


Catalog of rings with colored gems. "Atelier Mousson". Bangkok, Tailand

The complicated relief of the ikon demands the same light set
as a regular portrait of two persons, with the natural distribution of lights and shadows, but its miniature size and silver surface, much more reflective
than human skin, makes the mission hardly possible :)



Hand-carved cameos on cultured agate. Michael Peuster. Idar-Oberstein, Germany




In case of big colored gemstones a photographer has to solve numerous tasks, caused by their nature itself. For example, sapphires of good saturated color often are dark enough, especially in case of the invisible or blind stone setting (on the right photo) when the cut isn't lighted.
This photo was shot with the use of microscope’s fiber optic mounted on the photo flash.
The ring with sapphires. "Atelier Mousson". Bangkok, Tailand

The stone cutting miniatures — small sculptures of jewelry materials. All problems of gemstone photographing (to represent their depth, optical characteristic, true color) are complemented with necessarity to show volume, relief, to keep proportions.
The solution — usage of tilt-shift optics, and multiple picturing. But I try to shoot at least one general photo, which more or less represents the "general idea", spirit of the creature.
In this photo I’ve added several light reflexes which probably makes more difficult understanding of the micro relief, but emphasizes its general shape and volume.
The jade fish. Anton Ananiev, St. Petersburg, Russia


The play of the diamond — sort of chromatic dispersion. In well cut brilliant we can see all colors of rainbow, but photographer usually can show in his picture no more than four colors (if he is congenial to the diamond).
I succeeded to show three colors, but as well I had to show the gold curving, so I find myself brilliant enough.