Taking photos of diamonds?

BalSanghera · 08-02-2010, 21:04

Ok so iv only gone and bought a diamond engagement ring for my missus, but before I give it her I want to take some pictures. However I am struggling to get it to sparkle properly, so my question is: What would be the best techniques to use?

This is my best out of 8 I took

Think im going to have to read up on macro... as I couldnt get my lens to focus at close range.

Beagletorque · 08-02-2010, 21:13

Should have spent the money on a macro lens!

Rovers_Andy · 08-02-2010, 21:20

Not sure Bal

but i'll say Congratulations and i hope she says yes!

Peter-T · 08-02-2010, 21:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beagletorque

Should have spent the money on a macro lens!

haha i loled at the above comment!
no idea how to help you but I hope she says yes!!

alexkidd · 08-02-2010, 21:26

off the top of my head i'd have it on black background and use flash/halogens from the side but i presume that'll be down to the cut of the diamond that'll dictate which lighting angle works best

also i'd mess around with reflectors on t'other side to kill harsh shadows and such unless that looks good

but i've never done it before so

Scarecrow · 08-02-2010, 21:28

I always find that diamonds sparkle best when illuminated by sunlight. Failing that, have you tried an intense single source of illumination?

BalSanghera · 08-02-2010, 21:29 **Thread Starter**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beagletorque

Should have spent the money on a macro lens!

My Sigma 24-70mm is meant to be a macro lens but im obviously doing someting wrong

BalSanghera · 08-02-2010, 21:33 **Thread Starter**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rovers_Andy

Not sure Bal

but i'll say Congratulations and i hope she says yes!

Thanks and dont worry she's already said yes but Indian weddings are done slightly different and well we are already engaged even though I havent given her the ring lol.

Should be a nice valentines day surprise

haggis · 08-02-2010, 21:38

I was struggling to shoot an engagement ring a few months ago and ended up placing it on top of a black wall tile sat on top of the table in the garden to get sunlight on it.

Had to keep an eye out for magpies!!

suze23 · 08-02-2010, 21:40

no tips as im a beginner - but yeh i'll marry ya for that ring

toph101 · 08-02-2010, 21:51

I love indian weddings! I went to a half Sikh half spanish wedding, and a half Sikh half korean! Both amazing weddings, Sikh drummers, Bhangra dancers (plus Flamenco at one of them too!!)

Ian W · 08-02-2010, 21:55

I used to work in a jewellers. As has been said, try a single source of strong light like a halogen spotlamp or something.

A darker background may also help I guess, minimise reflection from anywhere but the ring?

HoppyUK · 08-02-2010, 23:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian W

I used to work in a jewellers. As has been said, try a single source of strong light like a halogen spotlamp or something.

A darker background may also help I guess, minimise reflection from anywhere but the ring?

Yes, a spot light source, or preferably three. The clue is in every jewellers - loads of spot lights everywhere to reflect off every facet

Oli R C · 08-02-2010, 23:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian W

a single source of strong light

Lasers

CT · 09-02-2010, 08:47

An old trick photographing diamonds and other precious stones is to use a star filter. A lot of the stones you see in catalogues clearly use a star filter to make the stones appear to sparkle. The shopping channel QVC blatantly used to use star filters when selling jewellery until they received complaints and stopped doing it, in fact they now make a selling point point of the fact that they don't use them and WYSIWYG.

You can get much the same effect with a small aperture though from a suitable highlight on the stone.

CT · 09-02-2010, 08:50

LOL I just did a Google image search on 'diamonds star filter' and came up with this.

http://www.soultones.com/neil/fans/w..._DSCN0991a.jpg

Trev Rich · 09-02-2010, 08:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT

LOL I just did a Google image search on 'diamonds star filter' and came up with this.

http://www.soultones.com/neil/fans/w..._DSCN0991a.jpg

FAIL!!

