Bead Photography Setup - What do you think?

I've seen that setup before and think it's rather pricey. You can shoot just as well (I think your pix are already fantastic) with a pair of halogens, some white nylon drape (about $6.99/yd at Joann) and optical white paper. A light board would be nice but honestly I think it makes things look overexposed.

Just my 2 cents (better than $275)

KarenK

I don't think you need to spend that much money on a simple setup like that. But then if lighting really baffles you it would help to have it all put together like that.

.....Stephanie.....

My hubby's hobby is photography and is rather good at it....He cut me a piece of matboard that is black on one side and white on the other and hinged it clear matte tape. I can fold it black side up or white side up...and it photographs nicely.

I did send him this auction and I will see if we can come up with something similar (and cheaper).

Overpriced. You can do the same thing at home much cheaper:

Check out these resources:

Thanks, everyone! I really appreciate the input!

Right now, I am just shooting on/against a sheet of printer paper. I'm using two 75 watt Reveal bulbs for lighting. I don't use a flash, as I think it "flattens" the image.

My camera is an Olympus 5050-Z. Regarding camera shake, it has a wireless remote control, so shake isn't an issue. Thank goodness.

I just hate that I have a nice camera and such a cheesy setup. And it's very hard to get in macro-close and still be able to hit the front of the bead with light. The camera is in the way.

I have new pics up today and I changed some settings:

I'd like some suggestions, if y'all wouldn't mind. One thing I did I move the camera back from the work so light could get to the front side of the piece. Because of that, I had to take it out of macro mode. I don't think the pics look too bad. Once again, I've been up over 24 hours. I have my AGI demo handout finished, last night's beads are annealed, cleaned, photographed and sold, and I am going to go lay on the sofa with three kitties and a puppy and take a nap. :-)

Tink Check here for available work:

Hi Tink.

Funny you mention it because I got it...at the recommendation of another lampworker. I haven't quite figured out the light table yet and am not sure if that was a wise purchase. But...I LOVE the tent. Overpriced? Probably but I have a new studio being built and it looks nicer and will be easier to move around (comes with a little case). I was working with the pvc with a white sheet drape set up like in my WC! article which does work just fine! There really isn't a need for this tent, but like I said, it looks good and I personally feel more professional...it's a perception thing for me...I'm not saying anything about how anyone else does it. I do think it might difuse the light better so the lights reflecting on my beads is softer...so maybe it is good. If you look at my site, don't judge by the first picture...I had to photoshop it a bit too much and it came out grainy. I have to replace it. On my page my images are half with the new set up (and still working on them) and half with old set up. They look a lot alike to me.

What I am really impressed with are the light bulbs. I went from reveal to their day light fluorescents. Wow! Only 26 watts each but so crisp and clear. I did have to change a setting on my camera because I used to have it for incandescent with the reveals, but I like them. Some still need an ever so slight tweak with Photoshop elements but it takes a few seconds per picture. Oh, and I will probably leave a reveal set up for taking pics of purples....the lights do that weird fluorescent thing to them.

So, I give thumbs up on the tent for perceived value, thumbs up on the light bulbs (although it will necessitate new settings on your camera) and jury is still out on the light table.

One thing you could do is cover the cameras flash with some kind of diffusing material (paper, fabric) and that would reduce the amount of light and soften it significantly so it doesn't flatten the object. You could also get longer paper and curl it from the back under the bead up to the bottom of the camera so that light will reflect back onto the bead. A piece of heavy paper with a cutout for the camera to stick through will bounce even more light than the curled paper.

Just some ideas.

Your photos look very good. A cheezy setup doesn't matter, it's really the end result that matters. .....Stephanie.....

Absolutely - use some foam core for a bounce - hang it above the setup.

I've got 2 new reflectors with daylight flourescents in them. I was going to 'play' with them this weekend and get a permanent jewelry photo area setup.

That's what I was thinking. ~~ Sooz

Yep. Like I said, it's a perception thing for me. I like my studio to look nice and neat...not that I achieve it...but some things help.

That is exactly the one I plan on purchasing. You have good taste Ms. Tink.

I think your photography's great already. I wish mine was that good!

Charlie.

I've seen that - and while I think it looks like a fine piece of equipment, I honestly think it's unnecessary - especially given the price. I personally can get pictures just as clear and crisp without spending $275. All you need is a marginally decent digital camera, some small table lamps, some wood, some white fabric, some white typing paper and photo editing software.

Your pics always look marvelous, and these are no exception. That orange vessel is stupendous! I wouldn't worry too much about having a "cheesy" setup, since the key is that it WORKS.

You might try 5000k lightbulbs; they're cheap and a better approximation of daylight than Reveal bulbs. (Did you know the secret to "full-spectrum" incandescents is that the glass is made with neodymium, the same stuff that makes the color-shifting lavenders? The lavender color reintroduces ultraviolet to the light spectrum. Neodymium is also one of the two oxides used to make didymium glass.)

Anyway, you can get 5000k and 5100k (functionally the same) compact fluorescents at buylighting.com for pretty cheap.

I was also thinking that you might take your Tink Powder to a sympathetic chemist, because whatever it is has uses other than being sprinkled on beads, and therefore other industries are using it for something. A friendly chemist may be able to identify the composition, and possibly even order more for you... and then you'd have a local raw source. If you don't have a friendly chemist, cultivate one, because they're useful! I am fortunate enough to have a friend who went into chemistry, and she obtains all sorts of delights for me to play with, and advises me on their toxicity before I stick them in fire.

-Kalera

T> Thanks, everyone! I really appreciate the input!

I noticed that you can buy the light tent seperately for only $55, which seems like a pretty good deal.

-Kalera

Lori Greenberg wrote:

$229 at this site: