Gemstone Photography

[gsellis]

One of my friends has started a gemstone photography discussion. It is just starting, but folks might have an interest in specialty macro photography.

http://customgemstonestudio.com/articles-from-contributors/photography/

And if you are wondering, there are serious challenges with both macro and true color. My avatar is an example. That stone in sunlight is grape purple with flashes of blue and red (which is not usual for most amethyst - Jackson Crossroads Amethyst (Georgia US) is known for doing that). A Canon A470 washes it out. And in Quartz Halogen lights, it gets black zones (which are not extinction) and too dark in shade. Switch to my Sony HC7 video camera and you get a still like that. The video comes out closer with WB. A Sigma is probably beneficial, but the guy who has one can be a little opinionated and it is hard too tell.

 

[alkemyst]

Well in all fairness the A470 is the wrong tool for gemstone macros.

 

[gsellis]

Well in all fairness the A470 is the wrong tool for gemstone macros.

Yep, but it made the list on "what can I get that does macro for under $100" about a year ago

/4 used cars, 2 college students, 3 sets of student loans = no dslr
//need a decent saw and a cabbing machine before a camera too...

PS here is video using the Sony. I have since added a 2x and 4x lens, but not used it.

http://www.georgeandlorrie.com/gallery/video/Jewelry/NoseToGroundJXR_HQ.wmv

 

[Fardringle]

If you want accurate colors in gemstone photography, your friend really does need a light box and a good camera with a macro lens (DSLR), particularly if they are going to do this as a business. Even with the right tools it can still be hard to reproduce accurate colors in stones.

 

[gsellis]

Actually, light boxes can give too subdued a shot. The full diffusion tends to wash the color and you loss things like scintillation. I personally use a soft box and a spot. Too much of a kit as I am using my Briteks.

 

[speedy2]

I've done some shots with jewelry before. A good DSLR can be a nice tool. Also, makeing sure the white balance is right is good as well. When I first did shots, the colors were just really bad off. I would either have to mess with the lighting or mess around with photo shop and get it right while holding the piece in my hand. Even, then you won't get perfect results.

Here's some shots.

This was taken through the showcase with only the halogen bulbs. there is a slight yellow tint to it from them even after photoshop. But, the blue is pretty close.

These were taken in a lightbox with CFL's

Citrine

Amethyst

Diamonds. Probably the hardest since you can color the diamond if you mess with the pic in post processing. But this one came out pretty good.

London Blue Topaz. Probably not the best idea putting it in a black box lol

Opal. Early in my jewelry photography experimentation. Did not come out well. But, this was a beautiful opal in person

Here's some other shots I did without descriptions

 

[speedy2]

 

[gsellis]

You got good color on that Amethyst speedy2. And stuff like Opal and Sphene are really hard to do. It is real hard to get the light right to get it off the structures. And with opal, any backlight can make it worse.. If I add the key as close to the camera, it pops more. You just have to be careful about sweating on them

 

[speedy2]

yeah. Another thing that sucks is any flare from stones reflecting light. I've had some confuse the crap out of the AF.