Jewellery Shoot

Whipspeed · 17-11-2007, 11:11

Well, trying something a bit different with the jewellery, not sure how the job is going to go as they haven't given me any idea of a theme. Anyway, I know the flood effect is perhaps past it to some photographers, but he did like a water refelcted shot I'd done previously, so please critique away.

**Markulous** · 17-11-2007, 11:53

Slightly to my surprise(!) I rather like it!

Think I might prefer the stone turned more towards the moon (so a 3/4 shot) and slightly more tucked under the moon to make it more part of it (they seem a little disperate at present)

Whipspeed · 17-11-2007, 12:04

Glad I surprised you Mark

I could alter the perspective of the ring in PS to do that.
His original thoughts were to have several moons, like an alien type of thing, but I think it would be way too much.

**Markulous** · 17-11-2007, 12:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whipspeed

Glad I surprised you Mark

I could alter the perspective of the ring in PS to do that.

Always pleased to be surprised!

Not too sure that you could change in PS - it was so I could see some of the stone's/setting's side view

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whipspeed

His original thoughts were to have several moons, like an alien type of thing, but I think it would be way too much.

I guess the multiple moons would work better if you had the theme of 'alien worlds' for a range of jewellry - so had craters (mountains given a 'look'), etc for other shots. As a one off, I'd agree with the simpler image

Summerleft · 17-11-2007, 13:15

..thought it was different, I do actually really like it, very different

Leaves room for text, is that the idea?

Whipspeed · 17-11-2007, 18:58

Mark, would have to go back to shop, jewellery not here, unfortunately. I couldn't afford this ring. £19,500.00 Eeek!

Thanks Summer, yes, space for text.

I've found the diamonds interesting to photograph, and you need to focus on the back of the stone, not the front to get the detail. The 40D is handy for this with the live view at 10x magnification to really see detail.

***Dave*** · 17-11-2007, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whipspeed

The 40D is handy for this with the live view at 10x magnification to really see detail.

Now that is a handy function

**Markulous** · 18-11-2007, 07:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whipspeed

Mark, would have to go back to shop, jewellery not here, unfortunately. I couldn't afford this ring. £19,500.00 Eeek!

Can I come and stay, new-best-friend? That is if I can find my mask, stripey t-shirt and bag marked "swag"!

Les Meehan · 18-11-2007, 10:31

Nice image and I like surrealism...

On a technical note can I make a suggestion?

You have obviously used a light tent effect for the ring, which is usual, but it has rather made the metal band look bland, which is also usual. A key point about lighting metallic objects is to capture the reflective properties of the metal surface (brushed metal is slightly different) and this is achieved by creating contrast on the metal surfaces. The problem with a light tent is that the smooth white surfaces of the tent are reflected from the metal creating the look you have here.

Now the secret! You can improve the 'reality' of the metal surfaces by introducing dark reflections using pieces of black paper. By creating strips and/or shapes in black paper and positioning them inside the light tent you can create dark reflections to help define edges and surface qualities. For example, in this image the edges of the band are not too well defined and black paper strips would have given those edges more definition.

Also, having dark reflections on the surfaces, not just the edges, of the metal actually makes it look more metallic.

The black paper needs to be placed wherever necessary in the tent, possibly even stuck to the sides of the tent itself.

You can also experiment with more subtle effects by blocking areas of the light tent from outside to control the tonal values on the product. You can see this effect slightly on the R/H side where it is obvious that the light on the tent has darkened as it went down the tent by natural light fall-off.

Hope you don't mind my advice but you may find these techniques 'improve' the product lighting quite a bit.

Metallic objects need sparkle and zapp and this is achieved by contrast on the metal.

Golden rule: metal surfaces 'see' whatever is in the environment (due to reflections of course) so by controlling the environment you automatically control the reflections on the metal. Don't light the metal, light the environment around it!

Cheers

Les

PS. In the distant past one of my major tasks, for several years, was to photograph all the glassware and metallic products for Habitat so I have LOTS of experience in this field.

Whipspeed · 18-11-2007, 13:15

Les, thank you very much, the advice is much appreciated. I've printed off your reply to refer to when next shooting the jewellery.

Sarah

fionaB · 18-11-2007, 13:26

as a photo i really like this, i think you need to have a look at the direction of reflection from the ring tho cos its the same as the moon yet the moon is not behind it.....( hope that makes sense)

as an advertisement however i dont think this works, cos there is not enough detail in the whole ring itself... lovely details in the diamond but the band disappears to nothingness ( not sure thats a word btw lol). not sure either how to go about fixing it either to be honest.

Fi

Les Meehan · 18-11-2007, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by fionaB

as a photo i really like this, i think you need to have a look at the direction of reflection from the ring tho cos its the same as the moon yet the moon is not behind it.....( hope that makes sense)

as an advertisement however i dont think this works, cos there is not enough detail in the whole ring itself... lovely details in the diamond but the band disappears to nothingness ( not sure thats a word btw lol). not sure either how to go about fixing it either to be honest.

Fi

Fi, I see what you mean about the ring disappearing into the water. Maybe a slight impression of the back of the ring under the water line would help.

Regarding the reflection, for me the reflection from the ring is fine since it is a reflection and not a shadow cast by the moon, so the perspective is ok. Had it been a shadow then you are right that it should go towards the right as if the Moon was the light source.

