[meteorite-list] Photo color issue update - colored scale cubes

From: Meteorites USA <eric_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 10:29:52 -0700
Message-ID: <4BF96610.7060707_at_meteoritesusa.com>

Hi List,

With all due respect Steve, normally you would be right. About
traditional art photography, or perhaps editorials, or such.... But
we're not talking about editorials or art. Or at least I'm not.

I'm referring to the industry standard in "product photography" online.
I would guesstimate maybe 99% of ALL retail catalogs online have white
backgrounds for their product precisely because it adds greater contrast
and provides a sharper, clearer image, with more accurate color visually
to the consumer/viewer. If you don't like white, don't use white, it's
all personal preference. In my opinion of course...White ROCKS! And
white works... I've been in business online for over 10 years and we
would clip our product images backgrounds out completely. We've done
market tests "with backgrounds" and "without backgrounds". We've
experimented with all sorts of solid colored backgrounds as well, and
white backgrounds always pull a higher response rate.

Again, I think it comes down to personal preference as Anne spoke of
earlier. I love other background colors, blues, reds, greens, grays...
One of the biggest "No nos" in the industry is using a mottled or "busy"
background for your subject. It detracts from the object being
photographed and the eye has a very hard time discerning the subject
from the background.

I will agree however that a polarizing filter and/or a gray background
will bring out detail, but one with skill with the camera can do this
with any solid color background IF proper white balancing is used.

Contrast is good, in my opinion.

Regards,
Eric

On 5/23/2010 9:42 AM, Steve Dunklee wrote:
> photography is always an experiment. It usualy takes many exposures to get an acceptable pic. Having a white background for a dark object is a photographic no no! Its like trying to photograph the moon and expect to see the stars around it. Too much contrast! If you use a grey background and develope as if it is white you get much more detail. I have been realy sloppy with my meteorite photos and can do much better. A polarizing filter used properly can cut out the scale cube problem. have a great day! Steve
>
> On Sat May 22nd, 2010 8:43 PM EDT Michael Blood wrote:
>
>
>> I've had some very positive flashes over the years....
>> Michael
>>
>>
>> On 5/17/10 4:05 AM, "Met. Michael Gilmer"<meteoritemike at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Hi Peter and Greg,
>>>
>>> I've never used the flash a single time when taking meteorite photos.
>>> Flash is evil.
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>> MikeG
>>>
>>>
>>> On 5/17/10, Peter Scherff<peterscherff at rcn.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Greg,
>>>>
>>>> Have you tried taking the photos in manual mode? I see that you had
>>>> your FinePix S1000fd in auto white balance& auto flash. I believe if you
>>>> set the values yourself you will be able to recreate the look of the photo
>>>> you like even when using the scale cube.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Peter
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
>>>> [mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Greg
>>>> Catterton
>>>> Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2010 10:06 PM
>>>> To: Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>>>> Subject: [meteorite-list] Photo color issue update - colored scale cubes
>>>>
>>>> I am pretty certain the issue is being caused now by my scale cube...
>>>> See pictures below, one is with a blue cube, one is without.
>>>> No other editing or anything has been done. Only change is removing the
>>>> scale cube... guess I am now in the market for a new cube that wont do this.
>>>>
>>>> .92g Karoonda with cube
>>>> http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c165/jedisdiamond/Karoonda92g2.jpg
>>>>
>>>> .92g Karoonda without the cube
>>>> http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c165/jedisdiamond/Karoonda92g.jpg
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for all the input from everyone.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Greg Catterton
>>>> www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com
>>>> IMCA member 4682
>>>> On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>
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Received on Sun 23 May 2010 01:29:52 PM PDT