Waste of an afternoon

A little while ago I took some photos of an amethyst.

The son made a comment that this shot had some potential, if I could get rid of the background and just show the green crystals:

I always do what my son suggests, so this afternoon I set out to get a “crystals only” shot. This involved a long session with a pair of scissors, black tape and black plastic; to isolate the crystals from the rest of the geode. Then I needed to set the geode so I could shine a light in from the side, so out came the blue pipe again. Then I realised I had to photograph the thing from above, which required some delicate tripod manipulation. Finally, everything was set up and off we went to take some photos.

Phone

Whatever I did, I could not make the crystals green. After half an hour of trying, I ripped off all the carefully applied masking and tried setting it up as it had been a week ago. Still nothing green. An hour later I ripped my finger open on jagged crystal, and as blood spurted all over the table; I gave up.

I bet Henri Cartier-Bresson never had problems like this; but then he never managed any decent amethyst shots either.

Comments 🔗

2012-09-04 | Jock says

Spike don´t be too despondant .. did some Google searches for Green Amethyst photos and came across this …

´green amethyst is artificially formed by treating the stone with heat´

You do I presume have a bunsen burner at home :-)

2012-09-04 | Pete says

I spy a doll in there. Put the redhead inside the arc of the crystals and no one would notice any reflections off the inside of the geode.

2012-09-04 | Grant says

When does the polo season start?

2012-09-05 | Craig says

Apart from a sore finger, did you wake up with fresh inspiration?

2012-09-05 | Grant says

Inspiration? He even forgot to take a photo of the bloodied table! Henri Cartier-Bresson would have used more blue pipe…

2012-09-05 | Wally says

The Sons suggestion was good, but instead of using black matte card hows about trying some black felt or sponge type material squished into the hole !

2012-09-06 | Spike says

The problem was reproducing the colour, not filling the hole. The offending rock has been returned to its owner; and my finger is still spontaneously bleeding. Never photographing amethysts again, they are unreliable, vicious little bastards.

2012-09-06 | Grant says

Quite unlike, for instance, hookers and polo ponies…