Focus on Jewellery

Here are just a couple of test product shots. First is the original. And then after putting them on top of a door snake with floral prints. And why not try a simple white / cream background. 

Macro Experiment

I don't have a macro lens... Mmm, not exactly true because I do have a budget Nikon 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED lens, which is a micro lens, thanks to my mother in-law. Here is a little trick a friend taught me. Thank you very much Bronson! It is done by coupling a 85mm f/1.4 with a 50mm f/1.4 together back to front.

A word of caution: The 85mm has a much larger (77mm) filter thread compared with the 50mm, which is 52mm. So, don't just put them together because that will almost guarantee to scratch your quality optics. I got a cheap (52mm to 77mm) step-up ring which make them "click" together like a perfect match made in heaven. Thank God the ring only cost about $2, not bad at all for this interesting experiment.

I was amazed of the speed this was taken. Considering it was done indoors with no special light, just dim energy efficient ceiling fluors.. no natural light (because it was almost 2am in the morning as you can see..). At ISO 3200, the shutter speed was 1/125sec at f/1.4 (on both lens). Focusing distance was no more than 2cm. Handheld and half manual focus because the 50mm is not even attached... FYI, the word CASIO is almost exactly 4mm long. No crop, sharpening or any kind of enhancements.

Hope you like it. Here is another - the back of a phone card. As you can see, the vignetting is very pronounced, but that worked like a treat with the watch which is black!

Enjoy! :D


Update 2010/09/26
I enjoyed this experiment so much that I had to try it again today... Same subject but this time with more thought about light. This is taken at iso 200, 1/100s, f/1.4 (f/2.8). Click on the pic for hi-res version.


I should have cleaned the watch first.. :P

SOLVIL ET TITUS

I am writing this at the hospital next to dad. He is kinda watching TV or dozing off to sleep. Mum and sis are not here yet. I am missing yet another BSF class this evening where my wife is (at the girls group) right now.

I gave dad a SOLVIL ET TITUS watch more than 10 years ago and he gave me a very similar one (same brand, similar look, gold face instead of white, etc) a couple of years after that (of course out of several that he has bought for me over the years).

The steel watchband used to be too long so I took out a few "blocks" or "links" (not sure what you call them). I am the kind of person who puts away his best stuff and not use them untli much later (or never as it turns out for some)...

Anyway, my very old (Citizen) watch's battery died. So, I thought I would put a new battery in the SOLVIL ET TITUS and give it some use before the dead battery inside (yep, it also had a flat battery inside) leaked. The bracelet is now too short but was bearable. A couple of months has passed and summer has arrived, it has become too tight and uncomfortable to wear (I am sure I haven't put on weight).

Thank God that mum found the "blocks" I took out so I put a couple back in. Now it is a bit loose but it is really good. Just got to be careful not to scratch the camera or lens with it and vice versa. Very happy about it. Thanks dad. :)

Couldn't find any good link to SOLVIL ET TITUS. If you know of one, please let me know. Thanks!

PS, my Citizen watch, while not a Eco-Drive Chronograph** type, it served me many years and still going strong if not for the flat battery. It is accurate and reliable.

**Citizen Eco-Drive Chronograph