Edit: Reflections in water are governed by your viewpoint and so usually point towards the viewer, so if anything the reflections should angle slightly to the centre of the image where the viewer's eye would be.

Cheers

Les

Les Meehan · 18-11-2007, 14:20

Whip

Can you clarify whether the ring was polished metal or brushed metal? Just out of interest.

Les

Whipspeed · 18-11-2007, 17:12

This one was brushed Les, just on the shoulders.
Fiona, ring is mean't to be second moon, if you see what I mean, client liked the idea of multiple moons or jewellery as a moon? As a printed shot, you can see each facet of the diamond, so the detail is there.
Have been looking through Vogue and Tatler for ideas as these are his magazines of choice (he advertised in Vogue when the shop opened). He likes my photo's, but I do wonder if he would be better with one of the speciallist companies that do the photoshoots for those magazines. Whichever way it goes, it has boosted my photoshop skills and made me photograph something different.

17-11-2007, 11:11	#1 (permalink)
Whipspeed Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1,428	Jewellery Shoot Well, trying something a bit different with the jewellery, not sure how the job is going to go as they haven't given me any idea of a theme. Anyway, I know the flood effect is perhaps past it to some photographers, but he did like a water refelcted shot I'd done previously, so please critique away.

17-11-2007, 11:53	#2 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 10,063	Re: Jewellery Shoot Slightly to my surprise(!) I rather like it! Think I might prefer the stone turned more towards the moon (so a 3/4 shot) and slightly more tucked under the moon to make it more part of it (they seem a little disperate at present)

17-11-2007, 12:04	#3 (permalink)
Whipspeed Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1,428	Re: Jewellery Shoot Glad I surprised you Mark I could alter the perspective of the ring in PS to do that. His original thoughts were to have several moons, like an alien type of thing, but I think it would be way too much.

17-11-2007, 13:15	#5 (permalink)
Summerleft Feet under the table Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Derbyshire, UK Posts: 1,619	Re: Jewellery Shoot ..thought it was different, I do actually really like it, very different Leaves room for text, is that the idea? Last edited by Angela : 17-11-2007 at 14:05. Reason: Edited to remove reference to competitor site.

17-11-2007, 18:58	#6 (permalink)
Whipspeed Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1,428	Re: Jewellery Shoot Mark, would have to go back to shop, jewellery not here, unfortunately. I couldn't afford this ring. £19,500.00 Eeek! Thanks Summer, yes, space for text. I've found the diamonds interesting to photograph, and you need to focus on the back of the stone, not the front to get the detail. The 40D is handy for this with the live view at 10x magnification to really see detail.

18-11-2007, 10:31	#9 (permalink)
Les Meehan Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I conduct workshops in Andalucia, Spain Posts: 782	Re: Jewellery Shoot Nice image and I like surrealism... On a technical note can I make a suggestion? You have obviously used a light tent effect for the ring, which is usual, but it has rather made the metal band look bland, which is also usual. A key point about lighting metallic objects is to capture the reflective properties of the metal surface (brushed metal is slightly different) and this is achieved by creating contrast on the metal surfaces. The problem with a light tent is that the smooth white surfaces of the tent are reflected from the metal creating the look you have here. Now the secret! You can improve the 'reality' of the metal surfaces by introducing dark reflections using pieces of black paper. By creating strips and/or shapes in black paper and positioning them inside the light tent you can create dark reflections to help define edges and surface qualities. For example, in this image the edges of the band are not too well defined and black paper strips would have given those edges more definition. Also, having dark reflections on the surfaces, not just the edges, of the metal actually makes it look more metallic. The black paper needs to be placed wherever necessary in the tent, possibly even stuck to the sides of the tent itself. You can also experiment with more subtle effects by blocking areas of the light tent from outside to control the tonal values on the product. You can see this effect slightly on the R/H side where it is obvious that the light on the tent has darkened as it went down the tent by natural light fall-off. Hope you don't mind my advice but you may find these techniques 'improve' the product lighting quite a bit. Metallic objects need sparkle and zapp and this is achieved by contrast on the metal. Golden rule: metal surfaces 'see' whatever is in the environment (due to reflections of course) so by controlling the environment you automatically control the reflections on the metal. Don't light the metal, light the environment around it! Cheers Les PS. In the distant past one of my major tasks, for several years, was to photograph all the glassware and metallic products for Habitat so I have LOTS of experience in this field. __________________ Les Meehan www.zone2tone.co.uk www.creativeinsightworkshops.com

18-11-2007, 13:15	#10 (permalink)
Whipspeed Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1,428	Re: Jewellery Shoot Les, thank you very much, the advice is much appreciated. I've printed off your reply to refer to when next shooting the jewellery. Sarah

18-11-2007, 13:26	#11 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,585	Re: Jewellery Shoot as a photo i really like this, i think you need to have a look at the direction of reflection from the ring tho cos its the same as the moon yet the moon is not behind it.....( hope that makes sense) as an advertisement however i dont think this works, cos there is not enough detail in the whole ring itself... lovely details in the diamond but the band disappears to nothingness ( not sure thats a word btw lol). not sure either how to go about fixing it either to be honest. Fi

18-11-2007, 14:20	#13 (permalink)
Les Meehan Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I conduct workshops in Andalucia, Spain Posts: 782	Re: Jewellery Shoot Whip Can you clarify whether the ring was polished metal or brushed metal? Just out of interest. Les