Gaudy

[Shadowman]

Trying a bit of macro, flash.

f/14, ISO 2000, 1/60sec

[Round Tuit]

John,
Appropriate title.
I find the out of focus front pearl in the top row somewhat distracting.

Andre

[Shadowman]

John,
Appropriate title.
I find the out of focus front pearl in the top row somewhat distracting.

Andre

Andre,

Thanks for commenting,

[IzzieK]

Is this an old brooch, John? What is your WB on when using flash? I am still learning how to use mine and haven't been successful so far, hence I ask...perhaps you should do a stack of two shots here? Just thinking out loud...

[Shadowman]

Is this an old brooch, John? What is your WB on when using flash? I am still learning how to use mine and haven't been successful so far, hence I ask...perhaps you should do a stack of two shots here? Just thinking out loud...

Hi Izzie,

I was trying to capture without doing a stack, perhaps I should rethink the shot. Yes, it's an old brooch, something that's been lying around for decades. I used Flash WB but will often experiment if I think the shot needs a bit more warmth. Thanks for commenting.

[Geoff F]

This is one of those situations where flash is bound to cause over exposure hotspots so you may need to shoot with a longer exposure on a tripod without flash. Possibly with controlled 'studio type' lighting.

Sometimes I can get away with setting the camera manually to suit the bright areas and varying the amount of flash output compensation. But this is tricky to get correct and takes some experimentation.

I can accept a gradual fading of sharpness from the sharp foreground fading to the background but you have an additional issue here with the 'upper layer' of that broach which now appears to be sharp at the edges but out of focus in the centre.

So stacking of focus points may be the only option here.

Certainly a very tricky subject to photograph well.

[Shadowman]

This is one of those situations where flash is bound to cause over exposure hotspots so you may need to shoot with a longer exposure on a tripod without flash. Possibly with controlled 'studio type' lighting.

Sometimes I can get away with setting the camera manually to suit the bright areas and varying the amount of flash output compensation. But this is tricky to get correct and takes some experimentation.

I can accept a gradual fading of sharpness from the sharp foreground fading to the background but you have an additional issue here with the 'upper layer' of that broach which now appears to be sharp at the edges but out of focus in the centre.

So stacking of focus points may be the only option here.

Certainly a very tricky subject to photograph well.

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Another thing I overlooked was the reflection from the dark surfaces which created grey spots on some of the faux pearls. The side walls and top of the tent are white, but the pedestal and drop cloth are black.

[rpcrowe]

You seem to have two focus problems when shooting.

The difference in focus between the front and the rear of the piece
AND
The difference in focus between the upper layers and lower layers of stones...

Could you have stopped down further from f/14; say to f/16 or f/22? That might have helped...

Tipping the broach up a bit from the back side might have solved the front to back focus problem a bit...

I am wondering why you needed to shoot at ISO 2000, usually a flash will allow use of a lower ISO...

Finally... When shooting macro photos of glass or jewelry, be sure to clean the item thoroughly. The dust specks are somewhat intrusive...

[Shadowman]

You seem to have two focus problems when shooting.

The difference in focus between the front and the rear of the piece
AND
The difference in focus between the upper layers and lower layers of stones...

Could you have stopped down further from f/14; say to f/16 or f/22? That might have helped...

Tipping the broach up a bit from the back side might have solved the front to back focus problem a bit...

I am wondering why you needed to shoot at ISO 2000, usually a flash will allow use of a lower ISO...

Finally... When shooting macro photos of glass or jewelry, be sure to clean the item thoroughly. The dust specks are somewhat intrusive...

Hi Richard,

I could stop down more, was trying multiple lenses before I settled on the 40mm f/2.8, was using a telephoto prior to and didn't change ISO. Thanks for the comments and suggestions, I will try them and others I've received later this week.

[NorthernFocus]

Nicely done. Isolation of the subject is perfect. That one pearl OOF does detract a bit from the overall effect.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done. Isolation of the subject is perfect. That one pearl OOF does detract a bit from the overall effect.

Dan,

Thanks for the comments.