How to Photograph Crystals

Place the crystal on a neutral, solid background. The background should not detract from the crystal and should not have a pattern, since this can be magnified and distorted by facets.

Attach a macro lens to your camera. This process will vary based on your camera. A macro lens magnifies the subject and allows it to be brought into sharp focus.

Select your camera's macro setting, if possible. This is an automatic setting that adjusts the camera's aperture and shutter speed for a close-range photograph of an object. Using the automatic setting can save you time otherwise spent adjusting settings.

Place the camera on a tripod or steady surface and compose the image, getting in as close as needed. Since macro lenses are long and can be heavy based on the amount of lens elements, a tripod helps to avoid camera shake.

Meter your image using your in-camera light meter or a hand-held light meter. If you are using a hand-held light meter, select the incident reading setting and place the meter next to the crystal to measure the light falling on the crystal rather than the light reflecting from the crystal---reflected light can fool your camera's meter.

Add additional light sources or reflectors, if necessary, to gain the correct exposure. Adjust your aperture and shutter speed to the settings recommended by your light meter reading, then photograph the crystal.