Dave was wondering Where I would go with studio macro. Thirty s. exposure necklace

[JBW]

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[JBW]

Nicely done.

And it was fun too

[Mike Buckley]

People who have never made a photo like this can't begin to appreciate how difficult it is to control the lighting to minimize the glare (direct reflections of the light source) as you have done. Consider eliminating the fragments of extraneous material that, unfortunately, are positioned in the front, center area of the scene.

[JBW]

People who have never made a photo like this can't begin to appreciate how difficult it is to control the lighting to minimize the glare (direct reflections of the light source) as you have done. Consider eliminating the fragments of extraneous material that, unfortunately, are positioned in the front, center area of the image.

I could take them out. I had the light coming in from the right and slightly raised. Then I placed my camera battery charger between the spot and the necklace creating just the right sized shadow.

I needed reflected light from the left so I played with a white plastic sheet and a small cardboard box with a white label.

It was fun.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Now you're talking Brian.
What f stop was this shot at?

[Wavelength]

Awesome

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Brian,

I agree with Mike; that bit of thread bugs me too

Also about the care needed to set up.

What f stop was this shot at?

f/16 according to the EXIF data

Cheers, Dave

[FootLoose]

Good work with the camera, Brian, but I agree with Mike and Dave about the fluff.

[JBW]

now you're talking brian.
What f stop was this shot at?

f/16

[JBW]

Awesome

it was fun

[JBW]

Hi Brian,

I agree with Mike; that bit of thread bugs me too

Also about the care needed to set up.




f/16 according to the EXIF data

Cheers, Dave

Okay let me plead my case? This necklace is old and rusted. I did give it a dusting. However if you put it in the lyte box you will bits of thread, rust and various assorted goodies hanging about. I felt and feel that they add to feeling.

Obviously this is personal taste and as I have come to trust the collective judgement of CiC it could well be that my personal taste is not what it could be in this shot.

I'll be doing more of this type of macro and I'll try it both ways.
B.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Most times I've tried doing this type of photo it's of one of my cameras. What I've found is, even if I clean it up really well, the macro lens/camera combo is capable of seeing more 'crud' than my poor old eyes, even when using my glasses and magnifying glass. So my routine is clean, take a picture, check picture for 'crud', clean again, take a picture, check for 'crud', clean again, take a picture, check picture for 'crud'. There is a reason they have you rinse twice in chemistry class. I always thought it was something to do with Avogadro's number, but I find it has more to do with how much 'crud' there really is floating around.

[JBW]

Most times I've tried doing this type of photo it's of one of my cameras. What I've found is, even if I clean it up really well, the macro lens/camera combo is capable of seeing more 'crud' than my poor old eyes, even when using my glasses and magnifying glass. So my routine is clean, take a picture, check picture for 'crud', clean again, take a picture, check for 'crud', clean again, take a picture, check picture for 'crud'. There is a reason they have you rinse twice in chemistry class. I always thought it was something to do with Avogadro's number, but I find it has more to do with how much 'crud' there really is floating around.

And I don't even enjoy brushing leaves away

[Mike Buckley]

This necklace is old and rusted. I did give it a dusting. However if you put it in the lyte box you will bits of thread, rust and various assorted goodies hanging about. I felt and feel that they add to feeling.

The problem in that regard with this image as I see it is that it appears as if you have tried to make an image that displays the beautiful colors and shiny surfaces and that you have allowed the crud to get in the way. Instead, consider a very different approach, such as making some photos of subjects like this without cleaning them. Create compositions that emphasize the crud. Use lighting that emphasizes it, such as perhaps using back lighting on the threads in the center of the image. Also use a tabletop that complements the cruddy look that brings out that feel that you like; the current tabletop doesn't seem to be one upon which an old, rusty necklace with dust, dirt, grime and threads would be resting on.

You mentioned that you see all that stuff if you view the image in the lytebox. Actually, the very first thing I noticed was the threads and I wasn't using the lytebox. So, that got me looking at other details and I saw the rust and less polished areas of the necklace. Still, I didn't need to use the lytebox to see them.

[JBW]

The problem in that regard with this image as I see it is that it appears as if you have tried to make an image that displays the beautiful colors and shiny surfaces and that you have allowed the crud to get in the way. Instead, consider a very different approach, such as making some photos of subjects like this without cleaning them. Create compositions that emphasize the crud. Use lighting that emphasizes it, such as perhaps using back lighting on the threads in the center of the image. Also use a tabletop that complements the cruddy look that brings out that feel that you like; the current tabletop doesn't seem to be one upon which an old, rusty necklace with dust, dirt, grime and threads would be resting on.

You mentioned that you see all that stuff if you view the image in the lytebox. Actually, the very first thing I noticed was the threads and I wasn't using the lytebox. So, that got me looking at other details and I saw the rust and less polished areas of the necklace. Still, I didn't need to use the lytebox to see them.

Seems to me my camera skills transfer nicely indoors but my thought processes need adjusting.

Realizing that I'm a slow and frustrating student doesn't stop me from hoping you and others will point out where I may need new perspectives.

[Mike Buckley]

I sympathize, Brian. The most difficult part for me of my tabletop photography is the requirement to design the scene. I'm not very good at it in the sense that the required photography skills for me are relatively a snap.

It doesn't matter whether others find it easy or difficult to do the designing or the photography. The only thing that matters is that we know our own weaknesses and work on them.

[JBW]

I sympathize, Brian. The most difficult part for me of my tabletop photography is the requirement to design the scene. I'm not very good at it in the sense that the required photography skills for me are relatively a snap.

It doesn't matter whether others find it easy or difficult to do the designing or the photography. The only thing that matters is that we know our own weaknesses and work on them.

Absolutely

[Tronhard]

I really like the photo and I am going to disagree with the comments about the thread. The necklace is obviously not new and has lived a bit, as can be seen by the wear and tear of the metal components. For me the thread continues that narration of a piece of jewelry that have been used and in doing so has taken a small part of the wearer's clothing. For me it tells a story and gives the necklace character...

[JBW]

I really like the photo and I am going to disagree with the comments about the thread. The necklace is obviously not new and has lived a bit, as can be seen by the wear and tear of the metal components. For me the thread continues that narration of a piece of jewelry that have been used and in doing so has taken a small part of the wearer's clothing. For me it tells a story and gives the necklace character...

Photography and hamburgers we all have our preferences.