Please critique my picture taking.

[Wolf]

I always feel like they are inadequate. Maybe to bright or bad lighting? Thanks, 😊 

[Tommy]

Black background is not the best for color representation imho

[disco005]

Hi Wolf, your photos are certainly not inadequate, they have definitely improved since you first joined the page, and I appreciate you asking.
I think the first thing I would mention is the area around the marble. When you are photographing a marble, you want the marble to be the focus, so any crazy background color or texture will take away from the focus of the photo.

In this screenshot below I would remove (crop out) the area outside the red rectangle, especially if it's a screenshot and there is black area above and below your screenshot. All that extra space around the marble makes for a lot of scrolling for just a few photos here.

I hope that helps.

[Chad G.]

one of the best, easiest and cheapest setups I've seen::

 

https://www.allaboutmarbles.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=46681

 

[Chad G.]

13 hours ago, Chad G. said:

one of the best, easiest and cheapest setups I've seen::

 

https://www.allaboutmarbles.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=46681

 

I use a Sony handycam on a tripod, 30 Watt 5000k daylight bulb 90+  CRI, no flash, that way you get true colors, no reflection or light refraction. I had to experiment for a long time, cheapest I found to be best and easiest. I have color cards I use for background. Grey Felt I have found to be the best all around neutral color though I do use both black and white depending on the marble.

[VaMarbles]

3 hours ago, Chad G. said:

I use a Sony handycam on a tripod, 30 Watt 5000k daylight bulb 90+  CRI, no flash, that way you get true colors, no reflection or light refraction. I had to experiment for a long time, cheapest I found to be best and easiest. I have color cards I use for background. Grey Felt I have found to be the best all around neutral color though I do use both black and white depending on the marble.

Is that  camera or a cam cord?  The Sony handy cam?

[Chad G.]

10 minutes ago, VaMarbles said:

Is that  camera or a cam cord?  The Sony handy cam?

Sony handycam (camcorder) but it takes great still pictures to. i use it for all my pictures, has a killer macro on it. here's a closeup of some av on a pelt zebra, 5/8th's marble, this one has green, blue and silver av.

[VaMarbles]

Thanks.  Looking to join the FB auction crowd after the first of the year and need better pics.  I might come to regret that on Jan. 2nd, lol. 

[Chad G.]

[Fire1981]

WOW🔥

RAR👍

[VaMarbles]

2 hours ago, Chad G. said:

I drove my wife crazy this afternoon looking for our old camcorder, lol

[Wolf]

I'm stuck. I may need an AI phone. I, my boss and another business man can't figure it out. I save the cropped picture but can't find it.

[akroorka]

On 12/8/2025 at 12:36 PM, Chad G. said:

Sony handycam (camcorder) but it takes great still pictures to. i use it for all my pictures, has a killer macro on it. here's a closeup of some av on a pelt zebra, 5/8th's marble, this one has green, blue and silver av.

Pretty cool Chad--just cool.

I do not own a smartphone

I use an Olympus Tough--I always used Olympus with film so why not carry it on?

I am just not a phone guy--I hate phone calls.

Marble--On!!

[Tommy]

On 12/10/2025 at 2:18 PM, akroorka said:

Pretty cool Chad--just cool.

I do not own a smartphone

 

I am just not a phone guy--I hate phone calls.

Marble--On!!

I wish..........you are awesome 

[Chad G.]

On 12/10/2025 at 2:18 PM, akroorka said:

Pretty cool Chad--just cool.

I do not own a smartphone

I use an Olympus Tough--I always used Olympus with film so why not carry it on?

I am just not a phone guy--I hate phone calls.

Marble--On!!

I don't own a smartphone either, I have an old flip phone

[akroorka]

19 hours ago, Chad G. said:

I have an old flip phone

Same here Chad- I have a flpper too--in my Mini Cooper--just in case--you just never know--I would have to turn it on--but if it happens in a bad way--well the Police will have to figure it out--there it goes!

Marble--On!!

[marboman]

I'm on the land line, LOL. Does anyone remember the party-line? You'd pick up the phone and someone was already talking and of course it was your responsibility as a good citizen to hang up. Whoa that was another world☺️

[Wolf]

38 minutes ago, marboman said:

I'm on the land line, LOL. Does anyone remember the party-line? You'd pick up the phone and someone was already talking and of course it was your responsibility as a good citizen to hang up. Whoa that was another world☺️

My mom taught me how to make pizza on a land line while at work  when I was a kid. 😊 

[duotone]

My guess is the test pictures are shot with flash. The linked setup uses a light on either side with the flash turned off. The light from the sides helps expose the photo more evenly and keeps it from getting washed out in the center.