Earrings

Earrings
I tried photographing jewelry for the first time.


Update: What I learnt from this experiment:

  • Auto-focus: The sparkle from the jewelry throws off the focusing system in your camera, so you have to be really careful that you get everything focused and try to shoot for F8-F11 aperture

  • Lighting: One light source with two white reflectors on the side is not enough (setup used for this shot), you need atleast three focused light sources to make the jewelry twinkle

  • Metering: I went for spot metering because it makes the jewelry glow infront of a dark backdrop

  • Michaels: The arts and crafts store sells $0.20 cloth pieces that you can use for backdrop or the base

  • Tripod: It comes in very handy when your camera's autofocus starts misbehaving due to the sparkling jewelry

  • Very Important: Try not to borrow jewelry from someone else, so you wont keep them waiting impatiently while you tweak your setup :)


19 comments:

Ayesha said...

... and the try isnt bad at all.
Seeing the setting of earring,seems someone have done his homework.

psyched said...

hmmm...good shot...and nice earrings....whose?? ;)

Faraz said...

ayesha: thanks :) it didn't turn out the way I wanted but I'll try again if I get my hands on another piece of jewelry.

psyched: Not mine! :)

Anonymous said...

Nice shot...i think you need to focus a bit more...plus the background doesn't suit at all (perhaps try a lighter background)...and yeah a little bit more of soft lighting would do it... :)) but other than that...perfect shot once again :) and thanks for coming around...my blog is really dumb...not as nice as urs...:) see ya faraz!

Abbas Halai said...

the usage of light on jewellery is EXTREMELY hard.

3rd avenue said...

...and you did a good job

abbas is right. it is hard.

Ali said...

I think you can do better, as others have suggested use a different background. Try clear glass or mirror effect.

I agree it is hard but I believe that you can do it better.

Good Luck!

Ali said...

I clicked on one of the google ads (down below) and they had some very nice portrait photography.

Faraz said...

no one: I know what you mean, and I'll probably try again if I find another piece of jewelry. Thanks for returning to the blog :)

abbas halai: Oh yes! I was hoping to get away with bouncing off a 100W light from two white boxes on each side of these earrings but they were not enough to really make the crystaks sparkle. I think I need to use three very focused beams of light the next time.

hiba:
It was a learning experience, most of my photos came out of focus because the sparkle from the earrings was not letting the camera focus.

ali: I need to borrow some pieces of jewelry to try again, would you loan me some the next time you're in town? ;)

Acro said...

Tell me about it shooting a jewelry :S sigh, I tried shooting samples of rings I wanted to get for my to be fiancee and they all came out of focus :P. anyways thats done :).

But need help in other situation :), taking your time I know. See floodlights , tennis court , match going on, no flash allowed(I doubt it would help much) pictures coming too shaky no focus, any suggesions? I got Cybershot P93. Daylight even in cloudy conditions snaps came well.

http://www5.flickr.mud.yahoo.com/photos/acro/

Thanks :D.

Faraz said...

acro: Sounds like you need to use a Monopod . This one at Amazon is pretty good actually because it gives you a shoe brace at the bottom and its head can also tilt 90 degrees for portrait shots. For No-Flash sports photography, use the camera in Shutter Priority (Tv in some cameras).

Acro said...

Thanks :), though my camera doesnt support shutter priority :(.

Ayesha said...

dude, its so awesome that you are sharing your learnings - certainly very neat tips.
and as a punjabi dudette will say "chuk de pattay" ;)

Arsalan said...

Faraz, I don't understand some of the criticism about this piece. I think the background is great. It is not subtle but so what. I like the way you have positioned the jewelry and angled the camera. And ofcourse every shot ever taken can be improved but we do need to encourage the artists.

NV said...

Beautiful photo.....

S. said...

lovely, lovely! all so lovely!

3rd avenue said...

update!

Ayesha said...

Not to pressurize or harass you and not that we think you are not busy or anything, but I think this blogs needs an update, SOON.

Anonymous said...

jewelllsss....preciioouusssss....gorgeouuussss.... :D