Pearls on white

[JonathanRyan]

I've been photographing some jewellery lately. All is going well but I'm hitting an issue with pearls on a white b/g.

Take a look at the snap below.

See the row of pearls? It looks like they have been split in two. I know this is caused by the light coming up from the b/g lighting them differently from the light coming from the top. Any suggestions on how to avoid this?

All I can think of is
1. Balance the light VERY carefully which seems like it would be pretty hard (overall I'm happy with the lighting)
2. Fix it in post. Which sounds like a dull afternoon.

 

[vaizki]

I'd shoot it without a reflecting "floor" and add he reflection in post instead... or even combine 2 exposures.

 

[Kev M]

Are you lighting from underneath or it just the reflection from the glass?

Could you put a load more white card up around the sides and top so that you get the same reflection over more of the surface of the pearls?

Which is more important, the colour of the pearls in the top or bottom half?

Does the background have to be white? Would grey or black work better in terms of controlling the reflections or does the customer only want white?

 

[Garry Edwards]

1. Buy my still life tutorial
2. Don't shoot it on a white background. Shoot it on a glass/perspex base suspended/on stilts on top of a white background, with as much space as possible between the base and the background. Light the background from an acute angle so that the light doesn't bounce upwards. Job done.

 

[JonathanRyan]

Thanks Garry. Step 2 makes a lot of sense. And removes the need for step 1

@Vaisiki - I've just seen too many pics on Photoshop Disasters to want to fake a reflection...

@Kev - yep has to be white. Works best for magazine layout. Black looks awesome for web. Grey is just "meh"

 

[Garry Edwards]

Step 2 makes a lot of sense. And removes the need for step 1

QUOTE]
Step 1 makes a lot of sense to me
And if you follow step 1 you'll have the answers to questions that you haven't even asked...