BalSanghera · 09-02-2010, 09:08 **Thread Starter**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trev Rich

FAIL!!

think I would be better sticking to photoshop lol

James Pardon · 09-02-2010, 09:16

I'd go for something black and glossy with just the ring on to make it pop and light just the with a lightbox if you have one / make one

Google search :

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1190/...96b867b7f6.jpg
http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/be...36/1289253.jpg

BalSanghera · 09-02-2010, 09:20 **Thread Starter**

I went with white background as the box was black. Will try see if I can get a nice black glossy background and a halogen desk lamp... Tripod might be a good idea too.

James Pardon · 09-02-2010, 09:28

Congrats btw!

K9simon · 09-02-2010, 10:01

I would def go for a black (velvet maybe) cloth background and a spotlight or two and just play with angles. you have so many angles due to the cut you will have to experiment. Manual focus and move the box back and forth to get it spot on. Beautiful ring it deserves a nice picture.

BalSanghera · 09-02-2010, 10:51 **Thread Starter**

Thanks, I think I will try getting some black cloth and place a piece of glass over it to get the reflection. We might have some black floor tiles in the garage but will probably never find them

08-02-2010, 21:04	#1
BalSanghera Forum Regular Real name : Bal Sanghera Location: Nottingham Posts: 788 Camera: Sony DSLR-A700 iTrader: (6)	Taking photos of diamonds? Ok so iv only gone and bought a diamond engagement ring for my missus, but before I give it her I want to take some pictures. However I am struggling to get it to sparkle properly, so my question is: What would be the best techniques to use? This is my best out of 8 I took Think im going to have to read up on macro... as I couldnt get my lens to focus at close range. __________________

08-02-2010, 21:20	#3
Rovers_Andy Feet under the table Real name : Andy Posts: 3,710 Camera: D3S, D300S iTrader: (9)	Not sure Bal but i'll say Congratulations and i hope she says yes! __________________ FLICKR

08-02-2010, 21:26	#5
alexkidd D.O.N.K.E.Y. Real name : Alex Location: Hull Posts: 1,457 Camera: d3 iTrader: (14)	off the top of my head i'd have it on black background and use flash/halogens from the side but i presume that'll be down to the cut of the diamond that'll dictate which lighting angle works best also i'd mess around with reflectors on t'other side to kill harsh shadows and such unless that looks good but i've never done it before so __________________ i lack interweb social skills and may come across a bit james blunt

08-02-2010, 21:28	#6
Scarecrow Forum Regular Real name : Derek Location: Kent, UK Posts: 866 Camera: Canon 5D MkII iTrader: (1)	I always find that diamonds sparkle best when illuminated by sunlight. Failing that, have you tried an intense single source of illumination? __________________ Scarecrow Images

08-02-2010, 21:38	#9
haggis Forum Regular Real name : Jim Location: Under the patio Posts: 751 Camera: Canon EOS 5D - Gripped, Canon EOS 5D MkII iTrader: (2)	I was struggling to shoot an engagement ring a few months ago and ended up placing it on top of a black wall tile sat on top of the table in the garden to get sunlight on it. Had to keep an eye out for magpies!! __________________ "Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it" Canon 5D Gripped, Canon 5D MkII, Canon 40D Gripped, EF 24-105 f4 L IS/EF 50mm 1.8/EF-S 17-85mm 4-5.6 IS USM/EF 70-300mm 4-5.6 IS USM/EF 70-200mm 2.8L/Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 DG HSM/Sigma 24-70 f2.8/Sigma 28-70 f2.8/Sigma 18-200 3.5-6.3 DC/Speedlite 580EX, 420EX/ST-E2

08-02-2010, 21:13	#2
Beagletorque Forum Regular Real name : Andrew Location: Potterspury, UK Posts: 1,040 Camera: Nikon iTrader: (41)	Should have spent the money on a macro lens!

