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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 24, 2012 11:09:58 GMT -5
I have had this opal for a long time. It is a solid Mintabe (I'm pretty sure) Aussie opal. 11.7ct, 24x12.5x6.16mm. Yeah, huge. I finally opted for a simple setting. I fused some rings on so I could orient it best for a pendant. The problem is in getting the pictures. This is a really bright stone with dense and deep multicolor pinfire. But, no matter how I photograph it, I just can't get the quality of the flash and color. If I want to sell this online, I need good pictures. Anyone have any photo hints for opals??? I'm pretty good at photography, but photographing opals always eludes me. I use a light tent. Attachments:
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 24, 2012 11:10:24 GMT -5
for scale Attachments:
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Post by drocknut on Mar 24, 2012 14:03:19 GMT -5
That's very pretty. Sorry but I can't be of any help on the photography question. I'm sure someone will offer you some tips.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Mar 24, 2012 16:18:29 GMT -5
The only way that I've ever seen anyone capture all of the flash is to video it while turning it to different angles. Problem with opals and everything else with color flash is you'll never see all of it from a single angle.
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Post by talkingstones on Mar 24, 2012 16:50:30 GMT -5
Love the chaining idea! I've been trying to figure out how to do a two looped wrap for elongated pieces. Very well done and beautiful!
Cathy
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Post by helens on Mar 24, 2012 23:50:14 GMT -5
Opals are HARD to photograph to get what you see with your eye in a photo. Your eyes triangulate automatically... a lens is like one eye...
I found that under LED lights, opals do the most popping. Better than any other kind of lights I've seen... maybe pick up a super bright LED lightbulb for your fixture and see how that works for you?
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 25, 2012 8:17:16 GMT -5
Thanks everyone  Helen, you know you got that right! Opals are the worse to photograph. I was going to try taking a pic outside, but it has been off and rain here and in between, life threw a curve, so... I tried it under halogen yesterday. After adjusting the white balance, it didn't come out too bad. But, now the silver (fresh from the speedbrite) looks tarnished. I actually DO have a big LED bulb that I had forgotten about, so I'll give that a try today. (The bulb is called a sparkler for obvious reasons- faceted stones are incredible under it.) Attachments:
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 27, 2012 10:51:07 GMT -5
For anyone interested, this is the opal in the tent with full spectrum bulbs and an led sparkler shining on it. Even though it is a low watt bulb, it still washed out the opal. Next stop outside. I'm determined to get this right. Attachments:
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xXxAlisha91xXx
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
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Post by xXxAlisha91xXx on Mar 27, 2012 21:41:40 GMT -5
WOW!!! That is beautiful!
Hmmm...Have you tried a halogen bulb? I use a 30 watt in a desk lamp and it works fairly well for photographing opals. Sometimes, when I have one with mostly red, I have to adjust the exposure on my camera to a lower setting to get it to show at all... But I agree with what someone else posted; a video is needed to get ALL, or at least most, of the color flashes...
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Mar 28, 2012 0:16:23 GMT -5
Try underexposing & then compensating in Photoshop or whatever program you do your photo editing in. Then try the opposite.
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 28, 2012 13:31:57 GMT -5
Thanks for all your input. I will keep trying. |
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