Blog & Thoughts
Here I will post my journey as a gemstone photographer. I thank you, if you enjoy reading my journey to become a gemstone photographer but do let me know your thoughts on how I can improve on either the writing or in terms of photography.
Mine Minds has been around for a goof 3 years now. However, there were not many improvements made since then. I started off as a photographer and went on to shooting videos after a year or so.
What I wanted to do and what I think I would like to do, changes through the years. I myself, love to experience new things in life. That’s how I got into gemology in the first place. All these new things simply attracts me, to a point where it’s dangerous.
I have had flashes of desire to head in to a full time work but i have always stopped just before the entrance. Now I want to focus these ideas onto new experiences I can get with videography.
With that, if anyone who owns a process or experience (Example, you own a horse riding facility or a bakery or sell customer experience) and you would like a video to promote your services, I will be happy to shoot it for you in exchange for a personal first hand experience in it.
Contact me at [email protected]
New gemstone photography set up
White Jadeite
White Jadeite shoot: Troubles and Woes Edition
This piece of Jadeite was quite clear. It wasn’t very thick and my initial thoughts were that a black background would reflect too much inside the Jadeite. But when using the white one, the Jadeite is on the verge of being washed out. I had hoped to create a softer photo for this piece of Jadeite because we were going to use it for Mother’s Day promotions.
I had used blue tacks to prop up the Jadeite which caused some reflections to occur at the bottom. The tack ended up casting some blue into the translucent Jadeite at the bottom and some onto the white floor too. Not good. It was sort of a nightmare to do the editing after the shot was done. There was an issue with part of the tack blocking the Jadeite in the photo. The nature of macro would mean that even just a smaaaaall piece of tack is overlapping the product, it is very obvious when the photo is blown up. I need to use white tacks instead of blue ones and take care not to block the product with the tack while trying to prop it up. I also will be looking into jewelry wax too. (Similar to tacks but for jewelry. Not sure how that works, so I will have to try it myself)
I don’t think I had enough lights for this particular shoot though. Only one light was used from the top for this shot. I tried with two side lights but I couldn’t get the Jadeite to look round in the photograph with that set up. It was a very basic knowledge but a lesson for me nonetheless. New lights are coming in the next shoot though! With those, I will be able to make better photos for gemstones and jewelry. Stay tuned 🙂
Jadeite from Far East Gems & Jewelry
See more: http://bit.ly/2mcoOoo
#Jadeite #jade #photography #white
Gemstone Photography and Videography
My interest in gemstone photography and video started when I met Kunming of Far East Gems and Jewelry.
Ruby Light
I got to know Kunming when I was doing a event photography job for a custoiend (Customer-friend). I remember very well that it was raining heavily that day and I had not found the venue where the event was held. I alighted from the taxi and as I got to the lift lobby, I realized that it was the wrong building. I frantically looked up Google maps and saw the building to be opposite the one I was standing. In the rain and with my gear (only photography, thank goodness) I ran in the heavy rain to the building opposite. My custoiend told me that if I couldn’t make it, its fine. We will just use the hours for another event. But I insisted to go over despite the rain. Looking back, I was glad I did.
It was that event that I met Kunming, Director of Far East Gems and Jewelry. He showed me his star ruby that he wears on his right hand and we exchanged cards. He was interested in building up his business and I too, was keen to make sales. We set up a meeting for the next day and discussed how he saw videos as an important part of the business and I proposed to him 3 ideas that may suit him. Kunming ended up liking all the ideas and wanted to get them done.
A big chunk of copper ore
Gemstone in the rough
We met at his office in 222 Queenstreet. The room was full of sparkling gemstones from different parts of the world. I was not particularly excited the first time I saw the gemstones. As Kunming explained to me the science behind the stones, my interest grew. He told me that the Ruby was actually rarer than the diamond but is often valued less in terms of money. Then an idea struck me, awaking the inner rebellion inside me, I told him that we should change the perspective of the society. Diamonds, if there are as abundant as Kunming says, shouldn’t be demanding such a high price. People should instead, pay more for rarer gemstones such as the Ruby.
And just like that, my journey of gemstone photography and videography started.
Mine Minds is a Videography Company.
That aims to cut down the time on editing by first understanding the creative needs for our customers.
We believe that with the right conversations in the beginning, we can save a lot of time and effort when it comes to the actual shoot and editing.
The Mine Minds logo features two person sitting facing each other and having a conversation and at the same time creating our initials of the company’s name; MM
