FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Carles Millan]

Hi John!

They're three low energy 27 W light bulbs. Some people name them 'compact fluorescent lights' as well. I'll try to take a photo for you to see, later today or perhaps tomorrow. But I'm not an expert in photography, I'm still learning, so I'm sure other forum members can give a much better advice. There is even a specific thread in the forum to discuss minerals photography.

[John S. White]

Thank you Carles, if they are compact fluorescent bulbs, then they are probably those coiled bulbs with a helical shape, so there is no need for a photo.

[Carles Millan]

John,

Here are the pictures you asked for.

But make no mistake. I don't mean, in any way, it's the best bulb to shot minerals. It's just the one I'm using to take my photos.

[John S. White]

Thank you Carles. If I can obtain the same results that you can then I would be very pleased. I am reluctant, however, to use a tool like photoshop to enhance the photos.

[Carles Millan]

Hi John!

Indeed I'm not using Photoshop but PaintShop Pro. But I'd never recommend any of them to enhance minerals photos since I consider this unacceptable, even (and especially) if you're a dealer. I think they should only be used to make the pictures the closest possible to the original, not to cheat.

[John S. White]

Carles:

When I wrote "enhance" I was only referring to improving the image as it represents the specimen. I would never suggest that you would "cheat" by making the specimen look better than it really is. I personally don't do the enhancement because I have not learned how to use photoshop or paintshop pro or any of the other tools available for changing the images. I have no problem with those who do.

[Carles Millan]

Realgar, stibnite

(After a couple of weeks I've still been able to rescue several specimens worth of being photographed and posted albeit not the same quality of the previous ones.)

Cherry-red realgar prismatic crystals on a matrix of stibnite. Overall size: 106 mm x 71 mm. Main crystal: 9 mm wide, 24 mm long. Weight: 230 g.

Baia Sprie (Felsöbánya), Maramures, Romania.

Photos copyright © Carles Millan. Reproduction allowed as long as the author's name is cited. Creative Commons Attribution License - Some Rights Reserved.

My Personal Site

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2905M-realgar.jpg
Description:	Realgar, stibnite Baia Sprie (Felsöbánya), Maramures, Romania 106 mm x 71 mm. Main crystal: 9 mm wide, 24 mm long
Viewed:	51746 Time(s)

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2905M-realgar1.jpg
Description:	Realgar, stibnite Baia Sprie (Felsöbánya), Maramures, Romania 106 mm x 71 mm. Main crystal: 9 mm wide, 24 mm long
Viewed:	51651 Time(s)

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[Tobi]

Wow, just stunning!!!

[Carles Millan]

Hi Tobias!

I just do not like it much.

Aber vielen Danke für deine lieben Worte!

[Carles Millan]

Calcite

Two hemispherical crystal groupings of colorless curved rhombohedral calcite crystals. Overall size: 100 mm x 65 mm x 44 mm. Main crystal size: 63 mm in diameter. Collected June 2001. Ex Minette collection.

Turt Mine, Satu Mare, Maramures Co., Romania.

This specimen is no longer in my collection.

Photos copyright © Carles Millan. Reproduction allowed as long as the author's name is cited and the image not modified. Creative Commons Attribution Licence - Some Rights Reserved.

[Carles Millan]

[Carles Millan]

Baryte, stibiconite, quartz

Group of tabular Baryte crystals up to 45 mm, with numerous acicular crystals of stibnite to 26 mm in length replaced by brown stibiconite scattered about the Baryte crystals, on a matrix plate of crystallized iron stained drusy quartz. Overall size: 113 mm x 93 mm x 38 mm.

Dahegou Mine, Lushi Co., Sanmenxia Prefecture, Henan, China.

This specimen is no longer in my collection.

Photos copyright © Carles Millan. Reproduction allowed as long as the author's name is cited and the image not modified. Creative Commons Attribution Licence - Some Rights Reserved.

[Tracy]

That's an amazing piece Carles.

- Tracy

[Carles Millan]

Tracy,

Many thanks once again for your kind comment.

[Ed Huskinson]

The cervantite I mean stibiconite with Baryte really speaks to me. The contrast of the earthy stibiconite with the splendent Baryte, set against the background of the iron-stained quartz, well, it all just comes together perfectly.

Is there a lot of this stuff around Carles, or was it something that you just stumbled across somewhere? You may have set me on the hunt....

Thanks again for all your posts.

Ed