In Basic Photographic Lighting Techniques, I talked about the importance of soft lighting to help the camera show off the shape and texture of a subject. However, shiny subjects such as jewelry, flatware or metallic objects need even more diffused light to avoid harsh, glaring highlights.

For this, you need an even, surrounding light source. A photographic light tent is one way to create the proper conditions for your camera.

Photographic Light Tents

This lighting tool is used often by professional product photographers and commercially-made light tents have become popular with eBay sellers. You’ll see hundreds of these for sale if you do an eBay search for “light tent” in the Cameras and Photos category. Most of them are sold under some variation of the “Cube.” These are essentially small, white, cube-shaped tents with one side open to shoot into with a camera.

I haven’t used one of these small commercial light tents commonly sold on ebay mainly because I’m too cheap to pay for something that’s so easy to make myself.

Any light tent is simply a way to surround your subject with a translucent material which diffuses your light. You then evenly illuminate the outside of the light tent, typically with one light on either side of it. This is almost ideal lighting for photographing shiny stuff like jewelry.

The Milk Jug Light Tent

The simplest and cheapest form of light tent I know for small objects is a milk jug with the bottom cut off (you shoot through the neck or a hole cut in the side), like this…

This will work great for small items.

Moving up in size and cost, some of the things you can use are a large white plastic bowl; a translucent storage container; styrofoam sheets (glued together into a cube shape); a white sheet suspended over and around a table; translucent diffusion panels (you can make these yourself from PVC tubing to form rectangular frames with white cloth stretched over them); or even a large white tent.

My Dollar Store Light Tent

I mostly use a large plastic bowl I bought at a dollar store. It’s big enough for almost anything I shoot.

Jewelry Photography with a Light Tent

Jewelry can be beautiful, but it’s also one of the most difficult subjects for photography. On one small item, you can have many different surfaces such as smooth gold or silver, faceted gems and even textured engraving or filigree. These all reflect and refract light in different ways. And, since light is what we’re capturing when we take a photo, how we light each item will control how the final image looks.

Once again, a small light tent is all it takes in most cases to get jewelry to shine without glare. Here’s a detail shot of a gold necklace I sold a while ago on eBay…

And, I think a blue background worked well for this watch…

A watch such as that also has special lighting needs, mainly because of the flat face of the crystal which can reflect light and obscure the dial.

In this case, I had to carefully place a small spot of black paper inside my light tent, so that would be the area reflected by the crystal.

After I got this image onto my computer, I also sharpened it a bit in order to bring out the fire and sparkle of the diamonds.

Source: http://www.sigma-2.com/camerajim/cjgjewelry.htm

Fast Facts

-   The mineral zoisite was discovered around 1805 in the Austrian area by a Baron for whom it was named. It was usually brown in color, often nearly opaque.

-   The discovery by accident of the tanzanite version, in the late 1960’s was a great surprise in Tanzania Africa, where it was first thought to be sapphire crystals.

-   The name Tanzanite was coined by Tiffany who had first and exclusive rights to the pretty blue violet mineral for many years. 

-   Wearing a well-cut Tanzanite communicates self-confidence, individuality, and maturity. 

-   Its brilliant color and its exclusive origin in Tanzania combine to make Tanzanite a unique and highly sought after gemstone.

Characteristics

Tanzanite is a variety of zoisite. It has naturally occurring shades of blue, green, yellow, pink, brown and khaki but virtually all gemstone quality crystals are heat treated to produce the highly valued shades of sapphire blue, amethyst and blue violet. On Mohs’ scale of hardness, tanzanite is 6.5-7. The prime source of all the world’s tanzanite is in Tanzania near Arusha.

ColorTanzanite has naturally occurring shades of blue, green, yellow, pink, brown and khaki but virtually all gemstone quality crystals are heat treated to produce the highly valued shades of sapphire blue, amethyst and blue violet.

Enamel is also referred to as vitreous enamel or porcelain enamel which is commonly used in the US. The amount of work that is required in order to manufacture a good-looking enamel cufflink is quite surprising for starters, the enamel needs to be carefully melted at the right temperature in order to create a material comparable to glass and which has the hardness of a much stronger material, the enamel which is placed on cufflinks is reinforced by the beautiful metal which is used beneath it.

Once the powdered glass is melted at the right temperature it can then be combined with the main coloring agent which is a metallic oxide, the color of the enamel is determined by the amount of the materials used in the mixture and not by the amount of oxide. When it comes to cufflinks this material often projects a great sense of style and sophistication which can’t be achieved by wearing only metallic cufflinks.

Interesting facts about the enamel cufflinks:

Great Examples of Delicate Enamel Cufflinks are:

	NEW Square Red Enamel Cuff Links: these enamel cuff links are very elegant because they combine the futuristic look of rhodium as well as silver, Enamel is used to coat these fine materials in order to give them a glossy look.
	Classic Black Enamel Square Cuff Links: black is the color which brings out the most attractive features of enamel which is combine with silver in order to create the perfect cufflink.
	NEW Silver Superman Cuff Links: who doesn’t like the attractive Superman logo? — these cufflinks were designed specially for those who love this great superhero and want to enjoy the elegant look of the color black, silver and glossy enamel.
	Retro 1970’s Inspired Blue Enamel Cuff Links: back to basics or back to the future? — these blue cufflinks provide the best of both worlds, a feature a soothing tone of blue which is perfectly complemented with the smooth appearance that enamel gives to this material.

People who use this pink are said to be very passionate, sexy, confident and in some cases care-free. This last statement is used because the color pink is related to youth, a time when there was nothing to worry about and we lived happily. The tones of pink people use can project an aggressive personality or a softer more carrying one. Those who use this color are also believed to live a happy life.

