Large print quality help

[kevinoc]

A quick background:

I am a glass artist that happens to use quite a bit of photography in the presentation of my pieces.

Macro photography allows me to focus my audiences attention on fine details otherwise overlooked. I present the images to galleries and clients as abstract photos.

http://sta.sh/#/d4zialom68h

Make:NIKON CORPORATION
Model:NIKON D3000
Shutter Speed:80/10 second
Aperture:F/29.0
Focal Length:60 mm
ISO Speed:100

The link above is an unedited NEF, I am looking for ways to up the clarity, I find these images really grainy and it shows on the prints.

I usually crop 50%
25-50 contrast
0-10 saturation
0-25 brightness
and clean the dust up.

I am willing to rent equipment to take better shots, my local source for rental equipment is Vistek is Canada's Digital Camera Store, Shop for Digital SLRs, Digital Cameras, Video Cameras and more - Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Canada and they got about everything.

You can find examples of my finished work
OConnellFineGlass's deviantART Gallery

Please rip it apart, I am hitting a wall with what I am teaching my self.

[kevinoc]

I forgot to add this and I can't find an edit button.

I will be doing and 96" x 36" print in feb for a commission, that is why I now have to push to fix this.

[cyber3d]

Rent a Hasselblad. strong tripod, continuous lights (much better than flash for you particular works). If you are going that large and want to get finer imaging you have to go to a larger format and crop in the camera - not in post processing. I used to shoot commercial photography (back in the film days) and would recommend a 4x5 but with digital backs and a medium format Zeiss lens 2 1/4 is the way to go IMO.

[windrider86]

We would appreciate it if you would post one of your images here for us!