Photographing your beads

I'm glad that so many of us have found great partners - Shirley and
Jerri pop to mind instantly. (I don't have a lot of complaints,
either) I'll send happiness and matching up vibes to those who
haven't yet found the right partner.

Yep, having a great partner means the world of difference. Thank God there
was someone out there to love, spoil, and put up with me.

I can't make a
digital sing like a throw-away 35mm. Just won't happen. Again leg work
and
research are what it's all about. Then that time again to read the
manual
and play with all the buttons....

Oh, this will change - I promise! I am positive that with a little time
you
can make your digital camera sing. Then you will never want to go back to
35mm or scanner pics - at least where beads and jewelry are concerned.

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

I hope you are right about the jewelry photos. I think I've researched
everything to death and I'm just ready for my purchase.

Oh, DH sold the stock today and we'll have the money in the bank by next
week. Wahoo! The only two things I wanted was my extra oxycon and a
digital camera. Looks like I might have the funds for my oxycon without
touching the other money.

With digital cameras it's different. If you are wanting to take decent
photos of your jewelry you must have a decent camera.

That I respectfully disagree with. Any digital camera is fine, as long as
you have a macro and decent lighting. A photo editing program is a huge
plus and makes things so much easier.

Unfortunately not all macros are created equal. I do have a macro function
on my camera. However it has to be at least 7" away from the object to
semi-focus and on beads it makes a small photo. Grrrr. I do have a great
photo editor but you gotta have the right equipment too.

Most of the new cameras have a better macro feature than my older camera and
I think you are right on point with the newer ones. And yes, a digital
editor is always good....but I'm a snot and want perfect photos from only
one shot and no monkeying. (I know it's not always that way.)

Thank goodness not everyone is snotty like me. There is only room enough
for a few of us on this ng. :-p

Lori I can't see this as being a bad thing and not unpopular in my eyes.

"Lori Greenberg" wrote in message
nk.net...
I can't believe I missed this thread. I have lots of opinions on a
lot
of aspects of what's been said and I know they're not popular.

I have to say off the bat though that one thing that I feel bothered about
are situations that are brought up in the name of other people or
colleagues
without specifics. I'm not talking about names or quotes, I'm talking
about
generalizations of the situation and other information coming out later.
Doing that just doesn't leave the door open enough for people to comment
or
know what really was said. It also leaves the door open so that when
someone *does* respond, that more information is pulled out and things are
said like, you don't know but these people are demanding or nasty. That's
a
long cry from contacting fellow beadmakers asking for tips. People are
caught then. I hope that makes sense.

As for asking for tips, maybe it can be seen as rude to ask, but I'm one
that is usually willing to help. So, it's not seen as rude to
everyone...only those that don't want to answer or are uncomfortable
saying
no. I won't walk you through the steps to get the exact bead I make or
the
pictures I most likely will take the time to help you with something
you're
stuck on. I also know that I the full right to say "no".

I would hope that any 'competition' that wants to ask me for help or tips
would be enough behind me in that area that by the time they got to where
I
was, I would be on to the next thing. I know how long it took me to
figure
out how to get good pictures and I know how many people were instrumental
in
helping me. Some from asking about it, some from articles and internet
searching, etc. I know that if someone asks me for help with something,
the
step by step I could give them is still not going to be their answer. It
just isn't that simple.

I've been known to sit down and take a lot of time typing out instructions
for someone on how to program their kiln, specifically. I also wrote an
article for WC! that references other articles and then shows you step by
step how to eliminate the background from your images. I don't think
someone getting better pictures of their own beads is going to hurt me. I
don't see other lampworkers as competition in the sense that it will hurt
me
either. I see it as motivation to do better. There are a lot of other
factors that need to be in line for someone to be able to hurt my
business,
like, making beads just like me, with the same skill, accuracy and timing,
a
sense of color, web presence, customer base, ability to come up with new
things...I could go on and on. None of these things are easy to get or
learn and they're not all natural. Also, for all of them to be aligned at
the same time is a feat. Artists don't always sit down and just whip out
something aesthically pleasing. It takes work to put it all together.

