Shooting Jewelry,

[fortanelli]

Okay, i have a task here to shoot some jewelry. I have never done this before. So i really honestly do not have much of a clue on what to do, or use.

So what i am asking is for some ideas on how to setup for it, what settings to use on the camera, and lights, and if you have pictures of a setup, then please share them along with maybe a picture you took of something using that setup.

Just need to get it right. So far i have been shooting with a light above with a 5' octagon softbox, and a white reflector bouncing light so to not to get to many shadows on the bottom. Background is black, bottom is black. The stand where the jewelry is on is white.

When i take the picture, it looks good, but i am getting a slight pink tint. Why, i really do not know since there is nothing pink in, or around the picture.

Using f/8.0 @ 125th
White Balance = Auto
Center Weighed
Manual Focus
Nikon D200

Any help is much appreciated.

[SteveB]

Never use auto white balance in this type of setup. Go to full manual and adjust.

Your best bet when shooting this type of subject is to pick up a small light tent. Maybe someone has a picture of one???

[Jim Peters]

I Agree With the Above.Also When Shooting Anything Metalic,One Rule Never Changes.
ALWAYS REFLECT LIGHT FROM A LARGE WHITE CARD.No Mater What Color That Your Bkg Is It will Reflect Into The Metal.I Use A Large Piece Of White Foam Board.You can Also Build A Tent of White Foamcore Around Your Subject, Just Outside Of Camera Range.Tip It,Tilt It.Experment! the Same Tecnique Can be Used To light Up A Glass Of BEER.Use A Small White Piece of Foam Board,Or A White Card Just Behind The Glass.Tilted Back, To reflect The Light!
Have Fun!
JP

[fortanelli]

Ahh, so no auto WB, and don't shoot the flash directly on the subject.
I had no clue. I was firing the strobe directly onto the subject.

When you mean use Manual WB, would you mean setting the kelvin?

[Arbib]

Originally Posted by fortanelli

Ahh, so no auto WB, and don't shoot the flash directly on the subject.
I had no clue. I was firing the strobe directly onto the subject.

When you mean use Manual WB, would you mean setting the kelvin?

depends on your camera, on how to take a Custom WB shot to use as a guide.

on my previous OLY E510, I can use my "funtion" button as a "one step" WB...I push it in, and the camera will use the next exosure as a WB guide..take a picture of a white card IN the light you are using..Don't worry about EC. Use that photo as your custom WB. Check your Camera manual for exact directions.

[fortanelli]

Ok, excellent. I was just wondering if he meant by setting the kelvin, or custom WB. So custom WB it is. I will give that a try tonight and see what i get out of it. I will post a test shot here.

[fortanelli]

Here is one sample. Almost got it. Close, but still think i need to work on it some more.