Critique Wanted!! (2 Imgs)

[Beth]

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged



This one is not "Neated."



The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[Dave Adams]

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a
jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our
area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an
opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and
reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from
outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged



This one is not "Neated."



The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how
did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Bev: Good shots. For an excellent tutorial go to http://www.webphotoschool.com . Dave

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[Beth]

Thanks Dave. There is a very good free lesson on the site you noted. I read it last night as I prepared to 'play' today.

Beth

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a
jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our
area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an
opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and
reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from
outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged



This one is not "Neated."



The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how
did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Bev: Good shots. For an excellent tutorial go to
http://www.webphotoschool.com . Dave

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[JOHN CALLANAN]

Beth,

Didn't you used to participate over at the Oly Dslr community zero site?

 

[Beth]

Yes, John. I did. I find that I can only take the time to participate on so many sites at a time. (Are you telling me that critiques don't belong here? Isn't there a fee attached to using Community Zero now?)

Beth

Beth,

Didn't you used to participate over at the Oly Dslr community zero
site?

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

Hi, Beth...

First, re: the photos. Extremely well done. More confirmation of your talent, your eye and the capabilities of the E-10 (an "outmoded" camera).

You are solely responsible for me buring an E-10 and for that, I thank you. Several months ago I read an article that you had posted on P'SIG (remeber them?) celebrating the E-10 and your experiences with it. I read the article before becoming a P'SIG user and it was the item that put me into the E-10 mode.

I've had it since early June, done some wonderful and well received photos with it and wanted to take this opportunity to publicly thank you for your advice and insight.

Regards,

Bill

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a
jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our
area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an
opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and
reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from
outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged



This one is not "Neated."



The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how
did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[Beth]

Thanks Bill! I'm glad you like the photos. I thought they were not bad, but sometimes I over-estimate my products and need to be brought back to earth by objective outside opinion.

I'm glad if I had some influence on you in your selection of the E10. Surely is a fun camera that enables us all to do amazing things--with a little extra work perhaps.

beth

First, re: the photos. Extremely well done. More confirmation of
your talent, your eye and the capabilities of the E-10 (an
"outmoded" camera).

You are solely responsible for me buring an E-10 and for that, I
thank you. Several months ago I read an article that you had
posted on P'SIG (remeber them?) celebrating the E-10 and your
experiences with it. I read the article before becoming a P'SIG
user and it was the item that put me into the E-10 mode.

I've had it since early June, done some wonderful and well received
photos with it and wanted to take this opportunity to publicly
thank you for your advice and insight.

Regards,

Bill

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a
jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our
area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an
opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and
reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from
outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged



This one is not "Neated."



The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how
did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[Bruce Robbins]

Beth:

Excellent shots as per usual, I particularly like the first one, nice clean lines, your second shot, I find the feather a bit distracting.
Keep up the good work..

Bruce Robbins

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a
jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our
area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an
opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and
reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from
outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged



This one is not "Neated."



The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how
did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[JOHN CALLANAN]

Beth,

I only asked because I thought I rememberd you in CZ. There is a nice, very small group in there.

CZ did go to fee based and the group moved to another free site.

If you are interested in finding them send me an e-mail

 

[Beth]

Hi John,

Looks as though you opted not to share your email on dpr. So, let me say here that I'd be interested in info on the free site where people from the Community Zero site have moved.
Beth

Beth,

I only asked because I thought I rememberd you in CZ. There is a
nice, very small group in there.

CZ did go to fee based and the group moved to another free site.

If you are interested in finding them send me an e-mail

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[Beth]

Thanks Bruce,

I like the first one better too. I like to use props, but you may be right about this one being distracting.

Beth

Bruce Robbins

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a
jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our
area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an
opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and
reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from
outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged



This one is not "Neated."



The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how
did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[Gene Kelly]

.

Beth

Bruce Robbins

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a
jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our
area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an
opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and
reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from
outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged



This one is not "Neated."



