Any experience in photographing crafts?

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wild4flowers
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Any experience in photographing crafts?

Post by wild4flowers »

I am trying to catalog my jewelry by taking pictures of each piece. Does anyone have any experience in background fabrics/textures for this project.?
Dark vs. light?, Any specific colors for the background? I have tried several and think there must be something out there that would be universal. CHAR
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12-28-05 001.jpg
12-28-05 007.jpg
12-29-05 013.jpg
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wild4flowers
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Post by wild4flowers »

more. I tried a dark purple velvet background and that was a disaster. The camera couldn't focus(natural light) and everything was blurred. Also, flash vs/ no flash? , and natural light vs/halogen?

I'll keep trying.
CHAR
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12-29-05 016.jpg
necklace 004-a.JPG
12-28-05 017.jpg
Kas
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Post by Kas »

Char,

I did some jewelry photography a long time ago. I was in a darkened room with the pieces on black velvet. Use the real stuff, not velveteen. My camera was mounted above the piece, so I was able to keep it completely still while I focused. It was a manual focus and the lights were mounted on the same frame as the camera. They turned out very nice. I love my digi, but it doesn't have a manual focus and that is very frustrating sometimes. Have fun and good luck.

By the way, I really love your work! Especially the first one. WOW!

Kas
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LucyGoose
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Post by LucyGoose »

Hi Char!!

I can't help ya on the camera part, but wanted to say those necklaces are neat!! I love that stuff, and have a few that a girl I used to work with made me some, but I can't wear them cause of those little moles on my neck.... :evil:

Thanks for sharing your work! :D
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Old earth dog
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Post by Old earth dog »

Having spent almost 40 yrs in the printing industry, with much of it being commercial catalogs of some sort, I would put those neckleses around a lovely neck, with the background being a nice, contrasting color. Make the pics large enough to get some nice cleavage in...........Well...forget the last part. Your trying to sell the jewelry ain'tcha! :D :D :wink:
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kHT
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Post by kHT »

Kas is right when it comes to the velvet but one needs to look at the piece you are trying to market. If the piece is dark you want to put it on a lighter colored velvet. Those necklaces are breath taking so with the right color back ground you want it to stand out more than the fabic. I'm not to sure on putting them on models compared to a flater surface. Best of luck and again those are nice!
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wild4flowers
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Post by wild4flowers »

As you can tell, I am trying different colors and textures with the 1st necklace. I want the texture of the jewelry to come out as well as the subtle colorations. The honey bee pendant is light purple and has the small beads of the same coloration, but it is hard to pick up.
I really appreciate any and all coments. I love my camera, because of the 'instant gratification'.
My brother in law photographs his coin collection, which is somewhat different, because he is looking for the shadows, etc, on each individual coin, but he uses a hallogen light sorce and feels good about that.
I'm even considering taking my display out on the back (non enclosed) porch to see if natural light without sun might work.
CHAR
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Post by Snow »

I have had good luck using both white, and black velvet. White velvet looks great with white metals and diamonds, in particular.
~*Snow*~
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Post by Deb118 »

Char,
Here's a pic I snapped of some of DH's cousins pendants she made.
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Nan 002.jpg
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wild4flowers
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Post by wild4flowers »

Great looking wrapping. The upper left is my favorite. But it is hard to tell what the background is, gray or beige, or something else. Did you take the pic's? Flash or no flash?

Thanks, CHAR
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Post by Deb118 »

The back ground was beige, with a flash. I'm no photographer :roll: I just snapped them real quick so she could send them in an e-mail.
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Post by Deb118 »

Here's another
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wild4flowers
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Post by wild4flowers »

Looks nice, but I'm not a wearer of jewelry and wearing those would make me feel like I was the center of attention. Although I can appreciate nice looking stuff. CHAR
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Post by Snow »

If you take a piece of white velvet and puddle it, set the jewelry item so that it's propped up a bit, and then zoom in for a closeup, it's a nice affect.
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wild4flowers
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Post by wild4flowers »

Is that real velvet, or velveteen, or any type of velvet-effect material. I was amazed at the purple velvet-type material I tried to use. It had been someone's dressy skirt and I found it at the goodwill store. I used it for backing my corkboard displays, and then tried to use the extra for a picture. The reflection on the fibers wouldn't allow the automatic focus on the camera to focus. All the pics I tookwere blurry, almost like I had moved the subject.
And since I had just gotten done with pics on other fabrics, i knew it wasn't me moving.

I'll try the 'puddling' effect. Thanks. CHAR
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kHT
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Post by kHT »

wild4flowers, sometimes the fabric if it's to busy will take away from the piece you are trying to photograph, this is why you need to play with the fabric. You have a great creative eye, just look at those pieces you created. Do show us what you come up with.
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Post by wishiwere »

How come I didn't see the jewelry? Where is it? I want to see too :(
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Snow
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Post by Snow »

wild4flowers wrote:Is that real velvet, or velveteen, or any type of velvet-effect material. I was amazed at the purple velvet-type material I tried to use. It had been someone's dressy skirt and I found it at the goodwill store. I used it for backing my corkboard displays, and then tried to use the extra for a picture. The reflection on the fibers wouldn't allow the automatic focus on the camera to focus. All the pics I tookwere blurry, almost like I had moved the subject.
And since I had just gotten done with pics on other fabrics, i knew it wasn't me moving.

I'll try the 'puddling' effect. Thanks. CHAR
Any velvet should be fine. Puddling is a huge help - and then good lighting, and a nice camera angle. Slip the piece of jewelry into the folds of the fabric until it suits you.

(Ignore the occasional kitty hair here...)
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ringpost2.jpg
ringpost1.jpg
~*Snow*~
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kHT
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Post by kHT »

Snow those are nicely done! Great presentation.
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wild4flowers
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Post by wild4flowers »

Snow, nice example.
Kitty hair?....its a way of life.

I've been playing around with pics this morning. Natural light, with and without flash, halogen light, with and without flash, lighted dark room, with and without flash, and dark room with flash only. Also with halogen lighting pointing at different spots in room for subtle light.
Halogen seems to make it more yellow unless it is indirect (pointing at ceiling). So far, natural light from the slider doors seems to work best. No sunlight outside today.
Next for texture.....CHAR
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This background is a beige fine knit fabric. It seems to go with most of my colors.
This background is a beige fine knit fabric. It seems to go with most of my colors.
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