Photographing murrini

[awrylemming]

I've been trying to get a half decent picture of a murrini I made, but it's proving difficult, perhaps because it is silver glass.  This is the best I've managed so far:

Heartily pink by awrylemming, on Flickr

I don't have a posh camera, it's a Samsung S1065, with a 5x zoom, so it has to be done within my cameras capabilities.  Aaaargggh, so frustrating.  I've been wrestling with taking decent photos, and in fact managed to take some reasonable ones of beads today, which has tripled my views.  Just goes to show.  It annoys me to put anything up for sale with bad pictures, but I just can't seem to get the hang of digital cameras.
Any (simply phrased!) advice would be hugely appreciated. 

[JaySpangles]

In my limited experience best results come from

a) using the macro setting, which on my little camera only works when the zoom is not out so you need to get very close to your subject

b) using a long exposure to get enough light into the camera.  In order to keep the camera still so you don't get any wobble you need either a tripod ( I have a gorillapod) and I have now just bought a Modahaus Steady Stand which allows me to take photos from above (see http://www.modahaus.com/store/steady-stand-200/) and set the shutter to delay.
I also alter the exposure compensation to about +1, although not all point and shoots have that facility, if yours doesn't you can jack up the exposure to brighten up the image afterwards in whatever photo editing software you have.

c) read the advice from Dickie Doo Dah on here about photographing your beads.  I think it is in the Wiki, the link is the second sticky on this board.

[tinker]

Do you want to have a try with my light tent this afternoon Sue? I'll chuck it in the car.

[awrylemming]

Yes please hun, it's worth a try - will bring camera and manual too! 
I have been using the macro setting, but not correctly by the results.  I'll have a look at the Wiki, although I've had some problems accessing it of late.  Thanks.

[poledra1958]

Will bring my camera as well

[awrylemming]

Aw, thanks 

[Kalorlo]

I think in this one the background's not helping, since it's focusing on the little sparkles and not on the glass.

Yep, they're tricky little things to photograph on their own! Might be easier to take a pic of a bead that had a few close together so you have a bigger area to deal with?

[Margram]

When this happens to me - the camera deciding to focus on the background - I place a strip of paper across the bead, half press the camera button, remove the paper and press button fully. You do need to use a tripod for this .

[awrylemming]

I have tried it on white paper, a dark background, and a number of people tried to take a picture of it today on various backgrounds with various cameras, to no avail.  There is too much detail to pick up in the murrini, some of it definite and some of it shiny silver glass.  Not sure what to do with it now ... 

[Blue Box Studio]

I have tried it on white paper, a dark background, and a number of people tried to take a picture of it today on various backgrounds with various cameras, to no avail.  There is too much detail to pick up in the murrini, some of it definite and some of it shiny silver glass.  Not sure what to do with it now ... 

Send it all to me and I'll hide it away from you so you don't despair longer         

[awrylemming]

You are such a good friend Sue 

[tomcat]

send it to me and I will take photos of it to send to you 

[awrylemming]

Wot - like a ransom? 

[tomcat]

nah, more like dear mum, having a lovely time in wales .........

[spexy]

Bring it with you again tomorrow Sue, I'd like to have a go if I may. I like a challenge.