Photographing wood turnings

[Bill Boehme]

Very cool looking ring -- looks like wood grain at that size.

My experience with T-S lenses is zilch, but I saw an article yesterday in Photoshop User that had impressive results for some architectural (perspective) and close up (DOF) shots. I can easily believe that they are "fiddly".

 

[John Jordan]

another way to get a fade background. This was shot on glass with a polarizer to eliminate the reflection. Then a fade background that my boss created in photoshop was printed on 11x14 paper. I place that about 2 feet behind the glass so I can light it separately and control how black it gets. The distance also throws any lines from the printer out of focus so you don't see those.
Since I shot this ring from a low angle I only needed the swings of the bellows to get enough DOF. Lighting Damascus can be trick especially with a glass surface to contend with. You can't put reflectors anywhere you need them because they will be reflected in the glass.

That's an awesome photo, John (of a nice piece) 🙂

John

 

[Steve Worcester]

I must need a better polarizer, mine gives a softer focus than if it is off.

Anyone use fluorescents to light yet? Color temps are daylight balanced now and lighting kits with 4-5 bulb heads with a single switch for individual bulbs are becoming commonplace. I want to get away from the hot lights of photo floods and tungstens.

 

[Bill Boehme]

I must need a better polarizer, mine gives a softer focus than if it is off.

Anyone use fluorescents to light yet? Color temps are daylight balanced now and lighting kits with 4-5 bulb heads with a single switch for individual bulbs are becoming commonplace. I want to get away from the hot lights of photo floods and tungstens.

Steve, is it a standard polarizer or a newer circular polarizer (not referring to the shape, but the way it works)? Many, if not most, digital cameras along with some newer film cameras have problems with the standard polarizers. The problems occurred with AF not being reliable with standard polarizers and sometimes exposure readings are affected.

I have not used fluorescent bulbs, but they might be OK if they have a high CRI. I am still concerned about the non-uniform spectral content of fluorescents resulting in metamerism. Also, fluorescent bulbs continuously change their color temperature, but then so do tungsten bulbs to a lesser extent. Hot lights are a pain and they have a very short life if they are the really high wattage ones. I also had the glass melt on one recently -- a really surprising event. I am glad that it did not shatter.