08-02-2010, 21:40	#10
suze23 Been here a while Real name : suze Location: cheshire, uk Posts: 450 Camera: nikon d5000 iTrader: (1)	no tips as im a beginner - but yeh i'll marry ya for that ring

08-02-2010, 21:51	#11
toph101 Getting Comfy Real name : Chris Location: Derby Posts: 162 Camera: Canon 5D MkII iTrader: (1)	I love indian weddings! I went to a half Sikh half spanish wedding, and a half Sikh half korean! Both amazing weddings, Sikh drummers, Bhangra dancers (plus Flamenco at one of them too!!) __________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chris Towlson ----- www.christowlson.com ----- MobileMe Galleries ----- Flickr ----- My father in-law's paintings

08-02-2010, 21:55	#12
Ian W Been here a while Real name : Ian Location: Glasgow Posts: 267 Camera: Nikon D40x iTrader: (4)	I used to work in a jewellers. As has been said, try a single source of strong light like a halogen spotlamp or something. A darker background may also help I guess, minimise reflection from anywhere but the ring?

09-02-2010, 08:47	#15
CT Gobs in Nikons Location: West Mids UK Posts: 23,436 Camera: 7D/50D iTrader: (12)	An old trick photographing diamonds and other precious stones is to use a star filter. A lot of the stones you see in catalogues clearly use a star filter to make the stones appear to sparkle. The shopping channel QVC blatantly used to use star filters when selling jewellery until they received complaints and stopped doing it, in fact they now make a selling point point of the fact that they don't use them and WYSIWYG. You can get much the same effect with a small aperture though from a suitable highlight on the stone. __________________ http://www.ctomkinson.com EF 50mm 1.2L/ EF 17-40L/ EF 70-200 2.8L IS/ 100-400mm L IS/ EF300mm 2.8L IS/ EF 500mm F4L IS/ EF 1.4X TC/ EF 2X TC.

09-02-2010, 08:50	#16
CT Gobs in Nikons Location: West Mids UK Posts: 23,436 Camera: 7D/50D iTrader: (12)	LOL I just did a Google image search on 'diamonds star filter' and came up with this. http://www.soultones.com/neil/fans/w..._DSCN0991a.jpg

09-02-2010, 09:16	#19
James Pardon Been here a while Real name : James Location: Somerset Posts: 485 Camera: Nikon D700 iTrader: (16)	I'd go for something black and glossy with just the ring on to make it pop and light just the with a lightbox if you have one / make one Google search : http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1190/...96b867b7f6.jpg http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/be...36/1289253.jpg Last edited by James Pardon; 09-02-2010 at 09:17.

09-02-2010, 09:20 Thread Starter	#20
BalSanghera Forum Regular Real name : Bal Sanghera Location: Nottingham Posts: 788 Camera: Sony DSLR-A700 iTrader: (6)	I went with white background as the box was black. Will try see if I can get a nice black glossy background and a halogen desk lamp... Tripod might be a good idea too.

09-02-2010, 09:28	#21
James Pardon Been here a while Real name : James Location: Somerset Posts: 485 Camera: Nikon D700 iTrader: (16)	Congrats btw!

09-02-2010, 10:01	#22
K9simon Quite Chatty Real name : Simon Location: South Oxfordshire Posts: 54 Camera: Nikon D300 iTrader: (0)	I would def go for a black (velvet maybe) cloth background and a spotlight or two and just play with angles. you have so many angles due to the cut you will have to experiment. Manual focus and move the box back and forth to get it spot on. Beautiful ring it deserves a nice picture. __________________ K9Simon

09-02-2010, 10:51 Thread Starter	#23
BalSanghera Forum Regular Real name : Bal Sanghera Location: Nottingham Posts: 788 Camera: Sony DSLR-A700 iTrader: (6)	Thanks, I think I will try getting some black cloth and place a piece of glass over it to get the reflection. We might have some black floor tiles in the garage but will probably never find them