Photography with purpose. Craft with precision.
Original photography, honest gear guides, travel stories and the meticulous world of gemstone faceting — all shaped by real experience.
Explore GottaPics
Choose the part of photography and craft that interests you most. Each section brings together practical information, original images and clearly explained experience.
Gear Reviews
Practical camera and gear reviews, with real-world context, clear explanations and hands-on experience where possible.
Tips & Techniques
Straightforward photography theory and practical techniques, shaped by real shoots, experiments and problem-solving.
Sell Your Photos
Honest lessons from submitting and selling photographs through stock platforms, including what has worked in practice.
Travel Photography
Places encountered through work and travel, documented with original photographs, honest impressions and useful details for other visitors.
Gem Faceting
A hands-on craft where precision, patience and photography meet — from selecting rough material to documenting the finished stone.
Built from real projects and real journeys
GottaPics is created by Marian Florinel Condruz, a photographer and gem faceter who documents the work behind the images. You will find original photographs, practical lessons from the field and transparent explanations of what has — and has not — been tested personally.
Latest from GottaPics
New photography stories, faceting projects and practical guides.
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Fuerteventura: A Place I Would Recommend to Anyone
A recent visit to Fuerteventura, photographed with the Olympus OM-1 and M.Zuiko 8–25mm f/4 PRO lens.
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What Pexels Has Given Back to Me: 62 Million Views and a Different Kind of Value
For years, I have shared photographs on Pexels. They are free for people to use under the platform’s licence, so this is not a story about direct royalties every time somebody downloads a file. It is about a different kind of return: visibility, trust, credit, unexpected connections and proof that a photograph made on a…
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Goodrington Sands to Roundham Head: A Beautiful Evening Walk in Paignton
A real evening walk from Goodrington Sands towards Roundham Head in Paignton, with original photographs of Tor Bay, the beach, coastal path, rocks, shells and moonlight.
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Hand-Faceted Olive Tourmaline – A Small Gem with Remarkable Character
Not every beautiful gemstone begins as an extraordinary crystal. Sometimes, the most rewarding projects start as modest pieces of rough that reveal their true character only after careful planning, patient cutting and countless small decisions made throughout the faceting process. This natural olive tourmaline is one of those gemstones. Purchased from Joe Henley Rough &…
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From Gifted Rough to Finished Gem: Hand-Faceting a Brazilian Amethyst
Every gemstone has its own story, and this one is particularly special to me. The amethyst featured in this project was one of three rough crystals generously gifted to me by Steve Moriarty of More Gems after I purchased my Ultra Tec VL Classic Analog faceting machine through him. It was a thoughtful gesture that…
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Private Faceting Commissions
Discreet, Precision-Focused Faceting for Collectors and Professionals Private faceting commissions are intended for collectors, gem professionals, and serious enthusiasts who seek a discreet, focused, and technically controlled gemstone cutting service. This type of work is not designed for commercial volume or fast turnaround, but for precision faceting, finish quality, and respect for both the material…
Start with what inspires you
Browse practical photography advice, discover the precision of gem faceting or follow the latest journeys through the lens.