Ok, that's enough for now. But, in response to "are you thinking at
ALL????" I would have to say no, because I didn't realize that people
felt
so threatened by requests for help and if they are, I feel bad for them.
My
question would be, "do you realize at all that you can just say NO?" When
I
ask for help I am in no way doing it so I can hurt the person I'm asking.
It would be a different story if I was asking so I could duplicate what
you
were doing and take it from you and put you out of business.

I can't stop. It's interesting to me how people will say how helpful and
tight the beading/beadmaking community is and then get upset when someone
asks for help.

Here goes.....send.....


--
--------------------------------------
Lori Greenberg
www.beadnerd.com
ebay:

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...id=lorigre en
berg


"Dr. Sooz" wrote in message
...
This has come to my attention.....not because anyone here asked in the
last
week, but because of those who contact their fellow beadmakers asking
for
tips.

If you don't know how to photograph your beads, learn. Google it.
Research
it. Do NOT email fellow jewelry-makers or lampworkers, asking them how
to
do
it.

How in the world do you get the nerve to ask them to teach you how?
Does
Angelina Jolie give lessons on how to be sexy to J.Lo? Hell NO. They
are
COMPETITORS. Does Usher give Justin Timberlake tips on how to have a
hit
record? NO! They are COMPETITORS.

How can you ask someone who's competing with you for customers to help
you
do
this? Don't you realize you're asking them how to make you a BIGGER
THREAT to
their income?

SERIOUSLY. Are you even thinking at ALL???????? Do you go to the
girlfriend
of the guy you like, and ask her, "How can I get him to be MY boyfriend?
What
does he like in bed?"
~~
Sooz

Kathy N-V wrote:
I'm glad that so many of us have found great partners - Shirley and
Jerri pop to mind instantly. (I don't have a lot of complaints,
either) I'll send happiness and matching up vibes to those who
haven't yet found the right partner.
^^^^^^^

Um...mind if I change that to "partner(s)"?

Just wanna slip in an acknowledgement to my bf, too. Another great guy
so I'm doubly happy. Seven years together next week!

Cheers,
Carla

Lori:

I like your reply to this thread. I have disagreed with much of it, but
agree with you.

I don't take the best pictures, but they are OK. The best tips, outside
light and a tripod.

Lara


"Lori Greenberg" wrote in message
nk.net...
I can't believe I missed this thread. I have lots of opinions on a
lot
of aspects of what's been said and I know they're not popular.

I have to say off the bat though that one thing that I feel bothered about
are situations that are brought up in the name of other people or
colleagues
without specifics. I'm not talking about names or quotes, I'm talking
about
generalizations of the situation and other information coming out later.
Doing that just doesn't leave the door open enough for people to comment
or
know what really was said. It also leaves the door open so that when
someone *does* respond, that more information is pulled out and things are
said like, you don't know but these people are demanding or nasty. That's
a
long cry from contacting fellow beadmakers asking for tips. People are
caught then. I hope that makes sense.

As for asking for tips, maybe it can be seen as rude to ask, but I'm one
that is usually willing to help. So, it's not seen as rude to
everyone...only those that don't want to answer or are uncomfortable
saying
no. I won't walk you through the steps to get the exact bead I make or
the
pictures I most likely will take the time to help you with something
you're
stuck on. I also know that I the full right to say "no".

I would hope that any 'competition' that wants to ask me for help or tips
would be enough behind me in that area that by the time they got to where
I
was, I would be on to the next thing. I know how long it took me to
figure
out how to get good pictures and I know how many people were instrumental
in
helping me. Some from asking about it, some from articles and internet
searching, etc. I know that if someone asks me for help with something,
the
step by step I could give them is still not going to be their answer. It
just isn't that simple.

