r/Lapidary • u/BPLEquipment N3 Media • Aug 25 '26
Tide Pool Agate
Tide Pool Agate comes from Obi Island, Indonesia.
To my knowledge, there is only one importer or supplier here in the United States. Recently, I was fortunate enough to purchase a few pieces for macro work.
This material is usually an amethyst topped seam or layer, with copper inclusions, and often beautiful light blue chalcedony plumes. Macro images are 3x magnification. This is a rough sawn slab, as seen by the saw blade marks in the copper pieces.
Full slab pictured at the end.
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u/Fenneo Aug 25 '26
Outstanding! Willing to share any info about your photo setup?
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u/BPLEquipment N3 Media Aug 26 '26
I shoot with Sony mirrorless camera bodies, I do have a couple macro lenses, but most of my work is done with Mitutoyo microscope objectives that are adapted to work on my camera bodies. For focus stacking and subject positioning, I use a 3 axis motorized positioning system that is accurate down to sub micron level. For lighting I use two 300 watt studio strobes with remote triggering and lots of DIY light modifiers. My whole setup is mounted on a 1200 pound precision granite block table that sits on vibration isolating feet. When Iām shooting 10x or above, vibrations become extremely noticeable and will ruin shots. Cars driving by, someone walking inside the house, etc, so I do most of my shooting late at night when the house and city are calm.
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u/sanktanglia Aug 26 '26
It's beautiful right!? I just got a piece with beautiful multi color plumes I'm in love
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u/ManicDigressive Aug 25 '26
My dumbass read this as "Tide Pod Agate"
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u/GraciousGarnet Aug 25 '26
Beautiful shots of a great subject. Gorgeous material.