The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how
did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

--
G.Gene Kelly,

Very nice shots,clean lines,depth of field remarkable. I have an e-20 on the way and after seing these and other shots I can hardly wait. I'll keep on reading here to see how much more it can do.

 

[Rembvrijn]

I dont know jewelry photography, but a few things I notice.

I'm not sure of the significance of the leaf and feather - I assume they are just to add a little something extra. THAT I dont mind, but the reflections of the objects in the rings bothers me.

Ex. The green of the leaf reflecting on the top of the ring and the stem of the leaf reflected on the band of the ring. Detracts from the ring in my opinion. Also there is a little bit of feather reflection on the second ring.

Other than that I think they look good.

GageFX

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a
jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our
area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an
opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and
reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from
outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged
http://www.pbase.com/image/5672938.jpg

This one is not "Neated."
http://www.pbase.com/image/5672939.jpg

The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how
did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[JOHN CALLANAN]

You are right it is not in the profile. I thought it was because it shows up on the ID in the reply window that I am typing in...Oh well.

I pulled yours from your profile and sent you an Invite into the new site.

See ya over there?

 

[Beth]

Yup Gene, this is a good place to see what the camera can do. Stay tuned...
Beth

Beth

Bruce Robbins

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a
jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our
area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an
opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and
reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from
outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged



This one is not "Neated."



The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how
did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

--
G.Gene Kelly,
Very nice shots,clean lines,depth of field remarkable. I have an
e-20 on the way and after seing these and other shots I can hardly
wait. I'll keep on reading here to see how much more it can do.

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[Beth]

Thanks Gage,

I thought of this after the fact too. Could have cloned those things out...still can. Thanks for reinforcing what I thought.

Beth

I'm not sure of the significance of the leaf and feather - I assume
they are just to add a little something extra. THAT I dont mind,
but the reflections of the objects in the rings bothers me.

Ex. The green of the leaf reflecting on the top of the ring and the
stem of the leaf reflected on the band of the ring. Detracts from
the ring in my opinion. Also there is a little bit of feather
reflection on the second ring.

Other than that I think they look good.

GageFX

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a
jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our
area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an
opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and
reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from
outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged
http://www.pbase.com/image/5672938.jpg

This one is not "Neated."
http://www.pbase.com/image/5672939.jpg

The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how
did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[Ferenc]

Beth:

Looking at the pics, the following questions came immediately:

1. Why are you getting such high levels of noise, in first place, in a picture that is already down-sampled in size? What camera settings are you shooting for?

2. Do you intentionally expect to have such bright, almost "burned" white areas as part of the final effect/visual impact? If that is not the case, then it may be interesting to try a more conservative approach towards high-lights exposure and look for a more natural tonal balance (IMHO). Use the E10's dynamic range to your advantage.

I can not see almost any detail behind the feather...

Kindest regards,

Ferenc

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a
jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our
area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an
opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and
reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from
outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged



This one is not "Neated."



The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how
did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[Brian T]

Thanks Gage,
I thought of this after the fact too. Could have cloned those
things out...still can. Thanks for reinforcing what I thought.

Beth

Polished jewellery reflects. Thats what it does, don't clone it out rather just blur it down slightly.

As to the quality of the shots I think I'm going to cry.

I used to shoot jewellery for mail order. Days spent under a dark cloth with 30 plus inches of extension on a Sinar and enough joules banging onto the subject to melt the national grid trying to get depth of field even close to your shots.

Couple of suggestions for any future work.

If you want the rings invisibly supported make sure you shoot on a background you can pierce and use simple dress making pins topped with a generous amount of Bluetac (the stuff you put posters up with, may have a different brand name in the States). If you do this with any ring having a stone though put a small bit of silver foil between the bluetac and the stone, it should lift the colour and brightness a bit.

Also buy a sheet of gold card and you can cut small bits off of it to fill in the areas either side of the stone, obviously silver card as well for white gold platinum etc. Kids little wooden building blocks are really handy for supporting them.

