how to take close-up photo of jewellery?

[terrytao]

Hello, I need to take pictures on jewellery(rings, earrings, necklaces, etc.) and put them on my website. The problem is whether I use a regular camera(canon ES500) or a digital camera(sony cybershot), the pictures are way too small to show the details of the item. Do I need to use a special camera or a Macro, or a close-up lens to get a magnified image? Thanks a lot. -Terry

[gary_hendr]

Hi

I came across these tips of jewelry photography in another website. Maybe they'll be useful to you.


I specialize in jewelry. Until three months ago, I shot transparency film on a 4x5 view camera.

I now own a Canon 10D. Shooting digitally poses several challenges, the greatest of which is the white balance. Once you get that issue solved, life is so much easier.

I am unfamiliar with your camera's capabilities, so i cannot address the specifics of your camera settings.

When I actually NEED a background, i will use a light gray paper beneath the jewelry, or if it's a ring, I'll use clear photo laminating wax on a piece of ceramic tile to keep the ring standing up. I trimm it with an EXakto knife.

For lighting, I travel light. When I was using the view camera, I had to use studio lights because the view camera is a light hog. With the Digital 10D, I get by just fine with a couple of Vivitar 285's.

For my shooting environment, I use different sized and shaped white and transluscent Tupperwear or RubberMaid plastic bowls with holes strategically placed for the specific type of jewelry I intend to shoot. (These bowls are SO cheap that ten bucks will buy enough bowls and tubs to get you through any situation).

To cut the holes, I use a cheap $10.00 rotary tool that I bought at Pep Boys.

For lighting the environment, I made light stands out of heavy black rubber toilet plungers. I cut the handles to the appropriate height, and then drilled 1/4-20 screws into the top ends of the plunger handles. To these screws I attached Photoflex supergrips and then attached my Vivitars to the Super Grip.

The Vivitar 285's can be bought on eBay for 25.00 used. The toilet plungers cost $6.00.

I place the bowl over the jewelry and then I place the Vivitars near the bowl. I take several test shots to get the right placement.

Most of my work is high-key because the jewelers like that look in the newspaper.

When you light pearls, shadow placement is everything. You need to light the product from above and behind the pearls.

Do you know how to set your camera to work on manual mode? generally, I shoot at 1/180 @ about f.16. This gives me the best depth of field. I set the Vivitar 285's at about half power on manual.

To get my white balance, I took a piece of white paper outside in the sun, put the camera on manual focus so that the lens wouldn't go crazy. I then selected the custom white balance setting and then took the picture. The 10D allows the user to refer to virtually any picture on the CF card for the white balance, so I have this picture on all of my cf cards.

[terrytao]

Thank you so much for your help.

[gejmond]

I am also need to take pictures of jewellery and am specifically interested in lighting equipment. I note the reply above but wonder if there are specific products one can buy for this job? I would not be confident in putting together the kit described above.

I need to take quality pictures in consistent conditions for a business I am trying hard to set up (in the UK). Hence my budget is limited and I will have to do it myself, though I am inexperienced.

I have a digital camera with macro (and photoshop which I am learning) but need a lighting set up that will be easy to set up and use, and not too big. Apart from getting myself a little tripod, I would be extremely grateful for advice on kit for lighting - what to get, how to use, and where from. I want to take pictures on a white background which I will use on a website and for marketing material. If you can help - in 'layman's terms'! - it would be really appreciated. Thanks!