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Post by Garage Rocker on Dec 15, 2016 13:53:07 GMT -5
You were right, Jeremy. Time for another batch to roll out of the Lot O. I've had my new QT66 going for 7 weeks now, so staring to see more keepers ready for the Lot O at each cleanout. Maybe I'm heading toward 2 batches a month instead of just one. As usual, material from all over. Some from txrockhunter , Sabre52 and Fossilman in this batch.
Obligatory group photo
Just the smalls
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 front
8 back
9
10
11
12
13
14 front
14 back
15 front
15 back
16
17
18
Sorry for the pic overload!
Randy
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Post by captbob on Dec 15, 2016 14:22:32 GMT -5
OUTSTANDING!
again
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 15, 2016 14:25:33 GMT -5
You win. Champion. Impeccable job on those Randy. Post more Trying to figure out the light source. 2-3-4 foot strong fluorescent with frosted hood ? Trade secret ? Randy's master light source ?
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Dec 15, 2016 14:28:48 GMT -5
7,8,14,17 - really enjoying this batch. Each time I go back and look I see another one I like. Beautiful shine and always look forward to your posts! I'm just about to switch over to final polish in the Lot-O so I should have a batch posted this weekend. Maybe I'll wait a few days so everyone forgets how awesome these are!!!!
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grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
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Post by grizman on Dec 15, 2016 15:34:59 GMT -5
WOWWWZERS!, Just plain, WOWWWZERS!
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Post by rockpickerforever on Dec 15, 2016 15:49:30 GMT -5
Oooowieee, I like those! Wattashine! While moving stuff around on the patio, looking for some tumbler fodder to add, I found a coral like that pictured in #5. Debated throwing it in, but wasn't sure how much of the white surface would come off? The answers is, keep it grinding, and just wait and see how much comes off! Now I'm gonna have to go find it again, and throw it in next time I open a tumbler up. See if I can get it as Purdy as Randy's. Garage Rocker
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Post by Garage Rocker on Dec 15, 2016 15:57:23 GMT -5
You win. Champion. Impeccable job on those Randy. Post more Trying to figure out the light source. 2-3-4 foot strong fluorescent with frosted hood ? Trade secret ? Randy's master light source ? I use a Photoflex 24x32 Silverdome softbox attached to a 400Ws strobe. But, every now and then I get tricky and switch to an umbrella diffuser. See it?
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Post by txrockhunter on Dec 15, 2016 18:56:31 GMT -5
That's what what I'm talkin about! I knew it had to be coming soon. Amazing batch! Some those do look familiar..... Not sure it even makes sense to pick favorites, but 2, 3, 5, & 9 are great!
Never apologize for posting photos!! The more the better! Always look forward to studying and trying to reverse engineer.
Thanks for giving us something to shoot for!
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Dec 15, 2016 18:59:11 GMT -5
All fantastic! I always enjoy your posts, never too picture heavy. I absolutely love the colors in #16 and find #17 to be extremely interesting.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Dec 15, 2016 19:25:11 GMT -5
The bots in #10 are my favorites. Awesome. For some reason #9 reminds me of a hotdog on a bun. Your posts are so great because your material is great, your tumbling skills are great, and so are your photography skills. Fun, fun, fun.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 15, 2016 19:27:04 GMT -5
I get it Randy. Thanks. LIGHT IS EVERYTHING. Well, subjects like that required.
Like your Photoflex 24x32 Silverdome soft box. 400Ws Strobe, interesting.
What is needed for clear noon blue sky photos ? To get the best photos ? Too eliminate shadow, like dispersing the sun light. I was also curious about using a polarizing filter.
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Post by wigglinrocks on Dec 15, 2016 19:40:13 GMT -5
Simply gorgeous ! Not even going to try and pick a favorite . Well maybe just one , photo #1 .
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Post by adam on Dec 15, 2016 20:49:35 GMT -5
Magnificent tumbling skills, top notch agates.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Dec 15, 2016 23:47:04 GMT -5
Oooowieee, I like those! Wattashine! While moving stuff around on the patio, looking for some tumbler fodder to add, I found a coral like that pictured in #5. Debated throwing it in, but wasn't sure how much of the white surface would come off? The answers is, keep it grinding, and just wait and see how much comes off! Now I'm gonna have to go find it again, and throw it in next time I open a tumbler up. See if I can get it as Purdy as Randy's. Garage Rocker Throw it in there and see what happens. That's the magic of those type stones, they keep changing the longer they tumble. I enjoy leaving some 'crust' on certain ones, like the orange Brazilian agate up there. Been looking for a pic of #5 before it went in the tumbler, I'm sure I have one, but having trouble deciding which one it is. You have a pic of your coral?
