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How to Photograph a Rough Opal

Opal is a mineraloid, or non-crystal, which is most closely related to silica and quartz. The stone can be found in a range of dominant colors, including white, red, orange, yellow, green brown and blue. Opals diffract light, which means that the stone's color will change depending on the type of light cast onto it. The direction of the light -- originating from the top, bottom or side of the opal -- also has much to do with which colors will be visible in the stone. Once you find the ideal lighting arrangement, the opal is a simple stone to photograph.

Things You'll Need

Black cloth
Camera
Tripod
Macro lens
Light source (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Select a shooting location. Warm natural light in the late afternoon or early evening will bring out the rich colors and patterns of the opal, so work outdoors if possible. If outdoor shooting is impossible, select an indoor tabletop near an electrical wall outlet.
- 2
  Drape a black cloth over a tabletop or other firm, flat surface. The cloth should be very dark and free of lint, dirt or dust. Place the opal in the center of the cloth.
- 3
  Set up a tripod about two feet away from the tabletop or hard surface and mount your camera onto it. For best results, your camera should have a lens with macro capability attached. Macro lenses are used for close-up work or shots requiring great detail.
- 4
  Look through the viewfinder and compose your shot. For best results, disable your lens' autofocus feature and focus manually. Shoot in aperture priority ("Av" on most camera mode dials) mode and select a small lens opening such as f/4 or f/2.8 to blur the background of the shot while maintaining sharp focus on the opal.
- 5
  Move the opal until the desired color diffraction is achieved. You may need to adjust your camera's angle, or move your tripod altogether in order to find a suitable vantage point.
- 6
  Check your viewfinder once more before pressing the shutter button to take the photograph. Review the shot on your camera's LCD preview screen and reshoot if desired. If you are using 35mm film, take several shots from different vantage points to ensure satisfactory results.

Photography