Rose Plume Agate & Pietersite

RO8750.jpgSome of the samples I have been photographing are nothing short of amazing in so many ways. I have added a couple more Pietersite pictures and a new one, Rose Plume Agate photos. To contemplate how nature formed something so absolutely fascinating to look at, the fact that these patterns probably formed millions of years ago, and here I am today portraying them is just mind boggling. One of the best parts is that I am only scratching the surface on the possibilities with these pieces of stone and probably earning a junior geologist ranger badge. How do they look under different types of lighting? What if I apply even more magnification? How do the patterns react to different filters? I have really only started.

Pietersite is a type of rock as I described it in my earlier post. This particular sample has about 1000 amazing paintings within it in a couple square inches. The number of images I get from it is really just limited by my time available to sit down and photograph it.

The person I purchased the other stone here from called it Graveyard Point-Regency Rose Plume Agate. It has translucency to it, opening up a variety of possibilities for lighting. Here it is portrayed with some backlight to give it a golden glow. . .  One thing these closeups of Agates remind me of are the deep space images we see of nebulas and other gas clouds. .  The similarity is quite interesting. .  More images have been added to my rock art gallery.

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13 Comments

  1. Mark great experiments. There definitely is not anything as amazing as creation. Beautiful images!

  2. Yep, … you got the bug too! :)

    Just so happens that I purchased some of these plume agates today along with a couple small pieces of petrified wood.
    There also will be a rock and mineral show in 2 weeks very near here.
    I’m scared to go to it!!

    Beautiful images here mark, and yes, those abstract possibilities are simply endless!

  3. Awesome, a world unseen by most people. I love these photographs.

  4. Agates have great potential, with their bands of colors. As you say, sometimes they look like nebulae! Kind of a micro/macro thing. Very interesting!

  5. Hey Mark, I find this stuff very interesting, you’ve done a great job with the images. I may have to try these someday myself. Even though I love abstract images like this and have a blast finding them, I don’t have a lot of luck selling abstracts at my art shows. Because of the poor abstract sales I find myself taking less and less to the shows, which is a shame because they are incredible images of natures artwork.

  6. Awesome stuff Mark. I always look forward to your new additions in this series.

  7. Mark, these are fantastic!
    Inspires me to work at my rock captures (the ones I don’t show to anyone, heh) and see if I can get something more interesting.

  8. These are simply beautiful. Thanks for opening up a new world to me.

  9. I love the colors and patterns – great job Mark!

  10. Mark, you are rapidly becoming a ‘rock star’! I love these shots. I’ve always been very interested in rocks and the history that they contain within time. Thanks for sharing them. The lighting is absolutely beautiful, BTW.

  11. Wow, I am not familiar with these stones, but the images are amazing. As you mentioned the lighting options add to it…wonder what it would looki like if you put a red or amber gel over the light source. Wild stuff.

  12. Thanks everyone.

    Howard, yes, different gels are one of the ideas I had as well – especially because the little R1C1 flash kit I use has them readily available.

    Combining these with some different textures may yield some interesting stuff as well.

  13. Wow , very beautiful ,it’s so incredible that these designs are naturally formed and that they were no intentionally made.

    I bet the would look spectacular on a vase or pillar design.

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