Need help composing a picture of fine crystal........

Hello,

I need some suggestions on how I could best take a picture of some fine
crystal pieces (5 total) that my Mom has. They are all only 1 to 2.5 inches
tall. She has them all sitting on top of a mirror, but there is no light
source near them. I have a few lights, Christmas lights, a flash light and
an interior design light that takes a 60 watt bulb.

I'd like to some how incorporate the color blue in the picture too. Perhaps
from the Christmas lights.

I've got a Canon A85 4.0 megapixel digital camera with a macro mode. But
I'm just not sure how to best setup the picture. Some how I'd like the get
a picture of the light reflecting off the crystal. And perhaps getting a
starburst effect. That I know how to do, just set my camera to Aperture
Piority mode and close the aperture, adjust exposure and ISO until I get
exactly the effect I'm looking for..

Any suggestions on how to best setup this picture?

Thanks,

Jeff

You need a couple spot lights to get sparkling reflections of the crystal.
You can use a star filter over the lens or create that with software.
John


"JMI" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I need some suggestions on how I could best take a picture of some fine
crystal pieces (5 total) that my Mom has. They are all only 1 to 2.5
inches tall. She has them all sitting on top of a mirror, but there is no
light source near them. I have a few lights, Christmas lights, a flash
light and an interior design light that takes a 60 watt bulb.

I'd like to some how incorporate the color blue in the picture too.
Perhaps from the Christmas lights.

I've got a Canon A85 4.0 megapixel digital camera with a macro mode. But
I'm just not sure how to best setup the picture. Some how I'd like the
get a picture of the light reflecting off the crystal. And perhaps
getting a starburst effect. That I know how to do, just set my camera to
Aperture Piority mode and close the aperture, adjust exposure and ISO
until I get exactly the effect I'm looking for..

Any suggestions on how to best setup this picture?

Thanks,

Jeff

You need a couple spot lights to get sparkling reflections of the crystal.
You can use a star filter over the lens or create that with software.
John


"JMI" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I need some suggestions on how I could best take a picture of some fine
crystal pieces (5 total) that my Mom has. They are all only 1 to 2.5
inches tall. She has them all sitting on top of a mirror, but there is no
light source near them. I have a few lights, Christmas lights, a flash
light and an interior design light that takes a 60 watt bulb.

I'd like to some how incorporate the color blue in the picture too.
Perhaps from the Christmas lights.

I've got a Canon A85 4.0 megapixel digital camera with a macro mode. But
I'm just not sure how to best setup the picture. Some how I'd like the
get a picture of the light reflecting off the crystal. And perhaps
getting a starburst effect. That I know how to do, just set my camera to
Aperture Piority mode and close the aperture, adjust exposure and ISO
until I get exactly the effect I'm looking for..

Any suggestions on how to best setup this picture?

Thanks,

Jeff

Thanks for the response! I can do the starburst effect with my camera. I
know because that's what I did with our Christmas tree this year.

Do spot lights use a different kind of bulb? I ask because I have light
that takes a standard 60 watt light blub.

Thanks,

Jeff


"JohnR66" wrote in message
...
You need a couple spot lights to get sparkling reflections of the crystal.
You can use a star filter over the lens or create that with software.
John


"JMI" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I need some suggestions on how I could best take a picture of some fine
crystal pieces (5 total) that my Mom has. They are all only 1 to 2.5
inches tall. She has them all sitting on top of a mirror, but there is no
light source near them. I have a few lights, Christmas lights, a flash
light and an interior design light that takes a 60 watt bulb.

I'd like to some how incorporate the color blue in the picture too.
Perhaps from the Christmas lights.

I've got a Canon A85 4.0 megapixel digital camera with a macro mode.
But I'm just not sure how to best setup the picture. Some how I'd like
the get a picture of the light reflecting off the crystal. And perhaps
getting a starburst effect. That I know how to do, just set my camera to
Aperture Piority mode and close the aperture, adjust exposure and ISO
until I get exactly the effect I'm looking for..

Any suggestions on how to best setup this picture?

Thanks,

Jeff

Using a normal incandescent bulb will be quite yellow...so set your white
balance. When I shoot stuff like that I like to use a shooting tent.
Something white...I like a shower curtain...and build a frame to shape it
around the piece. Put the lights outside the tent...except for the ones you
want to add color....I don't know if in or out is better as I haven't tried
that.


"JMI" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the response! I can do the starburst effect with my camera. I
know because that's what I did with our Christmas tree this year.

Do spot lights use a different kind of bulb? I ask because I have light
that takes a standard 60 watt light blub.

Thanks,

Jeff


"JohnR66" wrote in message
...
You need a couple spot lights to get sparkling reflections of the
crystal.
You can use a star filter over the lens or create that with software.
John


"JMI" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I need some suggestions on how I could best take a picture of some fine
crystal pieces (5 total) that my Mom has. They are all only 1 to 2.5
inches tall. She has them all sitting on top of a mirror, but there is
no
light source near them. I have a few lights, Christmas lights, a flash
light and an interior design light that takes a 60 watt bulb.

I'd like to some how incorporate the color blue in the picture too.
Perhaps from the Christmas lights.

I've got a Canon A85 4.0 megapixel digital camera with a macro mode.
But I'm just not sure how to best setup the picture. Some how I'd like
the get a picture of the light reflecting off the crystal. And perhaps
getting a starburst effect. That I know how to do, just set my camera
to
Aperture Piority mode and close the aperture, adjust exposure and ISO
until I get exactly the effect I'm looking for..

