Diffusion Media
Quite often while shooting gemstones the resulting light reflection will give a burned or very hot look to the stone and will produce overexposed facets in the photograph. I find this happens a bit more on lighter gems as opposed to dark ones but with light or dark stones I use almost exclusively some type of diffusion media on each and every one of my shots.
Color is King in the colored gemstone world and I suppose you could describe lighting as the Queen in photography. There are many variables. Lighting boxes, tents, reflectors, mirrors, photo surfaces, lighting control, color temperature, camera sensors – you name it, the list is long. To keep things simple this is a discussion of one small item. Diffusion, and although I have numerous approaches to controlling light and diffusion this is specifically just one type or method that I have been regularly using.
My photo set up can be best described as “Mickey Mouse” I suppose, literally held together with duct tape and broken clamps. I’m not a professional photographer and even so my guess is that this is the norm in the field. I do not have a regular set up, but compose the shot for almost each and every stone I shoot – they are all different. That said, with experience, I have learned a few short cuts. I also do not really care what it takes to get a good shot, as long as the shot is good, and honest to the stone.
I imagine that many cutters who want to market stones online with a photo set up will gravitate to a one look solution. This can be an advantage to the feel of your product and website. Look around at various sites and you will see a range of backgrounds and techniques. The disadvantage is a general photo set up will not work with all stones all the time. I try to utilize this to the maximum in my own personal work. I’ll experiment with different backdrops and lighting arrangements until I find the look that best, to my eye, showcases the stone.
The bulk of my photography is currently done with four lights, although I have recently found a need to add a fifth – my next improvement. I sometimes use a diffusion cone (developed from the “ubiquitos” cut up milk jug that found it’s way to other photography websites – that’s a different discussion), and with or without the cone, four different sheets of clearprint, one for each light. Sometimes the use of the clearprint varies but generally the clearprint drafting paper is taped right on to the lighting instrument – sometimes simply dangling in front of it. Needless to say do not catch the paper on fire, I’ve come close.
So is this diffusion good or bad? I generally find I use it more often than not. There are modifications too. A small circle can be cut right in the center of the paper, permitting a hotter bit of light to come through, this is a trick used in the theatre to soften the edges of a particular light on stage. I’m lucky that I live within a few miles of Pixar Studios, right next to Pixar is a theatrical supply company with probably fifty or more different options for theatrical diffusion gel, from various companies. One sheet measures roughly 18 x 30 inches and will cost in the range of $7-$10. I look forward to experimenting with these different media. There really is quite an amazing range of control possibilities here. No secrets. I’ll report any great finds on these pages, unless someone beats me to it.
The use of diffusion is not complicated or mysterious; it’s simply a way to control the quality of the lighting. Who hasn’t considered a cloudy or sunny day outdoors for capturing that perfect gem shot? Clouds could be considered a large diffusion screen. Of course most everyday diffusion solutions can alter color temperature – again another discussion.
Clearprint is a specific brand drafting paper. I have used this quite well as a projection surface on stage in the past and it’s designed to transmit light when producing blueline prints of drawings. It is fairly efficient for softening lighting and a low-tech solution as well. I believe you can buy it by the sheet at almost any art store. I’m sure there are also other substitutes, only limited by your creativity. (Watch for color shift though.)
Don’t force this to work for you, but do give it a quick try at least, start with what’s practical and what’s on hand. Do not chase the tech specs, simply look at your finished photo and decide if this one small diffusion option improves your shots and continue on from there.
