Photography 101

[Harriet]

I thought it would be useful to have everyone's tips in one place. I'll start:
1. Do not use a cameraphone.

 

[Love in Bloom]

2. Try taking shots with and without flash to see what looks best

3. Use a tripod when possible or support your camera/arm against something to reduce blur

4. Photographer should be fully clothed just in case a reflection shows up on something shiny

 

[Rock Candy]

Date: 5/28/2007 9:51:35 PM
Author: Love in Bloom
2. Try taking shots with and without flash to see what looks best

3. Use a tripod when possible or support your camera/arm against something to reduce blur

4. Photographer should be fully clothed just in case a reflection shows up on something shiny

#4 - LOL!

 

[Gypsy]

Diamonds will reflect clothing color so if you are wearing orange or yellow don''t freak if your diamond comes out looking yellower than it is IRL.

 

[neatfreak]

I think the number one tip is only two words: MACRO MODE!

 

[diamondfan]

Clean your stuff, and remove any fluff or lint or fuzz from the prongs! (blushes and admits to not having done this before)

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 5/29/2007 1:06:40 AM
Author: neatfreak
I think the number one tip is only two words: MACRO MODE!

Macro mode
Turn off the flash
Steady hand
Have the light behind you.
Go outside and find fun props....
Love the flower shots, or those on rocks, nature is always a great backdrop
Have fun.
And if I can do it, well.....
Then anyone can.

 

[Harriet]

Thanks everyone!

My camera does not have a separate macro mode. Darn. As for taking photos outside in NY, um...

How does Ellen capture those arrows in her avatar?

 

[widget]

Date: 5/29/2007 6:55:37 AM
Author: Harriet
My camera does not have a separate macro mode.

Maybe it''s time to get a new camera with a macro mode??

widget

 

[Harriet]

 

[Ellen]

Harriet, you haven''t had that camera that long, I''d take it back and exchange it for one that has macro. I''m sure they''d let you do an exchange.


I have been jotting down tips for pic taking, I was going to do a thread on it, but I''ll just add to this now when I get it done.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 5/29/2007 6:55:37 AM
Author: Harriet

How does Ellen capture those arrows in her avatar?

I forgot to answer this. The best way is to have a light source, or a greater light source (more concentrated) BEHIND the diamond. I''ll post a pic for you that has 1 window letting in light, off to the side and behind the diamond. It doesn''t have to be really bright, this was in the basement. Windowsills are great for arrow shots. The pic in my av was taken holding my hand up in front of a window, the blinds were down and shut, but the sun was really shining on it.

Basement shot.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/29/2007 10:45:54 AM
Author: Ellen
Harriet, you haven''t had that camera that long, I''d take it back and exchange it for one that has macro. I''m sure they''d let you do an exchange.


I have been jotting down tips for pic taking, I was going to do a thread on it, but I''ll just add to this now when I get it done.

Hi Ellen,
It''s actually been lying around for a few years. Oops.
Can''t wait for your tips.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/29/2007 10:52:47 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 5/29/2007 6:55:37 AM
Author: Harriet

How does Ellen capture those arrows in her avatar?

I forgot to answer this. The best way is to have a light source, or a greater light source (more concentrated) BEHIND the diamond. I''ll post a pic for you that has 1 window letting in light, off to the side and behind the diamond. It doesn''t have to be really bright, this was in the basement. Windowsills are great for arrow shots. The pic in my av was taken holding my hand up in front of a window, the blinds were down and shut, but the sun was really shining on it.

Basement shot.

Thanks, I''ll give it a, um, shot.

 

[snlee]

Good tips so far.

Another tip - Get a large memory card so you can take a ton of pictures! If you take 100 shots, a few of them are bound to be really good. Getting good diamond photographs takes lots of patience.