I've been known to sit down and take a lot of time typing out instructions
for someone on how to program their kiln, specifically. I also wrote an
article for WC! that references other articles and then shows you step by
step how to eliminate the background from your images. I don't think
someone getting better pictures of their own beads is going to hurt me. I
don't see other lampworkers as competition in the sense that it will hurt
me
either. I see it as motivation to do better. There are a lot of other
factors that need to be in line for someone to be able to hurt my
business,
like, making beads just like me, with the same skill, accuracy and timing,
a
sense of color, web presence, customer base, ability to come up with new
things...I could go on and on. None of these things are easy to get or
learn and they're not all natural. Also, for all of them to be aligned at
the same time is a feat. Artists don't always sit down and just whip out
something aesthically pleasing. It takes work to put it all together.

Ok, that's enough for now. But, in response to "are you thinking at
ALL????" I would have to say no, because I didn't realize that people
felt
so threatened by requests for help and if they are, I feel bad for them.
My
question would be, "do you realize at all that you can just say NO?" When
I
ask for help I am in no way doing it so I can hurt the person I'm asking.
It would be a different story if I was asking so I could duplicate what
you
were doing and take it from you and put you out of business.

I can't stop. It's interesting to me how people will say how helpful and
tight the beading/beadmaking community is and then get upset when someone
asks for help.

Here goes.....send.....


--
--------------------------------------
Lori Greenberg
www.beadnerd.com
ebay:

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...id=lorigre en
berg


"Dr. Sooz" wrote in message
...
This has come to my attention.....not because anyone here asked in the
last
week, but because of those who contact their fellow beadmakers asking
for
tips.

If you don't know how to photograph your beads, learn. Google it.
Research
it. Do NOT email fellow jewelry-makers or lampworkers, asking them how
to
do
it.

How in the world do you get the nerve to ask them to teach you how?
Does
Angelina Jolie give lessons on how to be sexy to J.Lo? Hell NO. They
are
COMPETITORS. Does Usher give Justin Timberlake tips on how to have a
hit
record? NO! They are COMPETITORS.

How can you ask someone who's competing with you for customers to help
you
do
this? Don't you realize you're asking them how to make you a BIGGER
THREAT to
their income?

SERIOUSLY. Are you even thinking at ALL???????? Do you go to the
girlfriend
of the guy you like, and ask her, "How can I get him to be MY boyfriend?
What
does he like in bed?"
~~
Sooz

You're right about differing macro functions. I went through 3 camera stores
and a lot of frustration before I found one that worked well for me. (I
still love my Canon AE-1 with all the special effects lenses but I'm using
it less and less now.) My Olympus has a super macro. Most of my pix are shot
at a max distance of 5 inches. I've been playing with super closeups of 2"
just to grab cool details and my pix are bright and crisp, needing very
little editing.

There are WAY different definitions of "macro" that's for sure.

I thought I'd lost this website, but I found it yesterday while clearing out
some stray links. Excellent reviews IMO:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/best_cameras.html

KarenK

Kandice Seeber wrote:
And of course, asking on a forum like this one is totally different from
asking via email.

Thank you. I was beginning to think I'd done something
terribly wrong and that I had misjudged this group.

Lisa

Yeah. Good luck with that. LOL!

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

but I'm a snot and want perfect photos from only
one shot and no monkeying. (I know it's not always that way.)

I can't believe I missed this thread. I have lots of opinions on a
lot
of aspects of what's been said and I know they're not popular.

That's okay - it's good to have a debate once in awhile. Here's goes.....

I have to say off the bat though that one thing that I feel bothered about
are situations that are brought up in the name of other people or
colleagues
without specifics. I'm not talking about names or quotes, I'm talking
about
generalizations of the situation and other information coming out later.
Doing that just doesn't leave the door open enough for people to comment
or
know what really was said. It also leaves the door open so that when
someone *does* respond, that more information is pulled out and things are
said like, you don't know but these people are demanding or nasty. That's
a
long cry from contacting fellow beadmakers asking for tips. People are
caught then. I hope that makes sense.

