings. The direct link is:

http://www.bhwebphotoschool.com/lessons/c5050diamondRing/index.html

Enjoy,

right there is good.
Coming from someone in the business :)

[Sendide]

thanks again
sdwike : it''a actually a picutre for herself to keep, I was also thinking of taking the picture qith the ring in her finger, more personal I guess.
technical question thogh : with the finger, I shoud avoid macro lens for less details, right? maybe a little far awy from the subject, OR, take the close shot than soften arround the ring in PS CS, what do you think guys?
it's planned next tuesday, I;ll post the result for your comments
best regards
Kh