Documenting Your Artwork

Last Week: Peer EditingWebsite AssignmentArtist’s Statement Draft 1 Due

This Week: Documenting your artworkDiscuss Capstone Requirements and Digital DocumentationStrategic Plan Goals DueWebsite Domain Name DueStudio Visit

Next Week: Galleries and where to find themArtist’s CV Draft Due

Documenting Your Artwork

Photo Supply Resources:

B & H Photo Supply - www.bhphotovideo.com

Freestyle Photographic Supplies – www.freestylephoto.biz

Amazon – www.amazon.com

Photo Services In Fort Collins:

Digi Graphics – www.digi-graphics.com 3663 S. College Ave Ste. 15 970.482.8595

Documenting Your Artwork

Supplies Needed

Camera

Filters

Tripod

Lights

Documenting Your Artwork

What do you want for Graduation? A biefcase? An interview suit? A trip to Europe? NO, you want a Camera. (Europe would be cool

too.)

Ideally, you want a digital SLR camera.

The lens quality and clarity is probably more important than mega pixels. Most cameras have more than enough mega-pixels, which come into play more with enlarging prints.

You want to be able to manually override exposures and/or have an aperture priority setting.

Does your camera allow you to take photos that automatically bracket exposures? …and can you set the bracket settings?

Documenting Your Artwork

Camera, cont.

You want to make sure that the lens is not distorting or “bowing” the image. Most cameras come with a small zoom lens that will allow some range of depth. You want to find the point on the lens settings for your camera that will not bend straight lines. This used to be 55mm, which was closest to the curve of the lens in your eye, but some cameras are different.

You want to be able to set the focal length of the lens and then MANUALLY focus the lens to give you a clear image.

Documenting Your Artwork

Camera

Filters

An adjustable, circular polarizing filter that screws on to the end of your lens is absolutely worth the $15-$50 you’ll spend. It can be rotated to greatly reduce glare on the surface of your artwork.

As you establish your studio, consider getting polarizing filter sheets; these are plastic sheets that you can place over the light source. In combination with a circular filter on your camera, polarizing the light can eliminate most surface glare.

What is the texture of your artwork?

Documenting Your Artwork

CameraFilters

Tripod

Stable is more important than fancy.

You want to eliminate vibration. Do you need a cable? Does your camera come with a timer? …or a remote?

Can you insure that you are parallel and perpendicular to the artwork? Do you need to measure to avoid “keystoning” your image?

Can you mark the floor to repeat your placement?

Documenting Your ArtworkCameraFiltersTripod

Lights

Controlled and consistent are more important than fancy.

Starting with clamp lights is fine. A ceramic socket can allow a cheap lamp to handle a strong bulb, at least for a little while.

The beam of the light needs to be larger than the artwork.Two lights at 45K, overlapping evenly by aiming at opposite sides (cross lighting) and pretty far back from the artwork

Avoid hotspots, and be aware of color temperature. Your camera will be more sensitive to this than your eye. Adjust the white balance settings in your camera (don’t just rely on photoshop).

Documenting Your Artwork

General Tips

You want to be able to create the same lighting situation every time. Consistency is key to getting good results.

Ideally, you are cross lighting with at least two lamps.

Use a gray card to test exposures, and bracket your exposures.

Put a white or color strip in the shot, but outside the artwork.

Don’t just say “it’s ok, I’ll fix it in photoshop.” Get it right in the camera.

Fix it in photoshop.

Documenting Your Artwork

Video:

Otis College: Digitally Photographing Your Own Three-Dimensional Art.