Diamond Photography Competition

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Prize - An Ideal-Scope and Calibration CZ.

First entry - Christian Pike from Melbourne Australia

This is the best I have ever seen because you can see fire and the star pattern AND the stone still looks colorless.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

And here is a high tech entry on behalf of Sergey and the OctoNus DiamCalc team based on inputed data from a 3d Sarin DiaVision scan.
It is the same stone

 

[robbe]

hi mr cutnut, my stone is flatter than yours but i like the result of my photo. what do you think? robbe

 

[robbe]

"This is the best I have ever seen because you can see fire and the star pattern AND the stone still looks colorless."




...actually you're right, the picture on top is very beautiful!!! robbe

 

[Mara]

Robbe your picture didn't come through?




Garry--interesting how different the two pictures are looking (real vs virtual)--what do you think accounts for the differences since they are the 'same stone'...is 'real photography' that much superior? That virtual image doesn't even show the arrows as clearly...interesting?

 

[smaggard]

I took this soon after receiving the ring. It's mounted obviously, and I should have used a better white light source. I'm going to try better ones but now that I gave it to her, it isn't exactly a piece of cake getting it to myself for a while if ya know what I mean!!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Mara the virtual image is made by scanning adn transfering a file for each facet into DC. The scan is not deadly accurate - so facets are not always lined up perfectly.
The virtual lighting is different to the lighting in the real iamge.
Also the focus is perfect in the virtual image - Notice how Smag's stone has more dimension caused by the fact the table is in and the culet is out of focus. If you could take that shot with the camera focusing in the middle of the stone Smag, it would be great.

Robbe maybe your file was too big?

 

[ringbling17]

I'm sure there are better pics, but here's mine.
In direct sunlight on the window sill, set in the Vatche Royal Crown.

By the way, can you submit more than one?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Very nice Kayla.

Interesting thought - the light is hitting the pavilion.
We aim to take photo's with no light entering the pavilion - this makes it very difficult.
Can you try with something blacking the pavilion for me in a similar setup please Kayla?

 

[Mara]

Cool picture Kayla..I cant get images like that with my camera.




Garry--the top picture you posted, is that with light blacking out the pav? Wouldn't you want it to show the fire and sparkles in the ring like Kaylas or ? The top picture shows more of the 'brightness' of the stone seemingly..while hers looks more warm and fiery.

 

[Mikesgirl]

This is fun. Struggling with getting the image as sharp as those shown - it's probably my camera (or the organic equipment!).

 

[ringbling17]

Ummh,
What's the pavillion?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

The bottom 1/2 of the diamond - the whole part below the girdle.

No we are not trying to make bad diamonds look good - this excercise that CP is doing is to take a realistic image for diamond certificates. All the light shoudl come from above the crown

 

[Rhino]

Is this contest for consumers only Gary?

 

[Mikesgirl]

Show us what skilled people with great (photography) equipment can do, Rhino!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

I thought it would be mainly trade

It never occured to me that the consumer shots would be so good.

BTW you should be the judge Leonid

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

So the rule is no back lighting all you trade pro's

 

[Rhino]

I don't know if it would be considered my *best* but it is certainly one of my favorites. It is one of my most recent shots as I was testing some new gear. Needless to say I love and kept the gear.

Rhino

 

[Rhino]

On a side note ... all my images are copyright.

And no backlighting on this one either Gary.

The lighting is natural diffuse daylight ala cloudy day (with a slight modification

).

 

[mouse]

Gandolf would recognize this Precious right? .94F/vs1 in it's final home.

**edited**
Shot data:
--nikon 990 in macro mode, ott-lite desklamp, no flash
--used white plastic film canister as a diffuser (cut out bottom)
--shooting straight down through diffuser opening onto ring in ring box
--black velvet lining in box

-mouse

 

[Rhino]

FRODO MY YOUNG LAD!!!




So THAT'S who *mouse* is!!!

Absolutely stunning and GREAT SHOT!!! I'd recognize that beauty among a batch of 100!




Great to see ya here on the forums!!!




Rhino

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

----------------
On 10/18/2003 1:11:05 AM Rhino wrote:


I don't know if it would be considered my *best* but it is certainly one of my favorites. It is one of my most recent shots as I was testing some new gear. Needless to say I love and kept the gear.

Rhino
----------------

Sorry Rhino - that is an absolute blow out shot - but it is plain to see there is backlight. All the little leakage fringes etc are pale or white. pavilions should be sitting in a black tray - or put black card board under your perspex seating tray.

But the depth of feild is fantastic!!!

 

[Rhino]

Sorry Rhino - that is an absolute blow out shot -

Does that mean you like it or do not like it?

but it is plain to see there is backlight.

The diamond is sitting upon a plastic reflective surface but I assure you there is no light source behind the diamond.

All the little leakage fringes etc are pale or white. pavilions should be sitting in a black tray - or put black card board under your perspex seating tray.

I'll try taking a shot with black behind the stone. I didn't know that was a prerequisite to the contest. I just though you wanted jammin pics of diamonds.

But the depth of feild is fantastic!!!

Thanks!!! Haha... actually I thought that was where the pic lacked.

You can see with razor sharp clarity the facets by the girdle edges (pavilion and crown) but the center *eye* is slightly out of focus. A little better depth of field and I'd have the whole thing in razor sharp perspective. That's a little tough to do since this macro lens requires getting very close to the object being photographed.

So do you like or dislike? Do I need to snap off another with a black background?

Peace,
Rhino

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Yeah I like - for an advertising shot it is fantatsic.
Does USA copyright cover Australia???

It would be good to see what a difference the black makes

I think some of the fire we see lower in the image is actually the reflections back into the stone of the fire that has exited the pavilion.

You can also see that the table is out of focus - but that has the illusion of drawing you "inside" the gem!!!
Better that way than having the table in focus and the culet dropped out.

 

[Mara]

Wow this is ultimate eye candy....more more more!!




mouse, that shot is nothing short of amazing!! very detailed.




Rhino, yours is gorgeous and does draw you into the stone, almost 3d.




I don't know that I'd have anything remotely good..but I'll search around the hard drive.

 

[robbe]

...very strange, i can see the pic that i posted earlier...(?)


i will try again later.


below, i copy & paste a pic that i noticed in one of pricescope's tread.(hope this one will be visible).


i think this is just amazing! robbe

 

[robbe]

/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]referrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> /www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]ath o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect">/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif[/img]ath>/www.pricescope.com/idealbb/images/smilies/6.gif[/img]le="">2nd attempt for my picture...

 

[robbe]

...sorry for it doesn't want to join the contest !!!


i'll try again later.


robbe

 

[robbe]

ok look:


i copied the blanc image in my "2nd attempt"-post, then paste it in a word doc and it worked !!!


i just can't attach the file! can someone help? (i think i have to go back to my evening computer course!)


nice weekend to all.


robbe

 

[Rhino]

I think some of the fire we see lower in the image is actually the reflections back into the stone of the fire that has exited the pavilion.

Actually it may be colored refelctions off the plastic beneath the front of the diamond. That is perhaps one of the best shots I've taken which we plan on using in our advertising. I really like it.

You can also see that the table is out of focus - but that has the illusion of drawing you 'inside' the gem!!!
Better that way than having the table in focus and the culet dropped out.

When you gaze into that shot I have to agree. There is another we printed out on a 13x19 glossy that is identical to that shot exept no colors underneath that has the same effect and it is gorgeous.

I'll see if I can do against black today as it is cloudy up here in NY.

Rhino