Any suggestions on how to best setup this picture?

Thanks,

Jeff

"JMI" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I need some suggestions on how I could best take a picture of some fine
crystal pieces (5 total) that my Mom has. They are all only 1 to 2.5
inches
tall. She has them all sitting on top of a mirror, but there is no light
source near them. I have a few lights, Christmas lights, a flash light
and
an interior design light that takes a 60 watt bulb.

I'd like to some how incorporate the color blue in the picture too.
Perhaps
from the Christmas lights.

I've got a Canon A85 4.0 megapixel digital camera with a macro mode. But
I'm just not sure how to best setup the picture. Some how I'd like the
get
a picture of the light reflecting off the crystal. And perhaps getting a
starburst effect. That I know how to do, just set my camera to Aperture
Piority mode and close the aperture, adjust exposure and ISO until I get
exactly the effect I'm looking for..

Any suggestions on how to best setup this picture?

Thanks,

Jeff

If you want sparkle, you need intense, bright lights...such as halogen track
lights...placed fairly close to, or focussed tightly on the piece. Then you
can rotate either the lights or the piece to find points of reflection that
are to your liking.

For starters ... there are several excellent tutorials "on the web."

Web Photo School - Techniques for Shooting Jewelry
http://www.webphotoschool.com/Lesson...hniques_for_Sh
ooting_Jewelry/index.html

Tabletop Studio
http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/HowTo_page.htm

http://www.tabletopstudio.com/docume...hotography.htm

http://www.tabletopstudio.com/docume...hotography.htm

Adorama
http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?o...7770079739 80
9

You can probably find quite a few more using your friendly local search
engine.








"JMI" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I need some suggestions on how I could best take a picture of some fine
crystal pieces (5 total) that my Mom has. They are all only 1 to 2.5
inches
tall. She has them all sitting on top of a mirror, but there is no light
source near them. I have a few lights, Christmas lights, a flash light
and
an interior design light that takes a 60 watt bulb.

I'd like to some how incorporate the color blue in the picture too.
Perhaps
from the Christmas lights.

I've got a Canon A85 4.0 megapixel digital camera with a macro mode.
But
I'm just not sure how to best setup the picture. Some how I'd like the
get
a picture of the light reflecting off the crystal. And perhaps getting a
starburst effect. That I know how to do, just set my camera to Aperture
Piority mode and close the aperture, adjust exposure and ISO until I get
exactly the effect I'm looking for..

Any suggestions on how to best setup this picture?

Thanks,

Jeff

For starters ... there are several excellent tutorials "on the web."

Web Photo School - Techniques for Shooting Jewelry
http://www.webphotoschool.com/Lesson...hniques_for_Sh
ooting_Jewelry/index.html

Tabletop Studio
http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/HowTo_page.htm

http://www.tabletopstudio.com/docume...hotography.htm

http://www.tabletopstudio.com/docume...hotography.htm

Adorama
http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?o...7770079739 80
9

You can probably find quite a few more using your friendly local search
engine.








"JMI" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I need some suggestions on how I could best take a picture of some fine
crystal pieces (5 total) that my Mom has. They are all only 1 to 2.5
inches
tall. She has them all sitting on top of a mirror, but there is no light
source near them. I have a few lights, Christmas lights, a flash light
and
an interior design light that takes a 60 watt bulb.

I'd like to some how incorporate the color blue in the picture too.
Perhaps
from the Christmas lights.

I've got a Canon A85 4.0 megapixel digital camera with a macro mode.
But
I'm just not sure how to best setup the picture. Some how I'd like the
get
a picture of the light reflecting off the crystal. And perhaps getting a
starburst effect. That I know how to do, just set my camera to Aperture
Piority mode and close the aperture, adjust exposure and ISO until I get
exactly the effect I'm looking for..

Any suggestions on how to best setup this picture?

Thanks,

Jeff

In article Dx2Cd.9702$PY6.6680@trndny02, says...

Using a normal incandescent bulb will be quite yellow...so set your white
balance. When I shoot stuff like that I like to use a shooting tent.
Something white...I like a shower curtain...and build a frame to shape it
around the piece. Put the lights outside the tent...except for the ones you
want to add color....I don't know if in or out is better as I haven't tried
that.

That is a start, diffused white light (or balanced light) a white card to
reflect that onto the glass from one side and two black cards on the other
sides. make sure they don't mix on the mirror. I like a hotter light, a
construction light for instance (1000W Totalights are my favorite) but then you
have to worry about setting the diffuser on fire (Rosco diffusion materials
solve that). Good luck
Tom

In article Dx2Cd.9702$PY6.6680@trndny02, says...

Using a normal incandescent bulb will be quite yellow...so set your white
balance. When I shoot stuff like that I like to use a shooting tent.
Something white...I like a shower curtain...and build a frame to shape it
around the piece. Put the lights outside the tent...except for the ones you
want to add color....I don't know if in or out is better as I haven't tried
that.

That is a start, diffused white light (or balanced light) a white card to
reflect that onto the glass from one side and two black cards on the other
sides. make sure they don't mix on the mirror. I like a hotter light, a
construction light for instance (1000W Totalights are my favorite) but then you
have to worry about setting the diffuser on fire (Rosco diffusion materials
solve that). Good luck
Tom