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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 15, 2021 22:59:28 GMT -5
I cabbed 10 cabs the other day and not a one really did anything for me. My heart just isn't in it when I'm not inspired by the material. I'm getting to the last of my preforms. I have some more and might cab tomorrow, but I'm going to be extremely picky. I was hoping to cut some preforms this week. May not get to it.
I did these pics with my phone. I got two tiny spot diffused lights on dedicated tiny tripods. My goal is to not use the light tent, so I can get rid of it. It takes up a lot of room. I can do it this way with my phone very easily. I also got a copy stand. (not in, yet) I'm sure that the pictures aren't that great, but they'll do and I'll get better. This was my first with the lights.
The only 2 here that I like are the turquoise and the Sonora (of course). But they turned out to be quite the challenges.
The Sonora was the softest I have ever cabbed. I really struggled to get a polish. It's full of orange peel, too. Big disappointment considering the finish I usually get.
The turquoise is my first piece of natural turquoise and was it SOFT. It has what look to be quartz inclusions. These, of course, are a bit high. Couldn't be avoided. This did not polish until the 100k. True. So, here they are- warts and all. *Don't judge me.* I left a couple out- just too embarrassing! LOL!
It doesn't photograph well, you can barely tell this is a Christmas Tree plume agate or Pickett Plume. 
A tiny cab of crystal topped Royal Aztec Lace.  
This is actually pretty cool in person with a lot depth. 
OK, yeah, I like this one, too. 
I began this thinking it was soft like another that looks like it, but this is a hard jasper which I have forgotten the name of. 
This is a really big stone. Maybe, at some point, I'll take it all the way back and try repolishing it. 
Thanks for looking.  I know the cabs aren't much, but what do you think of the pictures? |
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 15, 2021 23:17:27 GMT -5
Tela, it sucks you had a day full of frustrating material. I've had several of those recently. That's when grinding cabs becomes...well...grinding.  I think some of that material is stunning as heck...warts and all! As far as the pics, I'll let the "expert" pic takers chime in...I take all my pics with my cell phone. I think that Aztec Lace pic is one of the best pics. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 15, 2021 23:19:28 GMT -5
Tela, it sucks you had a day full of frustrating material. I've had several of those recently. That's when grinding cabs becomes...well...grinding. I think some of that material is stunning as heck...warts and all! As far as the pics, I'll let the "expert" pic takers chime in...I take all my pics with my cell phone. I think that Aztec Lace pic is one of the best pics. Thanks! When I get my stand, I'm gonna play with backgrounds. I need to change everything about how I've been doing it for years. It's a learning process. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 15, 2021 23:22:29 GMT -5
Tela, it sucks you had a day full of frustrating material. I've had several of those recently. That's when grinding cabs becomes...well...grinding. I think some of that material is stunning as heck...warts and all! As far as the pics, I'll let the "expert" pic takers chime in...I take all my pics with my cell phone. I think that Aztec Lace pic is one of the best pics. Thanks! When I get my stand, I'm gonna play with backgrounds. I need to change everything about how I've been doing it for years. It's a learning process. I'm still trying to figure out the whole photography aspect... LOL |
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,989
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Post by Tommy on Dec 15, 2021 23:26:17 GMT -5
Very nice work even if they didnt move you. I think the next to last is Snake Skin jasper from Australia if I'm not mistaken.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 15, 2021 23:27:34 GMT -5
Very nice work even if they didnt move you. I think the next to last is Snake Skin jasper from Australia if I'm not mistaken. Yay! That's it! I couldn't remember. Takes a good polish. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 15, 2021 23:28:07 GMT -5
Thanks! When I get my stand, I'm gonna play with backgrounds. I need to change everything about how I've been doing it for years. It's a learning process. I'm still trying to figure out the whole photography aspect... LOL Dude, don't be modest- Your pictures are awesome!!!! |
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,989
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Post by Tommy on Dec 15, 2021 23:31:48 GMT -5
Regarding the lighting and photos I continue to struggle since I gave up my S7 and upgraded to this piece of crap I have currently. The worst fault is the lack of sharp focus - every rock photo I take has fuzzy edges around the subject. It is so annoying that I barely try any more.
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Post by knave on Dec 16, 2021 0:40:30 GMT -5
We like you Tommy even with fuzzy edges
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 16, 2021 9:01:39 GMT -5
rockjunquie the Royal Aztec is gorgeous! Love it with the raw edge. 
