Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Photo Analysis
Diamond Ring Photography and Lighting.
Sep 16, 2017 08:54:55   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
I saw another post previously in this section and decided to give it a try. Since this is the first time I posted in this section I will tell you I am retired and photography is my retirement hobby. I work hard trying my best continuing to improve my images.
First off the rings were loaned to me from a jeweler friend. The diamonds are fake in all but the mens gold ring.
#1
The rings were placed on a shinny piece of 18x18 acrylic. I used a piece of gloss paper placed under and behind curved up to a bar to hold the paper in place as a backdrop. I used a Flashpoint 360 with a standard reflector mounted with a 50% grid positioned on my left at about the 8:00 position. I had a Godox speedlight with a Godox square softbox on the right at the 3:00 position trying not to reflect additional light bouncing from the background paper. My lights should have overpowered all ambient light in the room. Camera was placed just above horizontal in front of the rings about 18 inches away for the rings using a tripod.
Camera Nikon D810
1.160 sec at f/14
ISO 100
Nikon 105 mm mico lens
Remote trigger for camera

#2
I tried all kinds of lighting for this shot. To the left to the right from above and below. Ended up choosing clear glass that that was about 1/4 inch thick. I was using a small table about 18 inch square I found in the trash a while back. I flipped it over and place the glass on the legs. I used flat black paper behind hanging from a bar. I placed black paper on my left and on my right. I took the shot using natural lighting coming in to the room from windows behind my set up about 6 ft away. When I took the picture I saw my reflection in the rings not happy. I took a 25 x 35 sheet of flat white paper cut a hole in it the size of my lens. I slid the paper over my lens and curved the paper on both sides touching the existing black papers on each side. This paper added some good bounce light toward the rings. I did see my camera lens in a reflection on the gold ring but cloned it out in Photoshop.
Same camera Nikon D810
160/sec
f/4.0
ISO 400
105 mm Nikon lens
all natural light
Shot raw

Both pictures had final treatment in Photoshop. White balance was adjusted to look as normal as possible. Increased whites a bit and sharpness in camera raw. Had some trash reflections and specks that cleaned up using the healing brush. I made a duplicate layer and use camera shake filter to improve the look on the diamonds. This filter improves the edges but only wanted it in the diamonds so made a mask and opened up just the diamonds. Made the same steps in both pictures.

I was happy with my results. Later that afternoon I was looking at the second picture and noticed something strange. I had a double reflection and couldn't figure out how I was getting it. Finally it dawned on me that the glass I was using was safety glass and was made with two pieces. The double reflection was coming from one reflection on the top glass and another from the second layer below. I went back to Photoshop and painted out the second reflection.

I hope this is somewhat clear in my workflow. I posted here as a tutorial as I think I understand the rules. Hope I posted in the correct place. My biggest downfall in life has been my spelling and my ability to write clearly.
--Jim

#1
#1...
(Download)

#2
#2...
(Download)

Reply
Sep 16, 2017 10:17:54   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
I forgot to mention these were focus stacked. I think I used about 7 pictures for each set all done in raw.

Reply
Sep 16, 2017 11:40:49   #
rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA
 
The reflection on the black background image adds to your presentation. The reflection on the white image is distracting. Just my opinion.

Reply
 
 
Sep 16, 2017 14:28:50   #
R.G. Loc: Scotland
 
You achieved the front-to-back sharpness that you set out to achieve.

Reply
Sep 17, 2017 11:43:46   #
raymondh Loc: Walker, MI
 
I think all the effort you put in to these shots paid off!

Reply
Sep 17, 2017 11:46:47   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
The reflection on the black background image adds to your presentation. The reflection on the white image is distracting. Just my opinion.


Thanks rgenaderphoto, I could have flipped my plastic over. The other side is a flat white. I was going for the reflections as I saw in many trade magazines.
--Jim

Reply
Sep 17, 2017 11:47:14   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
R.G. wrote:
You achieved the front-to-back sharpness that you set out to achieve.


Thank you R.G.

Reply
 
 
Sep 17, 2017 11:47:42   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
raymondh wrote:
I think all the effort you put in to these shots paid off!


Appreciate the comment Ray

Reply
Sep 19, 2017 12:56:53   #
10MPlayer Loc: California
 
You got great results. It's amazing to be the amount of detail that goes into making these images. Reminds me of a funny story. I also occasionally follow a forum for saxophone players called Sax on the Web. In one post someone posted a photo of a sax they wanted to sell. They forgot about their reflection in bell of the horn. You could clearly see the photographer was naked when he took the picture. Gotta watch those reflections.

Reply
Sep 20, 2017 16:09:41   #
Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California
 
Beautifully done, my hat goes off to you.

When I saw the title of the tread I said to myself "hot dog" someone's take on shooting wedding rings. Well yes and no ... wedding rings yes but as a wedding photographer I usually have a few minutes to snap pictures of the rings. Though I get some decent shots they fall short of this quality .... so many B&G's expect us to shoot tons of shots in a short amount of time. The reality is more time usually equals better results but then again we are servicing a generation that knows nothing of patience ...

Again wonderful work

Reply
Sep 20, 2017 19:24:36   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
10MPlayer wrote:
You got great results. It's amazing to be the amount of detail that goes into making these images. Reminds me of a funny story. I also occasionally follow a forum for saxophone players called Sax on the Web. In one post someone posted a photo of a sax they wanted to sell. They forgot about their reflection in bell of the horn. You could clearly see the photographer was naked when he took the picture. Gotta watch those reflections.


Thank you for your comments.
BTW I was dressed while taking these shots.

Reply
 
 
Sep 20, 2017 19:29:45   #
Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas
 
Beercat wrote:
Beautifully done, my hat goes off to you.

When I saw the title of the tread I said to myself "hot dog" someone's take on shooting wedding rings. Well yes and no ... wedding rings yes but as a wedding photographer I usually have a few minutes to snap pictures of the rings. Though I get some decent shots they fall short of this quality .... so many B&G's expect us to shoot tons of shots in a short amount of time. The reality is more time usually equals better results but then again we are servicing a generation that knows nothing of patience ...

Again wonderful work
Beautifully done, my hat goes off to you. br br W... (show quote)


Thank you Beercat. The Jeweler saw the shots I took and said some people come in, pick out their rings and request a photo of them while they are new and no scratches. He said he will refer them to me. If I get a call I should have time to take pictures with the proper set up. At the wedding with a few moments time will not work as you mentioned above.

Reply
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Photo Analysis
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.