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dottyt
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2016
Posts: 305
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Post by dottyt on Dec 16, 2016 0:07:12 GMT -5
Another superb batch! Love the jaspers, even the plain ol' reds and yellows look super-super when you do them!
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Post by Garage Rocker on Dec 16, 2016 0:15:30 GMT -5
I get it Randy. Thanks. LIGHT IS EVERYTHING. Well, subjects like that required. Like your Photoflex 24x32 Silverdome soft box. 400Ws Strobe, interesting. What is needed for clear noon blue sky photos ? To get the best photos ? Too eliminate shadow, like dispersing the sun light. I was also curious about using a polarizing filter. A polarizing filter will help take glare off surfaces and will give you a more saturated sky, but it has it's limits on hazier days. The best sky pics are going to be in morning and evening. I'm sure you know that, so what is the scenario you are working on? Hard to eliminate shadows without bouncing light into those areas. Dispersing, or diffusing the light can be done with a screen if you're doing rock pics outside in direct light. So, whatcha got in mind?
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Post by rockpickerforever on Dec 16, 2016 0:42:22 GMT -5
Oooowieee, I like those! Wattashine! While moving stuff around on the patio, looking for some tumbler fodder to add, I found a coral like that pictured in #5. Debated throwing it in, but wasn't sure how much of the white surface would come off? The answers is, keep it grinding, and just wait and see how much comes off! Now I'm gonna have to go find it again, and throw it in next time I open a tumbler up. See if I can get it as Purdy as Randy's. Garage Rocker Throw it in there and see what happens. That's the magic of those type stones, they keep changing the longer they tumble. I enjoy leaving some 'crust' on certain ones, like the orange Brazilian agate up there. Been looking for a pic of #5 before it went in the tumbler, I'm sure I have one, but having trouble deciding which one it is. You have a pic of your coral?
Added a cup of 30 grit to both tumblers running now. Didn't get to it until it was already dark out. Went hunting for that coral on the patio with a flashlight, didn't turn it up. I just saw that coral the other day, it is out there! I will attempt to find it and take a pic for you.
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osuguy0301
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 203
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Post by osuguy0301 on Dec 16, 2016 5:53:04 GMT -5
Randy, those look fantastic. Great work and great photos.
Jake
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Dec 16, 2016 5:56:02 GMT -5
I get it Randy. Thanks. LIGHT IS EVERYTHING. Well, subjects like that required. Like your Photoflex 24x32 Silverdome soft box. 400Ws Strobe, interesting. What is needed for clear noon blue sky photos ? To get the best photos ? Too eliminate shadow, like dispersing the sun light. I was also curious about using a polarizing filter. I can't offer much advice about your other questions but I have found the only way I can eleminate shadows when shooting my photos outdoors is to shoot on an overcast day.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Dec 16, 2016 7:03:36 GMT -5
I get it Randy. Thanks. LIGHT IS EVERYTHING. Well, subjects like that required. Like your Photoflex 24x32 Silverdome soft box. 400Ws Strobe, interesting. What is needed for clear noon blue sky photos ? To get the best photos ? Too eliminate shadow, like dispersing the sun light. I was also curious about using a polarizing filter. A polarizing filter will help take glare off surfaces and will give you a more saturated sky, but it has it's limits on hazier days. The best sky pics are going to be in morning and evening. I'm sure you know that, so what is the scenario you are working on? Hard to eliminate shadows without bouncing light into those areas. Dispersing, or diffusing the light can be done with a screen if you're doing rock pics outside in direct light. So, whatcha got in mind? Maybe another sun. One on each side of the tumble set low in the sky, one east and one west haha. I set a mirror up and reflected light from the other side to eliminate shadows. But glare is a battle. I guess I am asking you if there is a solar lightbox that does not do glare and shadow. Cloudy days are problematic due to white reflection. I suppose this is a good example. Shadow well placed, angle of rock set well to reduce glare. Can't crop too much with 6M Nikon D70, so camera close and rock doing kinda percent frame fill. Plenty of light so 1/250 @ f9, ISO 200. Just saying, I have to putz around with the position of the rock a lot to get the light right. I think the 24-85 Nikkor was set at 80mm, but it was switched to macro which confuses me. I would guess the rock was 1/4 the of the frame width, so cropped within low 6M limitation at this photo size before distortion starts. Sun photos terrible about showing polish... So I was curious if there is a solar light box that would make eliminate shadow(dispersion) and glare. I often hold the rocks in my fingers and adjust rock angle to least glare and long distance background to eliminate dark shadow. Shoot in full sun with ~ASA 200 1/250 shutter, f10. Fast shutter kills shake, small aperture gives depth of field, low ASA richness I believe. enlarged reduced The coral is a challenge because of the white spots over expose. And the white fades to color making it look out of focus. The focus may be off. 1/250 may not be freezing the rock when camera is 6 inches away and hand held.
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