I totally agree. It's a slow thing, to photograph a marble. Not a quick thing. I have dashed off a photo here and there but really not been effective. I do actually take it, like you suggest, in hand and look at the photo and try to adjust the colors the brightness the contrast in order to make the photo look the best that I can to the original one that's in my hand. That's why photo taking of marbles is a slow process!! I have a background in photography, copy stand photography and videography and believe me it becomes so much like my old job when I go to take photos! I know how much time it takes to put those marble books together!!