The second edition of the workshop “Photomicrography Techniques in Gemology” will be held in Parma, Italy, from November 2 to 3, 2026. The course will be taught by gemologist and photomicrography expert Liviano Soprani, former winner of the Gem-A Photographer of the Year 2024 award, whom IGR interviewed on the occasion of the workshop’s first edition. The organizers include Liviano Soprani Taglieria Pietre Preziose, the Gem-Tech Gemological Institute, and IGR, with the support of Martinez Diamanti as the main sponsor.
Participants will have two full days dedicated to in-depth theoretical and practical sessions to learn how to photograph gemstone inclusions under the microscope in the best possible way. This photomicrography workshop dedicated to gem inclusions is designed for gemologists and gemology students who want to transform microscope observations into sharp, legible, and high-impact images.
The course will start with the fundamentals of photography — aperture, exposure time, ISO sensitivity, and how they interact with each other. It will then analyze in depth the differences between CCD and CMOS microscope cameras compared to APS-C and Full Frame cameras, as well as the differences between trinocular and eyepiece adapters. Discussions will cover the importance of light and various types of illumination, and will also address highly debated topics such as focus stacking and post-production with Photoshop, all supported by demonstrations and practical hands-on exercises.
Registration details are available on the Gem-Tech Gemmological Institute’s website on the dedicated page. The course will be held exclusively in Italian.
