A Total of 64 Colors

I had a hard time choosing between a shot featuring the White pieces or one featuring the Black pieces.

RGB LED Art © Flickr user DarkFokus under Creative Commons.

The description said,

These shots were illuminated by seven 5W programmable RGB LED floodlamps arranged in a semisphere above a velvet-lined table and backdrop. Each lamp can be set to 16 different colors at four intensity levels for a total of 64 colors. This second generation light puts out a much smoother, more diffuse light pattern.

What is 'second generation light'?