The color pink is used in rooms in order to reduce erratic behavior, it is also linked to the exquisite New York fashion and punk urban styles which bring sexy back. When someone gives flowers pink blossoms are usually the favorite because the color is not very common and also because it represents passion and romance.

Interesting facts about the color pink:

Great Examples of Pink Cufflinks are:

	Stunning Pink Mother of Pearl Cuff Links: These are absolutely exquisite pink cufflinks which are rhodium-plated and have been polished to perfection, they feature several tones of pink which are sure to grab people’s attention.
	Curved Pink CZ Crystal Cuff Links: The many beautiful pink stones in these silver cufflinks is nothing less than elegant and sophisticated, they make a clear fashion statement.
	Pink & Pearl Silk Knot Cuff Links Trio: Small, delicate and extremely elegant. These cufflinks are made from real silk and the threads have been carefully intertwined, perfect for those who love simplicity.
	Pink Strawberry Silk Knot Cuff Links: Just like the Pink & Pearl Silk Knot trio, these full sized cufflinks are simple, elegant and are made with the most beautiful tone of pink silk you could find.

There are many tones of purple, in darker clearly defined purple tones this color helps people relax (blue properties) if the tones are high on the other hand it can cause uneasiness, but for the most part the color purple people use is somewhat darker or lighter which can uplift those who see this color, it can calm our minds and nerves and just like the color blue encourage creativity.

It has also been said that the color purple offers a sense of spirituality which sets it apart from other colors and tones. People who use this color send the message of being independent, creative, individualistic, romantic and very original. This color is also said to be related to New York fashion and NY urban style.

Interesting facts about the color purple:

Great Examples of Purple Cufflinks are:

	Circular “On Target” Purple Cuff Links: These rhodium-plated purple cufflinks are very elegant and a definitive must have for those who like the way silver blends and contrasts with the color purple. These cufflinks have a glossy finish which makes them even more attractive to the human eye.
	Traditional Rectangular Plum Striped Cuff Links: The perfect cufflinks for those who go for the elegant look while showing a trendy and futuristic design.
	Plum Purple Silk Knot Cuff Links: These are the perfect cufflinks for those who love simplicity and love the effect purple has in people, they are carefully hand made with real silk.
	Plum Purple & Cream Silver Silk Knot Cuff Links: Just like the already mentioned cufflinks these have a simple yet elegant design in two thread tones, silver and purple which soothes and calms people.

The color blue is used to convey peace, calm, strength of character and reason. People who wear blue are said to be dependable individuals who are trustworthy and committed in everything they do. The use of blue cufflinks is perfect for those who are the voice of reason and handle very stressful situations. When it comes to business this is an excellent color to wear as it can transmit serenity to those who see it. This color is also said to aid intuition, calm and sedate.

Blue and its many shades is quite neutral when it comes to gender, in other words men and women can wear this color according to the shade used.

Interesting facts about the color blue:

Great Examples of Blue Cufflinks are:

	Rectangular Blue Enamel Cuff Links: These are perfect for business people and professionals who want to transmit assertive energy, balance and strength.
	Azure Blue Window Cufflinks: Perfect cufflinks for those who want to keep a simple but elegant look.
	Retro 1970 Inspired Enamel Cuff Links: If you like the retro-look these are the cufflinks to go for, they have two tones of blue which makes it look classy.
	High Fashion Blue Rhodium Cuff Links: These are the perfect cufflinks to make a fashion statement, they have two tones of blue and perfect silver polish.

Other colors have certainly been enhanced to resemble the natural characteristics of silver which gives them a glossy look, however when it comes to Cufflinks there are very few colors which create balance and elegance. Cufflinks which use polished silver are often seen as elegant and expensive items when they are compared with other cufflinks made of different materials, the way the light is smoothly transferred and reflected by this material which bears a soothing color can create the feeling of peace and relaxation.

Silver Cufflinks are often mixed with some other color in order to break expectation and the feeling this color and material tends to produce in people.

Interesting facts about the color silver:

Great Examples of Silver Cufflinks are:

	Laser Frosted Silver Cuff Links: These are the perfect example of cool looking cuff links which project elegance.
	Gear Shifter Silver Cuff Links: For those who love speed and great looks these silver cuff links are one of a kind.
	Four Ace Playing Cards Cuff Links: If you want people to think of the song “Luck be a lady” - Frank Sinatra when they see your cuff links then this is the best pair to go for.
	Silver Dollar Cuff Links: Nothing says wealth and power like these carefully polished silver cuff links, they are perfect to project that million dollar look most people go for.

Those who wear the color red project great passion at everything they do, from personal relations to business ventures. Red cufflinks are meant for bold men who are leaders in every activity, they attract attention which makes those who wear it stand out from the crowd; when used in elegant cufflinks the color red can excite a person by increasing his/her pulse and respiration which enhances metabolism. Red cufflinks complement a strong and passionate personality and in business meetings they are used to stimulate people to make quick decisions which gives more of an edge to deal closers.

This particular color is also associated to sexuality and pheromones, it is said that the scent of red flowers is used to provide power and vitality.

Facts about the color red:

Great examples of elegant red cufflinks are:

	Square Red Enamel Cuff links: Provide a stylish silver finish with an attractive red center.
	Ruby Tear Drop CZ Crystal Cuff Links: Beautiful and elegant design which has carefully placed red stones.
	Oval Jasper Red and Onyx Stone Cufflinks: These red cufflinks provide a classy look, perfect for professionals.
	Red Rose Silk Knot Cuff Links: These carefully designed cufflinks are perfect for those individuals who would like to enjoy the benefits of wearing red cuff links and keep their looks simple.

Cuff Links Man is an outstanding online cuff link store were you will find elegant cufflinks for every occasion, we provide a wide variety of cufflinks which convey different emotions and have diverse meanings according to each social occasion.