Turquoise is one of those soft, goofy stones. Extremely easy to cut - work it on 280 soft up to 3,000 and then hit it very lightly with some Zam. Finished. I see a very good use for your new vacuum pot when it comes with that Sonoran.
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Post by Son Of Beach on Dec 16, 2021 9:19:26 GMT -5
Pics look good, I am finding that I have to angle the stone slightly to move the glare, sometimes it helps sometimes not. Keep playing and take multiple pictures, one will surprise you.
I like the last two a lot, really neat colors.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 16, 2021 10:57:23 GMT -5
rockjunquie the Royal Aztec is gorgeous! Love it with the raw edge. (  )
Turquoise is one of those soft, goofy stones. Extremely easy to cut - work it on 280 soft up to 3,000 and then hit it very lightly with some Zam. Finished. I see a very good use for your new vacuum pot when it comes with that Sonoran.
I still might hit that with Zam! I mean, it was fun and a challenge, but I feel it could be better. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 16, 2021 10:58:19 GMT -5
Pics look good, I am finding that I have to angle the stone slightly to move the glare, sometimes it helps sometimes not. Keep playing and take multiple pictures, sometimes one will surprise you. I like the last two a lot, really neat colors. Thank you! It took forever to get down the photography I had been doing, so I'm sure it'll take a while with this. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 16, 2021 10:59:31 GMT -5
Regarding the lighting and photos I continue to struggle since I gave up my S7 and upgraded to this piece of crap I have currently. The worst fault is the lack of sharp focus - every rock photo I take has fuzzy edges around the subject. It is so annoying that I barely try any more. Which do you have now? I'm finding that I like the S20 and I do like the auto white balance, but it doesn't gather a lot of light. |
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catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
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Post by catskillrocks on Dec 16, 2021 16:51:16 GMT -5
I think that you did a nice job on
both the cabs and the pictures. I
also really like the last two.
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Post by roy on Dec 16, 2021 17:24:55 GMT -5
Girl there is not anything wrong with those cheer up
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 16, 2021 18:31:40 GMT -5
Good pictures and great designs/framing. More fun to work on stellar material.
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Dec 16, 2021 18:31:47 GMT -5
Very nice cabs Ms. Tela.
The pictures ain't too shabby either 👍
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 16, 2021 19:53:38 GMT -5
A few of those cabs look like ones I could have made (not normally the case). When it comes to making great cabs, I've thought a lot about the relative importance of: 1. slab quality; 2. skill in marking preforms; and 3. actual cabbing skills. Obviously all are important. When I started cabbing, I had low quality material, was bad at marking preforms, and was bad at the actual cabbing part. Now, I have pretty good slabs, I am ok at marking preforms, and I am competent but not great at the cabbing part. You generally cab very good materials, you have a good eye for preform shapes, and you are very skilled at the actual cabbing. The photos you posted this time help me understand that good cabbing skills are only part of the equation. There's nothing wrong with any of these cabs, but only the Sonora jumps out at me, whereas normally I think all of your cabs are really special! That Sonora is great, orange peel and all. |
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 16, 2021 21:08:53 GMT -5
A few of those cabs look like ones I could have made (not normally the case). When it comes to making great cabs, I've thought a lot about the relative importance of: 1. slab quality; 2. skill in marking preforms; and 3. actual cabbing skills. Obviously all are important. When I started cabbing, I had low quality material, was bad at marking preforms, and was bad at the actual cabbing part. Now, I have pretty good slabs, I am ok at marking preforms, and I am competent but not great at the cabbing part. You generally cab very good materials, you have a good eye for preform shapes, and you are very skilled at the actual cabbing. The photos you posted this time help me understand that good cabbing skills are only part of the equation. There's nothing wrong with any of these cabs, but only the Sonora jumps out at me, whereas normally I think all of your cabs are really special! That Sonora is great, orange peel and all. One thing you left out was dealing with issues. I completed 5 cabs today, 2 needed work on vugs, 1 had an unattractive pattern and need to be ground to potato chip thickness and 1 I went inside the line and needed to adjust the shape. There also unexpected fractures and the shape needs be redone. The one where I went inside the line was from working in the cold and fatigue. I mark withe an extra fine sharpie. I was using pencil but that goes away sometimes. I usually need to use acetone to remove the glue and it also works on ink. |
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I know the cabs aren't much, but what do you think of the pictures?
) 
