AboutMartin Seymour Expertise I have worked in most aspects of still photography, using film and the wet process for 50 years. Employing all film formats 35mm to 8x10 sizes, I went over partly to digital cameras in 02, also PC editing of pictures.
I still find film work more demanding , as you have to get it right at the start with no auto settings on the camera to cover my mistakes.
Pictorial work is my personal interest.
Its is not a good idea for me to suggest a particular make of equipment just a type, and its uses.
Experience
Past/Present clients Ricardo eng. watercraft, IBM
100,000 members of the public.
Expert: Martin Seymour Date: 1/29/2006 Subject: photographing jewellery
Question I have a Canon 20D digital camera. When I take pictures of individual pieces of jewellery, although I have them on a solid shiny white block (for reflections), the background colour comes as grey.
I have manually set the white balance but still the same problem occurs.
What am I doing wrong and how can I best go about getting the white background? Editing in Photoshop doesn't help too much as it washes out the background but also the reflection of the jewellery which I would like to retain.
Answer have a Canon 20D digital camera. When I take pictures of individual
pieces of jewellery, although I have them on a solid shiny white block
(for reflections), the background colour comes as grey.
I have manually set the white balance but still the same problem occurs.
What am I doing wrong and how can I best go about getting the white
background? Editing in Photoshop doesn't help too much as it washes out
the background but also the reflection of the jewellery which I would like
to retain.
Hi ?
Possibly it’s the lighting, what type are you using. –Daylight / bulbs / flash/ tubes? The white balance must be set to match this !!!
Also the exposure can affect this result – the correct exposure for the subject is not necessarily the correct for the background!
You may have to compromise with the exposure sounds as though the meter in the camera is seeing too much of the background--assume that you are using the auto settings.
Make a note of the exposure on auto, then switch to manual and make adjustment to the exposure
Some above the original and some below, write them all down. But remember to only make one change at a time or you will not now were you are.
Good luck. Martin.
this was first answered some time ago must have got lost!!
