Jewelry Photography Forum

Westobou · 2006-12-04 22:57:26

With a DSLR? Possibly. Very possible. But first it takes explaining and a little theory. You always want the product to use as much of the picture as possible. This gives you more detail. Easy right? The trick is that it is a juggling act to get it there. Generally, to get up close to a small object, you must have a macro lens (SLR's or possibly some macro mode, or whatever) and in using that macro lens, you can fill up the frame. BUT, in doing so your F-stop or your aperture plays a major effect in your depth of field.

The aperture.
The lower the number, the less light you need and the smaller the focal plane. The greater the number, the larger the focal plane, but you need more light or a longer exposure. The longer the exposure, the more saturated and a possible "blownout" image. But also the further you are from the subject, at any aperture, the plane increases. The juggling act is that the farther you are from the product the more your focal plane (depth of field) increases, but the less of the your product fills up the picture.

So if you are a normal professional photographer, like most I've seen that try to do jewelry photography, that use strobes and do a moderate aperture of 5.6 or something a little higher. They focus on a balanced look and exposure, but rarely do they explore long exposures and continous lighting. This delivers an image that is going out of focus right behind the head of a ring.

So us, we use longer exposures, we use continous lighting, and we use a remote.
How do the pros do it? I'm not a pro, but I've heard stories of huge files with digital medium format cameras. The secret is finding an out-of-production macro telephoto lens. Are they out there? Yeah they are. But unless you have the green backs you gotta juggle like the rest of us.

A theory we've investigated was that of using an SLR macro but attaching a teleconverter. It works a little, but we haven't played with it enough to say that its great, but I would say that in theory, its better than photoshopping together multiple focal points.

LocalArtist · 2007-06-09 23:37:30

So f32, 1/4 sec, continuous flourescent, and flash?, mirror lockup & remote shutter release?

BTW, thanks for starting this forum. I will very soon have my first client shooting her jewelry & I have not shot a single piece yet. I am hoping you can help me as I practice.

Last edited by LocalArtist (2007-06-09 23:40:51)

Westobou · 2007-06-21 15:58:22

Well as high as an fstop as you get, continous anything (again I use incandescent), no flash, what ever exposure is needed to compensate for the fstop you choose, and a remote shutter release (if your poor and have lots of time, the self timer will work).

nitekatt2008 · 2007-10-04 10:46:44

Another technique I use with the 100mm macro is focus stacking. This can work using auto focusing and assigning different focus points throughout the product. I may shoot f8-f11 for example. I may put a ring on a white card, using jewelers' wax to support it. I will then shoot the top, stone area and then I'll focus on the lowest point, the band and then I have 2 elements in total focus. Then I will just mask them together in PS and I have the whole ring in 100% focus. Some clients don't mind a shallow DOF on the bands so much, others want a high DOF on a ring or bracelet

Sometimes I may shoot the lens in manual focus with f16 and get lucky hopefully, but that is not always a sure thing due to the angle of camera to object. My Sigma 50mm f2.8 macro can go to f45, I think, something like that. But clarity at such a small aperture can be risky and that's not Canon glass. Anyway, just getting a small item like a ring in focus can be a challenge. Lighting may have to be adjusted

Thanks katt

Last edited by nitekatt2008 (2007-10-04 10:48:53)

Westobou · 2007-10-19 17:56:38

So yeah, for the past 2 years I've had a D200 with 60mm macro lens. We've never had complete focusing control of it. Whether the wife has had it on portrait shoots or me using it in the studio. It's always been squirlly. Its noticable to the point that I sent the camera twice to nikon to be reinspected (yes I bought it new). I was petrified today because in 5 years I've never dropped a camera, and today the tripod fell over. It landed right on the lens and jarred and slightly bent the lens in the front and now it slightly grinds when I focus. The strangest thing is, I had to shoot with it anyway, and believe it or not the D200 is actually much sharper. It's super awesome. We are thinking of starting up a nikon sharping office. I remember exactly how it fell. Though funny and a good turn out, my wife's car got stolen today, I had a harder time finding a bright side to that situation.

ImagingPrep.com · 2007-11-15 15:55:57

Focus can be either an issue to dwell on, or not be an issue at all. I like the latter, while I have delt with the first too. I suggest using strobes. I dont even use a tripod. Shoot with the aperture stopped down as much as needed and adjust your power output accordingly. Note though, the more closed down your aperture, the overall image quality degrades. Enjoy

Aryeh
www.ImagingPrep.com

Westobou · 2007-11-15 18:54:54

I certainly agree. Although, what I do find interesting is that most lens have an optimium setting that will produce the quality image at the best fstop. For example the 60mm nikkor is f8.

Could you please tell us a gear list of what you use?

JimJuris · 2008-06-22 15:04:46

I use a photo light box, tripod, self-timer, and a halogen desk lamp as my light source. I also use either the manual or macro setting on my DSLR Olympus Evolt E-330 camera, but sometimes I also use the auto setting.

I take lots of photographs and then I view them on my television monitor to see how they look.

You may also be able to use your television monitor when taking the photographs, it helps with the focusing.

HienBean123 · 2010-06-25 01:05:38

Thanks a lot for ur sharing.
It helps me a lot.

Jewelry Photography Forum

#1 2006-12-04 22:57:26

Getting in FOCUS.

#2 2007-06-09 23:37:30

Re: Getting in FOCUS.

#3 2007-06-21 15:58:22

Re: Getting in FOCUS.

#4 2007-10-04 10:46:44

Re: Getting in FOCUS.

#5 2007-10-19 17:56:38

Re: Getting in FOCUS.

#6 2007-11-15 15:55:57

Re: Getting in FOCUS.

#7 2007-11-15 18:54:54

Re: Getting in FOCUS.

#8 2008-06-22 15:04:46

Re: Getting in FOCUS.

#9 2010-06-25 01:05:38

Re: Getting in FOCUS.

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