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Solitaire Diamond Ring Photography having difficulty
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Aug 16, 2017 09:07:15   #
toughmandave Loc: The Villages, Florida
 
I am trying to shoot a solitaire diamond ring and the diamond just doesn't "pop" in the photo. I've tried my Nikon 60mm micro and my Nikon 105mm micro. Using soft lights on sides and back with a diamond sparkler spot light on the diamond itself. I have tried different white balance settings. The surface is a white sheet of acrylic plastic sitting on a lightbox and I've tried both turning on the lightbox and leaving it off. I finally got the diamond ring to stand up by using dental wax. I have not used a flash but I heard that doesn't work. Any other ideas? dave



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Aug 16, 2017 09:22:48   #
dgsmax
 
The smaller the light source...will yield more specular high lights. I don't know your set up but I can see the light is too flat. Put a small stobe under your light table and vary the heighth distance of the strobe. Can be very dramatic! Also use small white reflectors, very close, on both sides.

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Aug 16, 2017 09:25:22   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
You're using a soft box and I don't know how it is built.
If I was to hoot it. I would place the ring on the gloss white plastic with diamond facing the camera. Camera on tripod. If you have speed light set one directly behind and over the ring. If you were looking from the side about the 11:00 position. I would place a light defuser between the speed light and ring. Now I would make two 5 x 7 reflector cards out of white foam core you can get at Walmart. I use a cheep squeeze clamp on a low corner to hold them standing up at a 45 degree angle in front and a slight tilt downward at the ring. One on left and one on right about the 8:00 and 4:00 position bouncing light back into the diamond ring. That should work using one light set up. In final production you might need to adjust white balance a bit and add clarity and sharpening. I hope this makes since. If you don't have a defuser I made one out of a cheep shower curtain two thicknesses. I think your lens choice is fine I only have the 105 so that is the one I would use.
--Jim

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Aug 16, 2017 09:26:53   #
MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas
 
Use a black background (I prefer black velvet definitely on the bottom) top bottom and sides, stand it up and shoot form several different angles and heights. Use a single light pointed directly at the ring. Go close for the stone if the stone is the main subject or the whole ring if both are important. To me the stone is the most important thing and I like to shoot directly at the table or top flat area so all the facets are shown so their reflections and fire shows. You may have to shift the light from directly in line with the camera to slightly to the side. Hope this will give you a starting point

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Aug 16, 2017 09:53:05   #
toughmandave Loc: The Villages, Florida
 
Great suggestions and thank you and I will try those today. The light is flat. You are correct. I have read so many Youtube articles and have tried so many different ways I still can't get that professional white WOW factor. I need the white background so I can just highlight the ring itself. I will try the speed light behind the ring and inside the light box itself. I have tried the bounce cards but not with a flash. Yes, I do have defusers. The softlights are 24" on the sides and a 36" on the rear. And yes I adjusted clarity and sharpening in my post processing. I am going to shoot closer to the stone. That might help too.

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Aug 16, 2017 09:59:06   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
I don't think I would have the light inside the box just above and back about 2-2.5' from the ring.
Hope it works. I will try one myself later today.

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Aug 16, 2017 10:10:07   #
toughmandave Loc: The Villages, Florida
 
OK. Understood. dave

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Aug 16, 2017 10:19:06   #
toughmandave Loc: The Villages, Florida
 
Jim-Pops: Thanks in advance for giving one a try later today. I look on line and in magazines and the solitaire diamond looks spectacular on a white background. I'm sure some are shot with stacking which I have not tried yet. I'm sure the pro's are using highly expensive cameras compared to my D7200 but I'm not going to let that deter me. I need to get my wife's white diamond picture perfected first. I do have a snoot coming for my flashes and that will direct the flash more directly at the rear of the ring if that will help. The sparkle LED light that is supposed to work for diamond sparkling works on the diamond itself, but not the final result. dave

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Aug 16, 2017 10:35:15   #
digitalexplr Loc: Central Missouri
 
I would 2nd the idea of trying a black background. Also work with your exposure. On the posted image the white background is coming gray, which I sure not what you are going after.

Some excellent advice here. Keeping working with it. You will get worked out.

