pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on mon 7 jan 08
deep and pensive musings
Hi Mel, all...
My first thought, and, my conclusion, both turn out to be the same -
If it were me, I would Photograph these sorts of items with the subject set
Horizontally.
If I were to employ the opaque fabric 'tent' or 'cube' or Gauze Igloo, or
whatever it is, I would simply suspend it for the Camera to look 'down'
through it, making a little hole in the end of it if need be for the Camera
to look down into...so the Tent were like a little 'Igloo'...
Changing items to be Photographed, should be easily done by merely lifting
up the 'skirt', reaching in there and removing the last item, and, placing
the next one onto the Centered low Stand.
And, the Plate, Trencher, Platter or whatever it may be, would simply sit
elevated somewhat, on a Coffee Can or other stable thing to lift it from the
appropriately covered 'ground'...
And, "Presto!" no matter what size ( within the limits of the parameters of
the 'tent' I s'pose ) , no matter what sort of foot or back the item has, no
matter what shape the back is, Glazed or plain, the damned thing will come
out looking like a Million Bucks.
Of course Images of Pots ( to me anyway ) do not look 'right' when the
Pot/Plate/Platter or whatever it may be, when it's lip or rim or foot is
seen to be 'on' something...no matter how mysteriously it is propped up to
stand on edge 'on' some surface.
Pots to me look best in images, when the mystery of their levitation is
entire and discrete, and then, the sweet thing about it, is almost no one
notices that it's suspension or 'floating' IS 'mysterious', they just notice
a nice Pot which looks a lot better than it would have standing on edge or
standing 'on' something.
So, as for me, what I would do, is to eschew all or any mechanical schemes
for holding the 'back' of these things where the item is coerced to be more
or less vertical or inclined, and, instead, have a simple ground cover of
some pale Velveteen or quiet texture, a simple possibly padded, small stable
Stand of at least four or five inches in height ( like the old style one
Pound Coffee Cans used to be when you still opened them with the little
'Key' ) and, array the opaque fabric 'Tent' or old sheer threadbare 'Summer
'Sheet' or other, to suit.
The Camera may be secured to a mount which affixes to whatever handy and
sturdy cross-thing one has passing over the 'tent' top...
Two Chair-Backs and a small Ladder across them with the 'Tent' in the middle
of course, would do fine, and would be easy to round up, easy to put away
once done.
Thus, one's "80 Inch Platters", ( or one's "81 Inch Platters, ) and, one's
more diminutive Demitasse Saucers ( on a smaller diameter 'Stand' of
course ) , one's Plates and Trenchers and so on, all can be easily
accommodated, with ultra low tech, splendid results, no expense, and no
dangers of iffy or failing or tedious or hard to come by mechanical
schemes...
Pots of a bulbous or tall or other non-plate-like form, similarly can be
laid nicely on some little extempore Stand or pair of Stands, using a little
'tac' Putty even, decided for the form in question, so the these forms of
Pots also may be seen to 'float' sweetly without touching anything, and
without compromise or apparent Gravity bothering them in any way.
So, now that I have 'invented' it, uhhhhhhhhhhh, how do I get paid????
Oh! I know!
I will get to see Images of Pots and Plates and Trenchers and Platters and
other stuff, looking as good as they 'should', not having to have their
Feet or Rims tiresomely 'on' anything...
A more than ample reward for my humble submission, I'd say...!
Love...
Phil
l v
----- Original Message -----
From: "MEL JACOBSON"
> damn that dale neese...and such a good friend too.
> nice photo, good system and damn nice plates to boot.
> but, $19.95 seems a bit steep.
>
> phil:
> any size up to 80 inches across would be nice.
> from 2-80 inches. and, cuber is a mathematics system,
> not an island south of florida. and FEMER IS A BONE.
>
> i have had three private emails with great ideas.
> (i will hold them as ransom for phil. see if he can
> top them.)
Lee Love on wed 9 jan 08
deep and pensive musings
On 1/9/08, Vince Pitelka wrote:
> If you are photographing the face of a plate or shallow bowl, it doesn't
> hurt to have it appear to be floating in space, because that's how you would
> see it if it were hanging on the wall.
Not exactly. The way to show how something would look hanging on
the wall is to hang it on a wall.
My plates and platters are functional and not primarily for
hanging over the couch, but I sometimes provide a way to hang them for
the functional purpose of storing them. on the wall. This storage
consideration is especially important in Japan, where cupboards are
usually not big enough to hold platters.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
http://groups.google.com/group/ClayCraft
"Men are born ignorant, not stupid. They are made stupid by
education." -- Bertrand Russell
Lee Love on wed 9 jan 08
deep and pensive musings
On 1/9/08, vpitelka wrote:
> Lee wrote:
> "Not exactly. The way to show how something would look hanging on
> the wall is to hang it on a wall."
>
> Don't be difficult, Lee.
That's your job, right?
> floating in space unless you use some kind of textured or patterned
> backdrop,
Easiest way is a plate stand. DOH! That is what they use
here. The make very nice wooden ones.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
http://groups.google.com/group/ClayCraft
"Men are born ignorant, not stupid. They are made stupid by
education." -- Bertrand Russell
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