Jewelry Shoot. Its for an add. Favorites?

[EOlsenPhoto]

Hello, I have been asked to get together a few quick shots for an add for a custom jewelry designer. The add will be about a 1 width by 3 height ratio (if that makes sense) so a bit narrow.

The pendents in question need to obviously appear true to life and really show their uniqueness. I have been struggling to get an interesting background/foreground that compliments the pieces and doesn't detract from them.

Just looking for some critiques on these. Any favorites? Any ideas? Does anyone else shoot jewelry around here?
Anyone with a color balanced monitor wants to compliment on my white balance, please do.

1. Probably the clearest shot, true to the pieces.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oWqRzv1L-9Du4KdkDgkxyQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKY6IKs3LTNtgE&feat=directlink

2. little less muting, true to the pieces.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-aOo26ELle_h_JQg5PVfmA?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKY6IKs3LTNtg E&feat=directlink

3.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EboxYaBro2EcBo4m0bGcMw?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKY6IKs3LTNt gE&feat=directlink

4.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QPl6KQMYmkFR-_PyApxibg?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKY6IKs3LTNtgE&feat=directlink

5.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Dt5p_in0ZOsJjxVOiBPV6g?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKY6IKs3LTNt gE&feat=directlink

6.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/d0u9XSSzHjmHvGMPSObIoQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKY6IKs3LTNt gE&feat=directlink

7. really like this one, but not true to the pieces.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zbVCK2BcMK7ZFgiiHAqiKA?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKY6IKs3LTNt gE&feat=directlink

8.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/idUh0dIA_V8xHFEZRTJx4A?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKY6IKs3LTNt gE&feat=directlink

9. colors a bit muted.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JB70cmYPkUKowMqLxiVJPw?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKY6IKs3LTNt gE&feat=directlink

10.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/q5ZPwp6ZtWK4Zl2x7bDYHA?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKY6IKs3LTNt gE&feat=directlink

11. Kind of blah, kind of soft and washed out.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rt-oL4HXNkMKqkJRdjIH3Q?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKY6IKs3LTNtgE&feat=directlink

12. Really like this concept but was having real trouble getting the diamonds in the rear pendent to come out looking lively.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xjvhSoAJJfCWk-OXlGXzZg?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKY6IKs3LTNtgE&feat=directlink

13. Really, really like this one. However this will be going into skinny add space so I don't think it will work out so well.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rJ_wKwOsAeOOyx8tpL8I7Q?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKY6IKs3LTNt gE&feat=directlink


Thanks
Erik

[FlyingPhotog]

Yer Code Puked...

[EOlsenPhoto]

The direct links? I def. saw that the images didn't post correctly... I think it is fixed.

[Snydremark]

Are you using a really large aperture for these shots? It looks like you've got the point of focus on the chain or the pendant connectors on a lot of the shots which is putting the actual pieces just outside the DOF.

If you are wanting to show the pieces themselves off, I would suggest either putting the focus on the central pendant or stopping down to a smaller aperture and giving yourself some room to work with DOF. As it is, a lot of the detail appears to be being lost.

In a fair number of shots, the pendants are facing at an awkward angle away from the viewer; I feel like I'm trying to inspect "shy" jewelry. As if it's trying to turn away from me and not be seen clearly.

Also, the pieces are all fairly light, so the lighter backgrounds aren't giving quite enough contrast for the pieces to stand out enough.

Exposure and focus in the in-focus areas appears good and tight, though. Good clarity and sharpness there.

[EOlsenPhoto]

Are you using a really large aperture for these shots? It looks like you've got the point of focus on the chain or the pendant connectors on a lot of the shots which is putting the actual pieces just outside the DOF.

If you are wanting to show the pieces themselves off, I would suggest either putting the focus on the central pendant or stopping down to a smaller aperture and giving yourself some room to work with DOF. As it is, a lot of the detail appears to be being lost.

I have shot these on a wide variety of apertures actually. I want to try to get a bit more light because as my DOF was increasing so was noise. I was aiming for the clasp area on the middle pendant to try to balance out the focus into the middle of all the pieces. of course detail falls off a bit toward the edges, I didn't really find it unpleasant, but instead it kind of worked with the softening effect. I have to be careful of course as to not lose too much detail and detract from the pieces. I would love to hear more opinions on this.

In a fair number of shots, the pendants are facing at an awkward angle away from the viewer; I feel like I'm trying to inspect "shy" jewelry. As if it's trying to turn away from me and not be seen clearly.

I was purposely trying to rotate the pieces away a bit. If they are directly face on they tend to get blown out or overly darkened. I think more light would help in this situation (remove shadows and still get the stones to pop). As I stated with a few of the photos, they are turned to far and I think it takes away from the pieces. I do still find these shots appealing, but I don't think the jeweler will. Do you feel the majority of the shots are too
"turned"?

Also, the pieces are all fairly light, so the lighter backgrounds aren't giving quite enough contrast for the pieces to stand out enough.

This is where I am slightly worried about my monitor calibration. I have applied softening around the pieces but what I was noticing about the lighter backgrounds, was that they are showing more contrast (at least with my monitor). You are able to pick up on the rose colors inlaid into the yellow gold. I think allot of this was lost with the darker backgrounds. I know this is important to the jeweler.


Exposure and focus in the in-focus areas appears good and tight, though. Good clarity and sharpness there.

Thanks. Exposure is a relief.


Thank you for your critiques.


Erik