Mastering the Macro

I'm shooting a friend's jewelry collection next weekend, so I've been brushing up on my macro lens skills.  I have a fun collection of cocktail rings as well as a few real pieces, so I had a great time assembling ring sculptures.

Macro shooting is a special skill.  It's not just about having the right lens (a Canon Macro f2.8) but about the right lighting, aperture, and angles.  I wish (almost) that someone had a camera of me in my studio yesterday getting just the right shots.  I had an inspiring flash of draping my own engagement and wedding rings in white lace to simulate a veil...and was sitting in the middle of my studio floor, with the rings propped in various ways on a stool, gathering three lights, holding one with my foot and knee to get just the right flash, all while taking the photo.  It paid off:

Bottom line: you have to get creative to get what you want.  Photography is hard work.  My back often aches after just a short still life shoot because I can't ask the object to move, so it's my job to capture it from every viable line of sight.  It's worth it. :)