Good luck with the job, from what you've done already your most of the way there.

Brian T

 

[Beth]

Hi Ferenc,

I used the MCON and set the camera to f11 in order to get maximum DOF. Placed the items in a box lined with white paper--sides cut out and 'windows' lined with opaque paper. I used a desk lamp which I shone through the opaque paper as a light source. My aim was to reduce reflection and glare from jewelry surfaces. I tried several 'backgrounds' (black felt, white styrofoam and what I finally ended up with was a flat, white foam backing.) It gave the most pleasing results...to my eye anyway.

I am trying to work this out with the least possible outlay. I'm getting paid in free advertising, so don't want too much out of pocket expense upfront. Have gerryrigged equipment.

Any suggestions for getting a more natural tonal balance? What other backgrounds might I try? I could do some softening in PS after the fact, but that probably won't do much.

Looking at the pics, the following questions came immediately:

1. Why are you getting such high levels of noise, in first place,
in a picture that is already down-sampled in size? What camera
settings are you shooting for?

2. Do you intentionally expect to have such bright, almost "burned"
white areas as part of the final effect/visual impact? If that is
not the case, then it may be interesting to try a more conservative
approach towards high-lights exposure and look for a more natural
tonal balance (IMHO). Use the E10's dynamic range to your advantage.

I can not see almost any detail behind the feather...

Kindest regards,

Ferenc

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a
jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our
area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an
opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and
reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from
outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged



This one is not "Neated."



The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how
did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

--

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

 

[Beth]

Here's the set-up...picked up a box at local grocery store. Cut sides out leaving just enough cardboard to act as a frame. Lined box with white paper and covered open sides with opaque scrapbook paper purchased at a craft store (Joann Fabrics). Laid foam board in bottom of box after experimenting w/ colored felt and styrofoam. Aimed the desk lamp through the opaque paper and shot w/out flash. Camera set for MCON and f11 for DOF.

Here's what it looks like (please ignore the mess around it all)

I used the MCON and set the camera to f11 in order to get maximum
DOF. Placed the items in a box lined with white paper--sides cut
out and 'windows' lined with opaque paper. I used a desk lamp which
I shone through the opaque paper as a light source. My aim was to
reduce reflection and glare from jewelry surfaces. I tried several
'backgrounds' (black felt, white styrofoam and what I finally ended
up with was a flat, white foam backing.) It gave the most pleasing
results...to my eye anyway.

I am trying to work this out with the least possible outlay. I'm
getting paid in free advertising, so don't want too much out of
pocket expense upfront. Have gerryrigged equipment.

Any suggestions for getting a more natural tonal balance? What
other backgrounds might I try? I could do some softening in PS
after the fact, but that probably won't do much.

Looking at the pics, the following questions came immediately:

1. Why are you getting such high levels of noise, in first place,
in a picture that is already down-sampled in size? What camera
settings are you shooting for?

2. Do you intentionally expect to have such bright, almost "burned"
white areas as part of the final effect/visual impact? If that is
not the case, then it may be interesting to try a more conservative
approach towards high-lights exposure and look for a more natural
tonal balance (IMHO). Use the E10's dynamic range to your advantage.

I can not see almost any detail behind the feather...

Kindest regards,

Ferenc

Ok, I've got to learn jewelry photography. I have a job taking a
jewelry shot that will become a cover for a coupon book in our
area, IF I am successful! I have been practicing today. Made an
opaque box in which to photo the pieces to cut glare and
reflection. Used no flash, just a desk lamp shone on the box from
outside. Here they are...fire away!!

This one I Neat Imaged



This one is not "Neated."



The jewelry is mine and not scratch-free, but other than that, how
did I do for a first try? Suggestions much appreciated!!

Beth

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

--

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids

--
Olympus E-10, TCON, MCON, WCON and Fl-40
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/galleries/cokids