Some jewelry shots

[liquid7]

Jewelry photos for my girlfriend's company. Pictures are taken with 450D and Sigma 70mm Macro. C&C are welcome.

1. Illuminated desk and white paper for reflector (material white gold)
http://www.hannakorhonen.fi/kuvat/temp/so_kuva28.jpg


2. Light tent, black cardboard background and two desktop fluorescents (material silver)
http://www.hannakorhonen.fi/kuvat/temp/rp_kuva30.jpg


3. Light tent, black plastic background and two desktop fluorescents (material white gold)
http://www.hannakorhonen.fi/kuvat/temp/so_kuva22.jpg


4. Light tent, black plastic background and two desktop fluorescents (material yellow gold)
http://www.hannakorhonen.fi/kuvat/temp/so_kuva24.jpg


5. Illuminated desk and white paper for reflector (material white gold)
http://www.hannakorhonen.fi/kuvat/temp/so_kuva26.jpg


6. Light tent, white cardboard background and two desktop fluorescents (material glass, silver)
http://www.hannakorhonen.fi/kuvat/temp/rp_kuva32.jpg

[mikerault]

Nice shots! Have you tried the silver against a dark background?

[liquid7]

Nice shots! Have you tried the silver against a dark background?

Thanks!
The second picture is silver on black.

[mikerault]

I've found sometimes on a white background silver gets lost. I really like the ring shot.

[jpstewart19]

I do these types of shots for my wifes business and know how tough it can be to watch reflections and glare. Really great lighting control.

[Cyclop]

Nicely done.

[canonloader]

Excellent work.

[DutchOven]

Did you build your own light tent? Care to share the setup? :)

[JayJay]

I think they are beautiful photographs - my only worry is that the stones don't sparkle and look rather flat.

[lespaulowner]

Great series!

[FelixDeSouze]

These are very nice. I like them, lightbox is good :)

[liquid7]

Did you build your own light tent? Care to share the setup? :)

Thanks to all for your comments.

No, I didn't built it. It's just some cheap 40x40x40cm lightbox. I would share if I could, but my setup is different from shot to shot, so it's a little hard to describe it.

I think they are beautiful photographs - my only worry is that the stones don't sparkle and look rather flat.

Yeah, I have noticed the same problem. I'm an amateur photographer and I'm still learning. I haven't really photographed anything else than jewelry. When I get my basic technique in control, I will try to get some sparkle and shine in pictures. Any suggestions?

[RandyS]

Very nice indeed.

Myself, I tend to favor the silver on the white background - that first shot is great. Especially like the DOF on it.

[JayJay]

Yeah, I have noticed the same problem. I'm an amateur photographer and I'm still learning. I haven't really photographed anything else than jewelry. When I get my basic technique in control, I will try to get some sparkle and shine in pictures. Any suggestions?[/QUOTE]

Hi, You could try asking this question or searching the archives on a jewellery forum. I would recommend the Orchid forum at Ganoksin which is a truly excellent resource. Good luck JayJay

[canonloader]

When I get my basic technique in control, I will try to get some sparkle and shine in pictures.
I read in a tutorial recently, that to get gemstones to sparkle, use a LED light. One of the types that have several LED bulbs in one fixture.

Here's the link (http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/jewelry_photography.htm#sparkle).

[dhikx]

Illuminated desk,what is looks like ?
u juzt use the continous light ya ?
i ever shot things like this ...
but it has very revlective area ...
i dont use any light tent .. just use a white paper ,with 2 speedlight + softbox ...
is that the light tent help to reduce the reflect on the jewelry ?


sorry for my english

[canonloader]

The light tent will reduce reflections from anything outside the tent. Just white paper or foam board will allow everything around it to reflect off a reflective surface, the light tent diffuses the light and stops the reflection. Some light tents even have a front piece to stick the lens through and block off even more reflections from the camera and tripod.

[dhikx]

if we use the light tent and have 2 speedlight for the light source ...
is the softbox for the speedlight still needed or not ?

[recrisp]

if we use the light tent and have 2 speedlight for the light source ...
is the softbox for the speedlight still needed or not ?
Here's some examples of the light tent, and some lighting.
I just did a search for "light tent lighting", that should get you to where it makes sense, click on a few to see what you think.
http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=light+tent+lighting&aq=f&aqi=&oq=

I hope that helps some...:)

Randy

[dhikx]

ok .. thx for the light ...
i got the idea now ...

[canonloader]

if we use the light tent and have 2 speedlight for the light source ...
is the softbox for the speedlight still needed or not ?
No, the light tent will act as the diffuser for the flash's.

[recrisp]

I was kind'a looking around online and saw this, it looks VERY helpful for jewelry shots, and other similar stuff.

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_2381489_lighting-jewelry-photography.html?cp=1&pid=1

Randy

[Parmcat]

beautiful lighting!!!!!!

[SuperHuman21]

Did you photoshop the background? I dunno how to wash out the background, without my CS4, in a light tent since the light bounces everywhere. Any tips anyone?

Forgot to mention that my tent is small, barely over a foot long. I was thinking of maybe building my own light tent that could be large enough to avoid spill...gotta find some rip-stop nylon now. Would that work?

[SuperHuman21]

Thanks to all for your comments.

No, I didn't built it. It's just some cheap 40x40x40cm lightbox. I would share if I could, but my setup is different from shot to shot, so it's a little hard to describe it.



