Lili Krakowski on thu 19 jul 07
Both in the magazines and on ClayArt we have a frequent go around on
photography. As I went to R.I.T. with its legendary photography
department, I ahve a very healthy respect for the art. And it IS an art.
I also have protested over the years--soon to be decades---that we are
potters NOT photographers, and that the importance of photography for
"success" in the clay world is unfair etc.
Having ranted my usual rant:
If you want photos of your work to amaze and delight your friends, or to
remember bygone pots , I find a normal digital camera works fine. I just
sent some pix of some favorite pots to a friend...and that is what they
were. Pix from a normal (I think $125) digital camera.
If you want to submit "images" (holy cow!) of your "vessels" (sainte vache!)
to a show or send them to a magazine then you need to dig deeper.
I have found outdoors cheapest, easiest.
I use the method which (if I read her right) Marcia suggested. I take the
pots outdoors put them on a piece of dry wall/plaster board (which is the
perfect gray) and hang a white sheet between my "subject"and the sun. I use
an old sheet . The top is over a clothes line, the bottom tucked under the
plaster board. It is an old sheet so grass stains and dirt form the rocks
I may need to hold it stretched do not matter.
I know I live in the country--but even in a city there are outdoors. It can
be a fire escape, a stoop--or you grab a couple of friends and head for the
park.
I do own a costlier camera I take slides with. Here too I use outdoor
light as easiest, cheapest, and again, plaster boards. One to set the pot
on, one or two as back walls.
If you do not want plaster board, you can build a sort of box with plywood
and paint it the color of plaster board. The box has a bottom, no top, and
only two sides--it looks a bit like an open book, stood up. In essence it
is a corner with a bottom. Go to a paint store, have them mix some paint
the color of plaster board. No big deal. I have a set up like that, the
box comes apart, the back is hinged---I had a great time building it. YES!
from dumpster plywood!
As to when I need super shots-I trade with a friend who IS a photographer.
She has a don't-ask-how-costly Nikon and that is that.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
Marcia Selsor on fri 20 jul 07
Lili,
Just a note, I had a 4 ft. wide backdrop roll of thunder gray that
lasted years.
I think it cost $29 way back when.
In a pinch for smaller objects I have used colored (black or gray)
charcoal paper from an art supply store.
I used an ancient Pentex purchased in 1970 for 3 decades. I finally
had to buy a new body from Porters but could use the lenses from my
old camera. I also have a digital which I now use almost exclusively.
Marcia Selsor
http://marciaselsor.com
>
SNIP
> I have found outdoors cheapest, easiest.
>
> I use the method which (if I read her right) Marcia suggested. I
> take the
> pots outdoors put them on a piece of dry wall/plaster board (which
> is the
> perfect gray) and hang a white sheet between my "subject"and the
> sun. I use
> an old sheet . The top is over a clothes line, the bottom tucked
> under the
> plaster board. It is an old sheet so grass stains and dirt form
> the rocks
> I may need to hold it stretched do not matter.
>
> I know I live in the country--but even in a city there are
> outdoors. It can
> be a fire escape, a stoop--or you grab a couple of friends and head
> for the
> park.
>
> I do own a costlier camera I take slides with. Here too I use
> outdoor
> light as easiest, cheapest, and again, plaster boards. One to
> set the pot
> on, one or two as back walls.
>
> If you do not want plaster board, you can build a sort of box with
> plywood
> and paint it the color of plaster board. The box has a bottom, no
> top, and
> only two sides--it looks a bit like an open book, stood up. In
> essence it
> is a corner with a bottom. Go to a paint store, have them mix
> some paint
> the color of plaster board. No big deal. I have a set up like
> that, the
> box comes apart, the back is hinged---I had a great time building
> it. YES!
> from dumpster plywood!
>
> As to when I need super shots-I trade with a friend who IS a
> photographer.
> She has a don't-ask-how-costly Nikon and that is that.
>
> Lili Krakowski
> Be of good courage
>
Marcia Selsor
http://marciaselsor.com
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