Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Nov 1, 2004 16:55:07 GMT -5
Just thought I'd post some stuff I finished this weekend. Dang! I forgot the name of this first pic. I'm hoping someone else can jog my memory. But up it goes here- I called it Koi jasper, but now I'm not sure-  A bit of Sunset Jasper. The rest is still rolling. I'm beginning to really like this stuff-  A bit of stray Mook-  Some Agate I picked up on my last rock hounding trip, months ago. Looks a bit like a whale in the middle. I added the tail for definition-  Blue Jasper keeps popping up in my loads-  The rest is all Flint Ridge Flint. Each piece has it's own character-      Thanks for looking! |
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Post by sandsman1 on Nov 1, 2004 17:03:31 GMT -5
hey banjo lookin good man great batch but i gotta say that flint ridge flint takes the cake hahaha
but that banded agate runs a close second very cool
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Nov 1, 2004 18:02:12 GMT -5
I'm pretty much with Sands...I think it's all fantastic, but the agate and flint are tops, can't decide which I like better. Some of the flint reminds me of ocean jasper.
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Post by cookie3rocks on Nov 1, 2004 18:21:08 GMT -5
Every picture I scrolled down to, I said "That's my favorite. No, wait, that's my favorite. Oh, but look at that..."
I do have a soft spot for Flint ridge flint, but the mook and the blue jasper just dropped my jaw. Incredible shine, excellent job!
cookie
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Post by krazydiamond on Nov 1, 2004 18:42:29 GMT -5
 ;D da shine, da shine......! is that first pic maybe flower jasper? Banjo, you got this batch nailed....how long did you run this and what polish? fabulous, i need to get some of that Flint Ridge stuff! KD
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Post by Cher on Nov 1, 2004 18:59:58 GMT -5
WOW that stuff is stunning! I have to get me some of that Flint Ridge Flint. Where do you find it? Banjo, your pics are really great, so nice, clear and show the shine shows really well without any glare. How did you take them, any special trick? And what an awesome shine. Oboy, and blue jasper too, need some of that stuff too, and mook, don't know what it is but dang, it looks so soft but it's so shiney. Hmmm think it's time to go check the barrels, I feel the need for a rock fix.  I have some of that sunset jasper in a barrel now that I got from KD, I really like the looks of that stuff. LOL I think I'm just kind of blubbering here. Thanks so much for sharing, those are really great. Cher |
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Post by rockyraccoon on Nov 1, 2004 20:03:03 GMT -5
almost blinded me!! i didn't see anything in that batch i didn't like and you have done it again with the shapes and shine. kim
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JC
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 107
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Post by JC on Nov 1, 2004 20:16:43 GMT -5
Definitely stunners Banjo, stunners. I humbly ask you share with all of us two things:
1. What was the protocol you followed on these rocks?
2. How'd you take such great photos? What type camera, lighting techniques, etc did you use?
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Nov 1, 2004 22:42:03 GMT -5
I agree with all the above, stunners , and more stunners.
Did you use polaroid lens to stop the glare and see the shine?
Great finish and lovely rocks WOW
Jack
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Post by Toad on Nov 1, 2004 23:31:31 GMT -5
You post the best pics on this site and set a high mark for your tumbling process.
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Nov 1, 2004 23:57:32 GMT -5
I appreciate the compliments, thank you.
The process pretty much stays the same with me.
This was 2-3 weeks in 60/90. (the smaller sizes I took out a week early and set aside.)
7 days in 120/200.
7 days in 500
6 days in 1000
6 days in Titanium oxide, with a 1 hour rinse with a little Borax and cascade powder.
The photos are with a digital Olympus camera off e-bay for $90.
A model D-340 with a macro setting and using available florescent lighting, on a glass table top.
I lucked out with the Flint Ridge flint off e-bay for $9.00 for 6 pounds.
It sure does polish up nice and It doesn't even look like the pieces are off of the same stone. It is some amazingly colorful stuff.
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Nov 2, 2004 0:01:37 GMT -5
Oh Banjo, those are incredible! I agree with Toad - you not only consistently turn out beautiful stones, your photographing of them is awesome! How do you take such marvelous pictures? Makes me just ache from wanting to touch them. I have fallen in love with the Flint Ridge Flint! I think it is now my favorite stone. At least til something else comes along. I am very fickle!  Everything in this batch is breathtaking, but that Flint Ridge flint just blows my dress up or it would if I owned a dress! ;D Incredible stones - shape, color, shine. I will know I have arrived when I take out a batch that looks like these! llana |
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Post by puppie96 on Nov 2, 2004 0:14:46 GMT -5
They are just fabulous, simply beautiful. Great work!
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JC
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 107
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Post by JC on Nov 2, 2004 10:01:36 GMT -5
Once again, people with MUCH more expensive cameras take much poorer pictures than what you have posted. It just goes to show that good technique is always the first step in taking good photos. It's kind of hard to tell. Do you take most of your pictures from directly above or at some oblique angle? I'm just curious as to how you avoid shadows in the pics, fill flash? I'm always getting my shadow in the pics when I take the shots from directly above using the macro feature.
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Post by hermatite on Nov 2, 2004 11:33:21 GMT -5
moooooooooooooooooook...I love the moooooooooook!
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Nov 2, 2004 11:49:02 GMT -5
people with MUCH more expensive cameras take much poorer pictures You got that right! I have a Toshiba 4.0 mega pixel that was top of the line and fairly expensive when I bought it and I can't take pics worth a darn with it. On top of that, I am taking a photography course! And still can't take an outstanding pic! Of course, it would probably help a whole lot if I took the time to thoroughly read the instruction manual and learn how to use it properly. I just pop in charged batteries and shoot a bunch of pics in various kinds of lighting, use various camera settings and backgrounds and hope I get a few halfway decent ones! The beauty of a digital camera is being able to see the shot immediately and the delete! I use that quite often!
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Nov 2, 2004 12:39:47 GMT -5
The room has a few banks of overhead lights so the shadows are all soft with indirect lighting. Not using the flash helps make the camera adjust to the lower light level and automatically lightens the shot. A background in Photoshop helps with the levels as well.
I have just had this model camera for about 8 years now and when it dies I go on e-bay and find another one. I should be able to get them for about $40 soon. HaHaHa I like cheap. or rather... ...inexpensive.
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JC
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 107
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Post by JC on Nov 2, 2004 19:09:10 GMT -5
A background in Photoshop helps with the levels as well. What exactly does that mean? I use Photoshop so I understand some of the basics. |
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Post by connrock on Nov 2, 2004 20:12:37 GMT -5
Banjo those are great!! I love the flint!! Thanks ,,,,,,,,,,,,, Tom  |
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Nov 3, 2004 0:29:13 GMT -5
JC- In Photoshop under <image> then <adjustments> is the levels control that can set the endpoints of the range of light. This allows you to bring better contrast into the shot without altering the color. |
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I have some of that sunset jasper in a barrel now that I got from KD, I really like the looks of that stuff. LOL I think I'm just kind of blubbering here. Thanks so much for sharing, those are really great. 
Everything in this batch is breathtaking, but that Flint Ridge flint just blows my dress up or it would if I owned a dress! ;D
