I use the jewelry photography kit from EZCube/tabletop studios. For
a very reasonable price they supply 2 light boxes, acrylic
platforms, a white drape and 3 studio lamps (get the long-legged
ones, no extra charge) with daylight balanced bulbs. Instructions
are included. I’m still experimenting but have been able to
supplement my pro photos with pretty good home shots. I think with
practice the potential is there to get excellent ones. I use a canon
powershot A95 digital camera or my old nikon coolpix.
The only item I’m using to supplement the package is from Tallyn’s,
the second link. I bought a jet black to white graduated backdrop to
get a look closer to the pro photos. Just arrived in the mail.
I’m all for saving money but also time. This light box has two
zip-open sides for direct lighting & top-down or straight-on shots.
It also allows for nice highlights when you want a shine and side
lighting that shows relief. I think the price is worth it for the
lights alone, actually.
I have been playing with one of the hard sided photo boxes and can
not seem to manage to take a picture of a ring without the camera
being reflected as a black spot on the ring. How do I avoid that?
I have been playing with one of the hard sided photo boxes and can
not seem to manage to take a picture of a ring without the camera
being reflected as a black spot on the ring. How do I avoid that?
Two things here:
If the black spot is REALLY obtrusive, it’s because your camera
is too close to the object. That’s common with many digital cameras
that have a very close focusing permanently attached lens. Solution
is a camera with interchangeable lenses such as the Canon Rebel plus
a long focal length macro lens.
You might try cutting a round hole in a piece of white artboard,
just large enough for your lens to fit through, effectively
decreasing the size of the “black spot”.
Okay, here’s a third:
If your camera produces enough megapixels, just back off a bit. Most
folks work too close to the object anyway, which minimizes depth of
field and just causes more problems. A higher megapixel image can
undergo more cropping, and is usually fine for the web, anyway.
I have been playing with one of the hard sided photo boxes and can
not seem to manage to take a picture of a ring without the camera
being reflected as a black spot on the ring. How do I avoid that?
Photoshop, or adjusting the angle of the ring. But really,
photoshop.
Its a wall pocket purchased at the office supply store for $8.49.
I assume this is the effect you were inquiring about. I used a
spiral flourescent 23w bulb, color temperature 6000k, purchased at
a bigbox hardware store for $4.49, in an aprox. $3 reflector from
the hardware store.
Sorry, I missed this thread, except for below. Please tell me what
kind of reflector from the hardware store? Like on a trouble light?
or like a face tanning reflector.
spiral fluorescent 23w bulb, color temperature 6000k...
So… I have lots of spiral fluorescence, but I can’t see how to
tell the color temp. I’ve looked at the bases of both the larger and
smaller bulbs I have on hand, and don’t see that. Neither on the
package I have around for the larger ones. How do I find this out?
On the packeage, Feit brand lists the temp rating. Its very obscure.
On the back of the pkg, on the right hand side, is the ‘Caution’
section, in tiny tiny lettering. Right below the ‘Caution’ section,
in the same font as the caution stuff, are 2 lines of type that list
the temp rating. Other brands list it around the metal threaded base
of the bulb. Other brands do not list it at all. I assume that if its
not listed anywhere at all, then it is a low rating. Also, all of the
bulbs that say’ soft light’ are low rated. I bought my bulbs at
Menards. I assume Menards are in most areas, as they are a huge
chain. If you cant find them, let me know, and I can get them and
ship them to you. They also have flood light style with the spiral
bulbs inside them, also rated high temp ranges. I havent tried them
yet but will soon.
Here is a link to a scan of the back of the package of the 6000k
spiral flourescent lightbulbs. I have circled in red the obscure
little place that shows the color temperature range.
