Crystal Christmas Tree Topper

[Mike Buckley]

This Christmas tree topper made of Waterford crystal was given to my wife and me about thirty years ago. Sadly, we've never been able to use it because it is too heavy to use on a real or artificial tree.

Unlike most materials that merely reflect color, cut glass will produce color when it acts as a prism as in this case.

EDIT: A second image of the same subject has been added later in the thread.

Setup
The background is black felt, though I could have used anything including a white board and the background still would have appeared black. A circular diffuser considerably larger than the background is immediately behind the background. The tabletop is glossy black acrylic. A large continuous-light lamp with five bulbs lit was shining from behind the diffuser and background toward them, the subject and camera. A black card with a rectangular hole cut in the middle was placed in front of the lens to minimize flare and maximize contrast. The subject is rotated at the angle that disperses the most color in the prismatic refraction.

[Rebel]

Beautiful photo of perhaps the worst Christmas tree topper ever designed?

Mine is heavy but I fold the (fake) top branch in on itself 3 times?

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Matt!

Mine is heavy but I fold the (fake) top branch in on itself 3 times?

I've tried everything including inserting three branches into the piece of crystal.

[Rebel]

Thanks, Matt!



I've tried everything including inserting three branches into the piece of crystal.

It does look heavy to be fair, I love the colours you've captured in the point.

[Marie Hass]

Dear Mike,

I had one as well.

Try combining with other types of crystal for another take on this interesting topper.

Marie

[bnnrcn]

Excellent Mike !

[mknittle]

Beautiful image of a Beautiful ornament Mike.

[chauncey]

Mike...you've captured the essence of the topper with your usual aplomb...nice!

Copper ground wire from Home Depot, about 6 gauge, will serve as a brace for that topper...
paint it using camouflage colors and wrap it around the trunk to the top. Should support the topper.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, everyone!

Copper ground wire from Home Depot, about 6 gauge, will serve as a brace for that topper...
paint it using camouflage colors and wrap it around the trunk to the top. Should support the topper.

You overestimate both my abilities and my patience for accomplishing such a tedious task.

[Shadowman]

Say that fast three times. Nicely captured, good variation in colors.

[chauncey]

You overestimate both my abilities and my patience for accomplishing such a tedious task.

I would submit that your putzing with lighting on your glass objects far surpasses my suggestion.

[JBW]

Beautiful

[Mike Buckley]

Setup
This image was made using the exact same setup as the first image displayed in the thread. I simply moved the subject closer to the camera. I also rotated it to generate as little color (prismatic refraction) as possible in the flat sides of the top while also generating as much direct reflection as possible in the left and right sides of the top. The tilt was done during post-processing.

[tbob]

Fascinating item. Can you think of any way to send light up through the centre? Maybe a pinhole in the underlying sheet of material

[Mike Buckley]

Continued thanks to all!

Can you think of any way to send light up through the centre? Maybe a pinhole in the underlying sheet of material

When making images that don't include a reflection in the tabletop, it would be easy to change the tabletop to clear glass and light the subject from below or to cut a hole in the tabletop as you suggested.

[Donald]

I admit my ignorance of never having heard of such an item (Tree Topper), crystal or otherwise.

But this seems to be putting it to far better use. Proof of the argument that if you take time to get the set up correct, then you produce a superb image.

[Mike Buckley]

I admit my ignorance of never having heard of such an item (Tree Topper)

I hadn't heard of the term until yesterday when my friend called it a tree topper. Apparently any item placed at the top of a Christmas tree can legitimately be called a tree topper.

[mknittle]

Fascinating item. Can you think of any way to send light up through the centre? Maybe a pinhole in the underlying sheet of material

Maybe a piece of clear glass painted black on the bottom with a small spot masked to keep it clear?

[Mike Buckley]

Maybe a piece of clear glass painted black on the bottom with a small spot masked to keep it clear?

Rather than ruin the glass, you could accomplish the same look by attaching a piece of black paper with a hole cut in it to the glass.

[IzzieK]

Nicely done, Mike...