It's gold, I tell you!
Dec 12, 2015 10:22:56 #
Here we go again. This piece is one of the prides of my collection. These are perfect cubic crystals of iron pyrites ("fool's gold") growing out of a rock matrix.
There are a couple of stacks, but one issue I have is that the flash evens out the lighting, and the cubes don't really look golden at all. So, I am adding a couple of straight single-shots, taken in natural light. These show the colour much better.
This piece is big enough that it really doesn't need the focus stacking, as you can see by the last 2 shots.
I am going to be experimenting later today, hopefully, in getting both my flashes to work wirelessly with my 7D - strangely, it's the Canon unit which doesn't - so I may be able to get more 'focused' light on some of these samples.
Enjoy!
There are a couple of stacks, but one issue I have is that the flash evens out the lighting, and the cubes don't really look golden at all. So, I am adding a couple of straight single-shots, taken in natural light. These show the colour much better.
This piece is big enough that it really doesn't need the focus stacking, as you can see by the last 2 shots.
I am going to be experimenting later today, hopefully, in getting both my flashes to work wirelessly with my 7D - strangely, it's the Canon unit which doesn't - so I may be able to get more 'focused' light on some of these samples.
Enjoy!
Dec 12, 2015 15:56:43 #
Another fascinating piece from your collection, Phil. I like all the shots but agree with you about the last two. They definitely show the color of the 'gold' more realistically.
Dec 12, 2015 16:19:59 #
Dec 12, 2015 16:40:51 #
I was just about to post, asking if anyone had seen this post. It never appears for me, either in the closeup group or the upcoming topics group. I hadn't seen any responses, and didn't know if the post had made it to the board or not.
The colour without the flash is definitely better, but of course the exposure was a lot longer too... I have to be very careful of cat attacks when I am busy, since I take these basically on the front of my desk. My furry roommate has to check out what I am doing every now and again... I spend as much time retouching to get rid of his tiny hairs as I do anything else!
Thanks for looking...
The colour without the flash is definitely better, but of course the exposure was a lot longer too... I have to be very careful of cat attacks when I am busy, since I take these basically on the front of my desk. My furry roommate has to check out what I am doing every now and again... I spend as much time retouching to get rid of his tiny hairs as I do anything else!
Thanks for looking...
Dec 12, 2015 17:10:28 #
Phil, I'm trying to figure out why your post doesn't appear for you. Did you sign up to receive closeup on your homepage? If you didn't, that could possibly be the reason.
Bloke wrote:
I was just about to post, asking if anyone had see... (show quote)
Dec 12, 2015 18:09:15 #
Dixiegirl wrote:
Phil, I'm trying to figure out why your post doesn't appear for you. Did you sign up to receive closeup on your homepage? If you didn't, that could possibly be the reason.
Yes, I get the closeup group messages on my page, just not my own posts, or at least not usually. Occasionally, I will see one, but most times it's like my posts just roll straight off the edge a cliff, until I see a reply posted to the thread.
I just checked my profile, and I see that there are 3 groups I don't see displayed, despite my being subscribed to them. The Christian forum, the long exposure forum and the video for dslr forum.
It isn't like I need to read my stuff or anything! It's just nice to be able to see that the message has posted ok. I seem to remember asking about this once before, and one of the less-tolerant members gave me a hard time for being an egotist who likes to read my own stuff or something... *sigh*
Dec 12, 2015 18:47:34 #
Well of course you want to see if your own posts are there, Phil! I don't know what the problem would be since you're signed up for everything. Maybe somebody will know.
Bloke wrote:
Yes, I get the closeup group messages on my page, ... (show quote)
Dec 13, 2015 11:02:29 #
Bloke wrote:
Here we go again. This piece is one of the pride... (show quote)
Hi Bloke (Phil?) You have every right to be proud of this pyrite specimen, it is a beauty. I think you have done good work here. I have made attempts to photograph pieces from my collection and I appreciate the difficulties of the task. So many reflective surfaces, so much potential for subtle color shifts. I will be watching for future posts and I would value any details on your lighting set up that you are willing to share. I did enjoy!
Regards, Phil
Dec 13, 2015 13:27:57 #
rockdog wrote:
Hi Bloke (Phil?) You have every right to be proud of this pyrite specimen, it is a beauty. I think you have done good work here. I have made attempts to photograph pieces from my collection and I appreciate the difficulties of the task. So many reflective surfaces, so much potential for subtle color shifts. I will be watching for future posts and I would value any details on your lighting set up that you are willing to share. I did enjoy!
Regards, Phil
Regards, Phil
Yes, it is difficult to get the light right, without draining the colour. I have a piece of Labradorite, which is absolutely iridescent, but in the photo it just comes out black.
My set-up is pretty basic, really. I have the camera on a tripod, right here in front of my desk. The 'surface' is a sheet of photo paper which provides a base and also curves up against the front of my printer, giving a plain backdrop too. I bought a cheap ringlight/flash, but the flash doesn't fire most of the time. The 48 LEDs do make a great modelling light, though, helping me get the focus dialed in. I have 2 speedlights, a Canon 430II, and a Newwer Triopo, supposed to be equivalent to the Canon 560. Until yesterday, I had not been able to get the 430 to flash using the 7D's wireless feature. My process on all these so far is to have the ringlight on, the Canon's internal flash up, and the Triopo standing about 12 inches to the side, pointing straight up to bounce off the ceiling. I shoot in ETTL mode, so don't worry about exposure.
My next test is to try using the 2 speedlights together, maybe one from the side with a softbox, and the other from the other side either pointing up again, or perhaps aimed at the subject... Don't know what that will do, but it seems worth a try.
I also found out how to have the internal flash fire the speedlights without contributing to the exposure itself. The book says it will still fire, so I am not sure how that works. I want to try that, because when I move closer, the shadow of the ringlight becomes very obvious at the bottom of the frame. At the scale I am currently working, it is no problem to crop it, but as I get closer, that shadow will start covering the subject itself.
So, for an off-camera flash setup, this is about as simple as it can get.
I will keep posting these as long as people want to see them! I have a whole bunch still to shoot, then there are the different angles, and trying proper macro when my extension rings get here from China... I am having a ball, although my first few days of efforts produced nothing worth looking at, and it got a bit dark there for a while!
Normally, my photography takes a back seat during the winter, since I don't do well in the cold. I always have a whole bunch of stuff accumulated during the year to process, but sometimes a bit of 'freshness' is required. I probably have enough here to keep me occupied for a long time to come! Also interested in trying some flower work, come spring, and I am intrigued by the water-drop shots I have seen. Not sure about having all my gear that close to water, but thinking about it...
Dec 13, 2015 16:21:39 #
Thank you for the detailed info Phil. I look forward to seeing more of your work.
Dec 14, 2015 00:20:45 #
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