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Aug 16, 2017 10:35:19   #
C6Joe Loc: NorthWestern Nevada
 
Love your C6, widebody, GS or Z? Mine is a 2006 Base Coupe, but I have an LS3 engine in it. A few more ponies, but not real noticeable except at high speed. With the old LS2 motor, I could see 190 mph, with the LS3, I have seen 195. (Speedometer readings) I suppose the 0-60 is faster, but never clocked it.

I would love to get a Z but, no automatic. I will never drive a manual again. Lazy in my old age! Was going to get a C7-Z but...they shortened the wheelbase 6 inches and they took the 6" from the driver's cockpit....I don't like driving with my knees in my throat!, so..canceled my order and am now looking for a 427 C6. Know of one for sale? Low mileage? Automatic?, 3LT package? Preferably Silver or Cyber Grey.

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Aug 16, 2017 10:49:53   #
toughmandave Loc: The Villages, Florida
 
digitalexpir: I think the gray background is coming from the translucent white plastic on my light box with an LED inside. Then in post I blew out the grey background to white around the ring. I have ordered a piece of white non-translucent acrylic plastic to try that. I tried white cardboard but the ring/wax would not stick to the paper. I will try the black again. I have black acrylic and black velvet to use.

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Aug 16, 2017 11:23:10   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
Ok I tried it with our rings. Now understand the rings are quite old. We have been married 49 years. Rings are not that old though, wore out the first set 24 years ago and these are the replacements, now 24 years old. Scratches show up a bunch. First picture at f/22 second picture f/32. Trying to get more depth of field. Could have moved camera back and then cropped in closer.

Last picture is my set up. Black board behind is there only to block out window light.

Now seeing these as I post I should have changed my White Balance to flash. Not a biggie but didn't want to start over. Flash could be set higher also but that will depend on the rings and scratches.

Diamonds are not of the highest quality nor have they been jeweler cleaned in some time.
--Jim


Now that I have this set up I will try another still life.


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

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Aug 16, 2017 11:54:17   #
R.G. Loc: Scotland
 
On download the thumbnail looks a bit soft. Sharpness is going to be a must to get the diamond looking at its best. Are you sure the camera is getting a focus lock on the ring? It's possible that it's locking on the reflection. That wouldn't be a problem with a matt base like black velvet.

And the ring itself looks a bit under-exposed, probably due to the camera's meter being influenced by the bright white surroundings. In PP I found the most effective adjustments were lifting the Shadows and Blacks and adding Clarity. Green, aqua and blue can be used in the HSL section to enhance the diamond's sparkle a bit, but the white base also responds to adjusting blue and green. I've heard that halogen light is good for diamonds.

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Aug 16, 2017 11:57:38   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
R.G. wrote:
On download the thumbnail looks a bit soft. Sharpness is going to be a must to get the diamond looking at its best. Are you sure the camera is getting a focus lock on the ring? It's possible that it's locking on the reflection. That wouldn't be a problem with a matt base like black velvet.

And the ring itself looks a bit under-exposed, probably due to the camera's meter being influenced by the bright white surroundings. In PP I found the most effective adjustments were lifting the Shadows and Blacks and adding Clarity. Green, aqua and blue can be used in the HSL section to enhance the diamond's sparkle a bit, but the white base also responds to adjusting blue and green. I've heard that halogen light is good for diamonds.
On download the thumbnail looks a bit soft. Sharp... (show quote)


I think the dirty rings have a lot to do with the way the focus looks.
All very good suggestions R.G.

BTY never thought about the halogen lights. I bet you are absolutely correct in using them. Jewelers always showcase them with halogen to get the sparkle.

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Aug 16, 2017 13:00:38   #
TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
A couple of suggestions outside of the lighting, which has already been addressed. The small aperture/high fstop is killing your resolution due to diffraction. Try an aperture somewhere in the f8-f11 range (f16 max), and use focus stacking if that doesn't produce adequate DOF to suit. Also, I suggest cleaning the rings with ammonia. An ultrasonic cleaner works nicely, and if you don't have one available, perhaps a local jewelry store would clean them for a nominal price. And yes, halogen does a nice job of of emphasizing the "sparkle" of diamonds.

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