Sure, makes sense. Although I can't really comment on it because I didn't
start the thread. I do however identify with the thread.

As for asking for tips, maybe it can be seen as rude to ask, but I'm one
that is usually willing to help. So, it's not seen as rude to
everyone...only those that don't want to answer or are uncomfortable
saying
no. I won't walk you through the steps to get the exact bead I make or
the
pictures I most likely will take the time to help you with something
you're
stuck on. I also know that I the full right to say "no".

True. And I want to make clear that I personally don't always say no - I
sometimes help if I have the time. But I get emails like this every single
day.

I would hope that any 'competition' that wants to ask me for help or tips
would be enough behind me in that area that by the time they got to where
I
was, I would be on to the next thing.

I would hope so, too, but with photography, that's not true much of the
time. At least in my case.

I know how long it took me to figure
out how to get good pictures and I know how many people were instrumental
in
helping me. Some from asking about it, some from articles and internet
searching, etc. I know that if someone asks me for help with something,
the
step by step I could give them is still not going to be their answer. It
just isn't that simple.

I've been known to sit down and take a lot of time typing out instructions
for someone on how to program their kiln, specifically. I also wrote an
article for WC! that references other articles and then shows you step by
step how to eliminate the background from your images. I don't think
someone getting better pictures of their own beads is going to hurt me. I
don't see other lampworkers as competition in the sense that it will hurt
me
either. I see it as motivation to do better. There are a lot of other
factors that need to be in line for someone to be able to hurt my
business,
like, making beads just like me, with the same skill, accuracy and timing,
a
sense of color, web presence, customer base, ability to come up with new
things...I could go on and on. None of these things are easy to get or
learn and they're not all natural. Also, for all of them to be aligned at
the same time is a feat. Artists don't always sit down and just whip out
something aesthically pleasing. It takes work to put it all together.

Yes, but that all doesn't change the fact that there are more and more and
more people learning how to make beads, and therefore more and more people
emailing us for tips. At what point can you just put a stop to it? Are you
going to be able to keep on helping everyone? Why not just write a book?
No, because there just isn't time, if you want to keep making beads. And as
far as competition goes, I do believe that pics are one thing an artist can
do to stand out, among other things. Standing out is becoming more and more
necessary in our field. 5 or 6 years ago, one could make a moderately
detailed bead, take a mediocre picure of it, stick it on ebay and it would
get tons of bids, because there wasn't much competition. These days that
just is not the case anymore. One has to stand out. If I teach everyone in
the field how to take pictures exactly like I do, I will not stand out as
much. It does make me want to do better - this is true. And I need time for
that! Time that I have been spending typing out replies to emails asking
for help lately. And it's not just photography. But since photography is
what this is about, I'd better stay on topic.

Ok, that's enough for now. But, in response to "are you thinking at
ALL????" I would have to say no, because I didn't realize that people
felt
so threatened by requests for help and if they are, I feel bad for them.
My
question would be, "do you realize at all that you can just say NO?" When
I
ask for help I am in no way doing it so I can hurt the person I'm asking.
It would be a different story if I was asking so I could duplicate what
you
were doing and take it from you and put you out of business.

I don't feel threatened. I feel frazzled. I feel spread too thin. I've
had to scale back on the amount of work I have been doing because I need to
breathe. And I guess that's my own personal take on it, which I am totally
fine about if others don't understand it. I guess the thread just hit a
nerve that's all. And of course, that's happening a lot lately. Vacation
to the Mediterranean anyone?

I can't stop. It's interesting to me how people will say how helpful and
tight the beading/beadmaking community is and then get upset when someone
asks for help.

Well, I still help a lot of people. Look at my website and all the tips and
tricks posted there. I post in forums to help out as well - all the time.
Maybe I should stop?

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net