Yeah, I have noticed the same problem. I'm an amateur photographer and I'm still learning. I haven't really photographed anything else than jewelry. When I get my basic technique in control, I will try to get some sparkle and shine in pictures. Any suggestions?

Yeah, use mirrors. You won't get the crazy sparkles (that look natural) without some photoshop (IMO), but mirrors will get you closer than what you've posted. Trust me, I know how tedious it may seem but you'll get the hang of it and will find it worthwhile. I use 1 mirror for now that I hold up while I use the remote. And of course, don't forget to wear white sleeves and gloves if you'll be holding a mirror :)

[liquid7]

Did you photoshop the background? I dunno how to wash out the background, without my CS4, in a light tent since the light bounces everywhere. Any tips anyone?

Do you mean did I remove the background in Photoshop? I control the background by using exposure and black in Lightroom. As you can see in pic. 6 I can't wash out the background either. Pics 1 and 5 are taken on an illuminated desk which helps to wash out the background as the light comes from below the object.

Yeah, use mirrors. You won't get the crazy sparkles (that look natural) without some photoshop (IMO), but mirrors will get you closer than what you've posted. Trust me, I know how tedious it may seem but you'll get the hang of it and will find it worthwhile. I use 1 mirror for now that I hold up while I use the remote. And of course, don't forget to wear white sleeves and gloves if you'll be holding a mirror :)

I will try this.


This is my latest shot. I'm not completely happy with this one, but I had only 1 hour to shoot this. Focus was a little bit off and I had to remove some reflections in Photoshop.

7. Black cardboard on a table top, two desktop fluorescents with diffusers, white cardboard as reflector (material silver, moonstone)
http://www.hannakorhonen.fi/kuvat/temp/IMG_1953.jpg

[SuperHuman21]

An hour?! Wish I had that much time lol. I have to pump things out in 1-5 mins.

Still a nice pic. The biggest iffy thing is the reflection in the front...it looks odd. Otherwise, not bad.

[spitfirejd]

I think they are beautiful photographs - my only worry is that the stones don't sparkle and look rather flat.

That is because the light tent is diffusing all your light. The best bet for jewelry photography is studio strobes. More difficult to learn, but much easier to control sparkle, reflections, contrast, etc. This Ken Rockwell article will give you a better explanation of why to use strobes: Product Photography (http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/product-photography.htm)

[SuperHuman21]

Spitfirejd, you have any personal experience? My only worry is the learning curve when I get my B800's (unless someone knows or thinks B400's are enough). It's hard enough with cont. lights as it is! lol. Should be fun. I'm converting much of the garage into a studio soon for the gear.

To OP--Even if your jewelry is in the softbox, you can still make the stones sparkle by using a strobe or a mirror (if cont. lights) in front of the stones but as with anything, it'll take practice.

[spitfirejd]

Not with studio flash, I'm educating myself on that right now. I'm reading the excellent book Light, Science and Magic by Hunter, Biver and Fuqua and trolling the Net for articles like the above. However, when I started doing product photography I tried the light tents and wasn't impressed. They work well for some subjects and for eBay pics, but I didn't like the quality for my business. I ended up buying a set of Lowell Ego lights which worked well enough for what I was doing but you have to get them close because the CFLs aren't very bright. They also wouldn't help with your jewelry photography at all. I can say with confidence the light tent is what is keeping your sparkle away, and from everything I've read you're going to need studio lights, or at least flash, to get them back. Of the two, I would recommend the studio lights over flash for product photography (so does Ken Rockwell in the article, BTW).

[SuperHuman21]

Yeah, I've gotta get my hands on that book as much of what I know is from tons of reading technical articles and lots of trial and error (oh, the terrible pics I started out with! lol). Well, the light tent alone sucks. I have to add an extra diffuser that is several inches away from the light tent's walls and ceiling. Without this I get hot spots and the light looks too harsh (for me at least).

I second strobes as they're not gonna cost you that much more considering the vast power differences (for an example, an Alienbees B800 is much cheaper and much more powerful than a SB800). That is from what I understand :)

[liquid7]

8. Illuminated desk and white paper for reflector (material white gold and diamond)

http://www.hannakorhonen.fi/kuvat/temp/solitaire.jpg

[canonloader]

Illuminated Desk? Is that a light coming up through translucent plastic?

[liquid7]

Illuminated Desk? Is that a light coming up through translucent plastic?
Yes, it is. Actually my "desk" is a device you use to look x-ray pictures.

[canonloader]

Ah, OK, a light table. I have seen small raised tables that fit inside a light tent, made of bent white plastic with a small light fixture inside. You put the object to photograph on top of it. Haven't tried that yet, but I like your results.

[N/A]

I like the reflections on 3 & 4.

[mikerault]

My latest creation, a 60+ carat Emerald necklace. Used a light box with 2 - 500 Watt halogen lights from each side and taken down through the top port with my 17X85mm Canon lens on my Canon20D. Did leveling, contrast and unsharp mask on the output. Shot with WB at incandescent temperature on manual.

[liquid7]

Two new shots with focus stacking.

9. Illuminated desk and white paper for reflector (material yellow and white gold and the "stone" is made from horses tooth)

http://www.hannakorhonen.fi/kuvat/temp/heppa.jpg


10. Illuminated desk and white paper for reflector (material yellow gold, silver and pearl)

http://www.hannakorhonen.fi/kuvat/temp/lehtirannekoru.jpg

[Mikelangelo]

The last two images look great! Crisp/shiny. Very clean. Well done.