Jewlery Photgraphy

dchung00 · Aug 11, 2014

Hey Everyone,

I just got my Kenko extension tubes and this is my first attempt at jewelry photography. Im looking to get serious with this topic, please give it your best shot and open up my eyes with your opinions. Also does anyone know if getting a [h=1]Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate is needed or recommend a better alternative? Thank you![/h][h=1]1.View attachment 81842
2.View attachment 81841
3.View attachment 81843
4.View attachment 81844
5.View attachment 81845
6.View attachment 81846[/h]7View attachment 81847
8.View attachment 81848
9.View attachment 81849

Overread · Aug 11, 2014

There's a bit of variety here in what you've got, but overall I'd say its a very solid start.

Shot 1 - looks underexposed and the fact the main subject is shadowed isn't helping; I think its also getting a coppery/orangy overcast (I'm assuming its a white elephant).

You can correct exposure by reading up on the histogram in your manual. Get it to display on the back of the camera so that you can better judge the exposure. Ideally you want as much of the bulk of the exposure on the right side of the graph, but without it actually hitting the right side itself (that marks over-exposure). Of course that is just theory; some shots will have more shadowed areas so will appear different, but it gives you a good way to avoid overall underexposure.

Shots 4,5 and 7 also look underexposed so this should help improve your ability to give consistant results.

2) You might find the book "Light Science and Magic" a great help. This will help you with lighting complex and reflective surfaces so that you can get a nice smooth clean light, without clipping highlights or having your lights reflect in your subject.
It's a very good reference book for teaching the basics on lighting theory; from there you can more easily pick up new lighting methods and ideas to try out.

You've got some neat backgrounds and creative ideas going on so expanding your lighting control will really help bring those out.

3) A focusing rail might well help, it allows you to move the camera back and forth on the tripod in small increiments to help with focusing. Much easier than moving the whole tripod or the whole display.
If you're starting out I'd recommend one of these:

That's just a random ebay site, search for them on ebay and you'll find a similar design solid by a lot of retailers (same product just different shops). Adorama also sells the same design under their own name on their store.
Next level up for that a Novaflex rails and they are very expensive (money better spent at this stage on lighting support).

dchung00 · Aug 11, 2014

Overread said:
There's a bit of variety here in what you've got, but overall I'd say its a very solid start.

Shot 1 - looks underexposed and the fact the main subject is shadowed isn't helping; I think its also getting a coppery/orangy overcast (I'm assuming its a white elephant).

You can correct exposure by reading up on the histogram in your manual. Get it to display on the back of the camera so that you can better judge the exposure. Ideally you want as much of the bulk of the exposure on the right side of the graph, but without it actually hitting the right side itself (that marks over-exposure). Of course that is just theory; some shots will have more shadowed areas so will appear different, but it gives you a good way to avoid overall underexposure.

Shots 4,5 and 7 also look underexposed so this should help improve your ability to give consistant results.

2) You might find the book "Light Science and Magic" a great help. This will help you with lighting complex and reflective surfaces so that you can get a nice smooth clean light, without clipping highlights or having your lights reflect in your subject.
It's a very good reference book for teaching the basics on lighting theory; from there you can more easily pick up new lighting methods and ideas to try out.

You've got some neat backgrounds and creative ideas going on so expanding your lighting control will really help bring those out.

3) A focusing rail might well help, it allows you to move the camera back and forth on the tripod in small increiments to help with focusing. Much easier than moving the whole tripod or the whole display.
If you're starting out I'd recommend one of these:

That's just a random ebay site, search for them on ebay and you'll find a similar design solid by a lot of retailers (same product just different shops). Adorama also sells the same design under their own name on their store.
Next level up for that a Novaflex rails and they are very expensive (money better spent at this stage on lighting support).

#1 had a warm dome cover and lighting is something I really need to work on. All images have been touched up using light room and the images were originally lighter. For some reason i felt like it was to bright but taking a another look at it i do agree that it is dark. Right now I'm using a lot of trial and error with my speed lights to get a understanding of it. I need to do a lot more reading on this and what a great recommendation. Thanks for the CC much appreciated!