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Any experience in photographing crafts?

Posted: Dec 30, 2005 1:16 am
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

Posted: Dec 30, 2005 1:22 am
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

Posted: Dec 30, 2005 2:36 am
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

Posted: Dec 30, 2005 3:09 am
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

Posted: Dec 30, 2005 3:25 am
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:

Posted: Dec 30, 2005 10:19 am
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!

Posted: Dec 30, 2005 11:50 am
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

Posted: Dec 30, 2005 5:31 pm
by Snow
I have had good luck using both white, and black velvet. White velvet looks great with white metals and diamonds, in particular.

Posted: Dec 30, 2005 11:44 pm
by Deb118
Char,
Here's a pic I snapped of some of DH's cousins pendants she made.

Posted: Dec 30, 2005 11:54 pm
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

Posted: Dec 30, 2005 11:59 pm
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.

Posted: Dec 31, 2005 12:02 am
by Deb118
Here's another

Posted: Dec 31, 2005 1:00 am
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

Posted: Dec 31, 2005 10:05 am
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.

Posted: Dec 31, 2005 10:09 am
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

Posted: Dec 31, 2005 11:21 am
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.

Posted: Dec 31, 2005 1:41 pm
by wishiwere
How come I didn't see the jewelry? Where is it? I want to see too :(

Posted: Jan 01, 2006 3:00 am
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...)

Posted: Jan 01, 2006 11:07 am
by kHT
Snow those are nicely done! Great presentation.

Posted: Jan 01, 2006 12:16 pm
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