 

[mrssalvo]

there''s a thread around her of gals using a scanner to get incredible shots of their rings...

so when all else fails: Use a scanner

 

[Gypsy]

Harriet our digital (now missing key pieces... love moving) was quite old and the macro was hard to find... but it was there. Are you certain (and forgive me if you are) that you don''t have a macro function?

 

[Ellen]

Date: 5/29/2007 2:42:17 PM
Author: Harriet
Hi Ellen,
It''s actually been lying around for a few years. Oops.
Can''t wait for your tips.

Oh. I don''t know why I thought you had just bought it.



So go buy one!!

 

[colormyworld]

If you have a 10 or 12x zoom you can back off 4 or more feet from your subject and get very good pics. I find when I use macro mode a lot of light is blocked by the camera. By being farther away I think you get less extinction.

Doug

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/29/2007 4:08:44 PM
Author: Gypsy
Harriet our digital (now missing key pieces... love moving) was quite old and the macro was hard to find... but it was there. Are you certain (and forgive me if you are) that you don''t have a macro function?

There may be one built-in, but there''s no separate macro function.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/29/2007 4:50:28 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 5/29/2007 2:42:17 PM
Author: Harriet
Hi Ellen,
It''s actually been lying around for a few years. Oops.
Can''t wait for your tips.

Oh. I don''t know why I thought you had just bought it.



So go buy one!!

Because I''ve been inflicting my cameraphone on you all.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/29/2007 5:01:14 PM
Author: colormyworld
If you have a 10 or 12x zoom you can back off 4 or more feet from your subject and get very good pics. I find when I use macro mode a lot of light is blocked by the camera. By being farther away I think you get less extinction.

Doug

I''ll try that.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 5/29/2007 7:19:30 PM
Author: Harriet

Date: 5/29/2007 4:50:28 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 5/29/2007 2:42:17 PM
Author: Harriet
Hi Ellen,
It''s actually been lying around for a few years. Oops.
Can''t wait for your tips.

Oh. I don''t know why I thought you had just bought it.



So go buy one!!

Because I''ve been inflicting my cameraphone on you all.

I really wish I oculd disagree with the terminology... but the last time you posted pics of the smaller Rhod''s with your studs I FELT like you were inflicting. LOL.

 

[ger100]

This is a great subject. I have not had much success photographing gems/jewelry on my desk in front of my comp...wonder why.

However, having read through the postings, it reminds of how I photograph antique glass! (haven''t done it in a while).

Outdoors or indirect daylight from the back is the best lighting for glass. When I photograph some glass with a metal trim or stand I "fill in" with a flash (obviously from the front), since the front metal doesn''t transmit the light on its own.

As far as macros. They work fine if I hold up the glass directly in front of the window (no tripod needed), then go back and use the built-in internal enlarger. I MUST try this technique on gemstones!

My camera is a Sony Cybershot, 3.3 megapixels, about 4-5 years old. It did take me 2 hours to read through the manual before I used it when I got it.

Oh, and I have a very old Adobe Photoshop Deluxe Business edition for fixing colors, enhancing contrast, making the pix smaller for net transmitting, etc.

Thanks for the topic.
Ger

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/29/2007 7:22:43 PM
Author: Gypsy

Date: 5/29/2007 7:19:30 PM
Author: Harriet

Date: 5/29/2007 4:50:28 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 5/29/2007 2:42:17 PM
Author: Harriet
Hi Ellen,
It''s actually been lying around for a few years. Oops.
Can''t wait for your tips.

Oh. I don''t know why I thought you had just bought it.



So go buy one!!

Because I''ve been inflicting my cameraphone on you all.

I really wish I oculd disagree with the terminology... but the last time you posted pics of the smaller Rhod''s with your studs I FELT like you were inflicting. LOL.

I know, I know.

I was too lazy to retrieve the camera. It was hiding somewhere. Hopefully, so are my pear studs.

 

[Harriet]

Ger,
It''s really difficult to photograph stones, isn''t it? Even LM uses a professional photographer!