Okay I am passed frustrated

[skiptomylu]

I just can't seem to get good pictures of chenille with the crystal in it. Example this pic is white chenille speckled with Pearl Crystal, but you can hardly see the crystal? The bad part is I took probably 10-12 pics and this was the best and had to darken it some.

Skip

[OKSTATEjiggy]

Skip,

how are you lighting the jig?

[skiptomylu]

Skip,

how are you lighting the jig?

I have the room over head flo light and then I have my tying lamp which I try to move off some to cut down how bright it is.

Skip

[OKSTATEjiggy]

hmmm... maybe you could mount a maglight somewhere and light the jig with it, then adjust the intensity of the beam so that it captures the reflectivity of the material just right?

[skiptomylu]

I will try some different lights and see what happens. I have been tempted to buy a different tying light since the people that originally distribute my light no longer exist. Loved that piece of info, NOT!

Thanks!

Skip

[AtticaFish]

Don't know if this will help for you, but give it a whirl...

Try indirect lighting. If you look above the jig you can see the reflection of your light that appears to be the brightest thing in the photo. That bright spot affects the auto exposure and how bright the picture ends up & may be washing out the reflections in the krystal flash. Setup bright lights pointing away from the jig and directed at white cardboard, paper or something. I'm sure you have seen the umbrella shaped reflectors at a photo studio, but you don't need something that high tech. You may need 2 lights, 1 on each side... depends how bright the lights are. Also use a matte or dull finish for your background, the glossy finish makes the glare worse.

Plan B: This may be a quick fix and easy to try out... You may get better reflection if the material is sorta stacked up in more of a line. So instead of taking the picture from a 90 deg side angle, put your jig in your vise and angle the head a bit towards you. This does help with solid colors... gets a better spectrum with shadows and highlights spread out. Not sure how it will work to pick up very small reflections mixed in?? - AF

[skiptomylu]

AtticaFish you made me think of the planned studio.
You know I have had the plans for a picture studio if I can find it and was going to do this about 2 years ago and just never got to it. I bet that will help my problem.

Thanks guys,

Skip

[AtticaFish]

I have had the plans for a picture studio
Skip

Uh-oh... please don't tell your wife where I live!!!

Guess I am thinking pretty small scale, like an extra desk in the corner with a backdrop, a tripod... and some duct tape. I'd test the theory small scale with some poster board for light reflectors before you start the addition on to your house. AF

[AgriHawg]

A light diffuser would probably help a lot. I've been meaning to make one to try out myself but haven't yet. Essentially you shine your light through a white sheet. This diffuses the light, so you have nice even lighting and not a hard spot light.

[beenfishin?]

Hey Skip, just a thought. I tried different colored back drops. What do you think?