The Six Sides of Quartz Crystal

[Mike Buckley]

What is rock-solid and clear or at least part of it is clear? Answer: a rock of quartz crystal.

A great friend who has loaned me many items of glassware to photograph realized that her rock of quartz crystal has many of the same properties as glass, except that -- considering my reputation of late -- it would be very difficult to break. This rock has strong sentimental value because it belonged to her father who was a rock hound. He would go on vacation to find stuff like this and return home to cut, shape and polish it. This particular piece was cut from a cluster of quartz crystal and is otherwise as nature made it.

The piece, like much quartz crystal, has six sides. So, I thought it would be nice to make a set of six photos with each photo displaying the rock resting on a different side. It's really amazing to see how different the piece looks depending on which side is being used as the base.


Side #1



Side #2



Side #3



Side #4



Side #5



Side #6

[rpcrowe]

Really nicely lit and captured!

[pnodrog]

Very interesting I think side 5 is my favourite. All that practice with glass is paying off. Be careful not to break it or pour wine over it.

Next instead of broken glass you will be asking us to send you crystals such as rubies, sapphires and diamonds so large you do not need to use a macro lens.

[Bobobird]

For a moment I thought you had created a 3d image.

I like them all. Wonder if a bit of brightening up some of the shadowed grooves might make them stand out a bit better.

[Paniaa]

Certainly do look 3D. Love them all.

[Stagecoach]

Mike,

Very nice lighting on these. Is it a single small LED light source behind it?

Grahame

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, everyone, especially to L. Paul for coming up with the idea that all of you could send large diamonds to me.

Bobo: The dark areas that you mentioned aren't grooves. Just the opposite, they are flat and have no detail to be revealed. Those areas are the clearest parts of the rock, allowing the black background to be seen exactly as when looking through a clear wine glass. My intention all along has been that those areas should be as dark as possible, thus conveying that those are the clear, see-through areas of the rock.

I gather from your comment that there is a bit of a Rorschach test occurring in the two-dimensional photo that I don't see because I'm so familiar with the three-dimensional object.

If I completely misunderstood you, please feel free to demonstrate your thinking by changing one of the photos.

Grahame: The lighting is a compact fluorescent bulb rated 5500K placed directly underneath the rock and shining upward toward it. The tabletop is glass covered with black poster board with a rectangular hole cut in it to allow the light through. A piece of translucent vellum is placed on the black poster board to enhance the light that lands on the tabletop. The rock is placed on top of the vellum over the hole cut in the poster board; the rock covers the entire hole to ensure that all light seen in the photo is transmitted through the rock.

The color balance of the subject and lit area of the tabletop is changed to a strong blue cast. I applied 100% of the altered color balance to the lit area of the tabletop and selectively applied varying amounts to parts of the rock.

[Downrigger]

Stunning. An essentially worshipful treatment of a treasured object. And thank you for the description of method.

[Mike Buckley]

An essentially worshipful treatment of a treasured object.

I can't imagine a better compliment. Thank you!

[ajsmith]

Very cool idea, I like these photos.

I don't have any studio lighting, so I have been experimenting with candle light. Using a light under a glass table is something I think I will try.

[Brownbear]

Beautiful... 5 and 6 are my favourites... Looking forward to viewing more of these types of images.

[Digital]

Mike, very nice captures.


Bruce

[Mike Buckley]

Continued thanks to everyone!

[Mike Buckley]

I have been experimenting with candle light. Using a light under a glass table is something I think I will try.

If you're thinking of placing the candle under the glass tabletop, you'll probably get a lot of smoke on the underside of the glass. That may or may not help you accomplish the desired look.

[Loose Canon]

I’m having a hard time keeping up with your posts Mike!

I don’t have a lot of time right now to hang on the Forum and that is sucking!

These are awesome and I needed to see them!

Excellent tabletop setup Buddy. The vellum on top really makes it. Great idea.

Also, I love the color balance. This kind of “ice” needs a beautiful cool (even cold) balance I would say.

I’m really liking #6. Beautiful reflective on the tabletop, the best separation, and all the facets look gorgeous.

Beautifully conceived and executed Mike.

[Mike Buckley]

The vellum on top really makes it. Great idea.

Considering that I stole the idea from one of your photos made the same way, I suppose you would think so.

[Bobobird]

Had a couple of more looks at them and they all look fine now. I did not realise there were smooth parts considering the large areas that are not. Great shots though.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Bobo! These are the photos that I made using your bags to hold the background material in place.

[Kaye Leggett]

Beautiful photos and what a gift for a great friend.