Susan on mon 4 mar 02
I had to turn in slides of my work to my instructor so she can critique
them. They are to be used for my portfolio to get accepted down the road
into the masters program. Most of my work is white claybody with hand
painting, underglazes, etc of bright colors... or metallic raku. I choose a
black velvet background to show contrast...plus I like how it looked. I was
just told that a black background/base is NEVER used for ones portfolio
(doesn't show depth??)
any input on what color backgrounds are acceptable?
thanks
susan
Sharon Villines on tue 5 mar 02
> I choose a
> black velvet background to show contrast...plus I like how it looked. I was
> just told that a black background/base is NEVER used for ones portfolio
> (doesn't show depth??)
"Rules" like this are rarely of any value. They usually represent one person
or one school of thought. HOWEVER if the person judging the slides is of
that school of thought, you need to behave as if it were true.
The best person to ask is the people to whom you will be submitting the
slides. If you switch to another color, you may find that is their current
pet peeve.
Sharon.
--
Sharon Villines, Arts Coach
http://www.artscoach.ws
ArtsCoachFAQs Newsletter
http://www.artscoachfaqs.com
Marcia Selsor on tue 5 mar 02
A neutral gray photo paper should reduce the contrast between the black
and white and will actually help bring out the detail.
IMHO
Marcia
Susan wrote:
>
> I had to turn in slides of my work to my instructor so she can critique
> them. They are to be used for my portfolio to get accepted down the road
> into the masters program. Most of my work is white claybody with hand
> painting, underglazes, etc of bright colors... or metallic raku. I choose a
> black velvet background to show contrast...plus I like how it looked. I was
> just told that a black background/base is NEVER used for ones portfolio
> (doesn't show depth??)
>
> any input on what color backgrounds are acceptable?
>
> thanks
> susan
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
--
Marcia Selsor
selsor@imt.net
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/Tuscany2002.html
Dannon Rhudy on tue 5 mar 02
At 08:40 AM 03/05/2002 -0500, you wrote:
>> I choose a
>> black velvet background to show contrast...plus I like how it looked. I was
>> just told that a black background/base is NEVER used for ones portfolio
>> (doesn't show depth??)
Look at CM, Clay Times, etc., to see how the slides are done.
You'll note that most have a graduated dark-to-light background.
Such backgrounds help to show the three-dimensionality of work.
However, if you cannot get one of those backgrounds (available from
photo supply places/catalogues), choose a medium neutral gray
background. A large piece of matt board will work: pin the upper
part to the wall, curve the board down across a table top. The
table will support the work, and the curved background will create
a smooth transition. Be careful that any cast shadows are not
heavy enough to distract from the work. Avoid using fabric for
a backdrop. It almost always shows folds or wrinkles, or the wind
moves it if you are working outside. Your intent is to show your work
at it's very best advantage. That means NO distractions from the
work itself. Remember that there is competition for all those grad
school slots.
regards
Dannon Rhudy
Earl Brunner on tue 5 mar 02
Graduated gray scale. They sell them in Photo supply shops.
Susan wrote:
> I had to turn in slides of my work to my instructor so she can critique
> them. They are to be used for my portfolio to get accepted down the road
> into the masters program. Most of my work is white claybody with hand
> painting, underglazes, etc of bright colors... or metallic raku. I choose a
> black velvet background to show contrast...plus I like how it looked. I was
> just told that a black background/base is NEVER used for ones portfolio
> (doesn't show depth??)
>
> any input on what color backgrounds are acceptable?
>
> thanks
> susan
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
mailto:bruec@anv.net
Snail Scott on tue 5 mar 02
At 06:49 PM 3/4/02 -0800, you wrote:
>...I was
>just told that a black background/base is NEVER used for ones portfolio
>...any input on what color backgrounds are acceptable?
SOLID black is often frowned on, and that's the effect that
velvet gives...looks like the stuff is floating. A piece of
plain black paper or fabric can be lit to give more variation.
Lighter on the bottom is the usual. This can be achieved with
lighting alone, but graduated paper, which fades from dark
to light, is the most common choice. However, it can be a
bit expensive. If your do small, well-behaved work, it might
well be worth the investment ($50), as it can be reused. My
large, awkward work invariably scuffs the backdrop paper, so
I use cheaper materials, but I will be the first to admit
that the resulting photos look less professional as a result.
Other 'neutral' colors (grey, white, beige, charcoal, ivory)
are acceptable, if they show off the work better. 'Actual'
colors like blue, red, green, etc, will NOT be well-received.
Even if they look great with your work, skip them, and stick
with the neutrals for documentation photography. Save the
colored backdrops for advertising photos and such.
-Snail
vince pitelka on tue 5 mar 02
> > I choose a
> > black velvet background to show contrast...plus I like how it looked. I
was
> > just told that a black background/base is NEVER used for ones portfolio
> > (doesn't show depth??)
>
> "Rules" like this are rarely of any value. They usually represent one
person
> or one school of thought. HOWEVER if the person judging the slides is of
> that school of thought, you need to behave as if it were true.
It is true that there are no absolute rules about things like this, but a
very good guideline is that 3-D work should never look like it is floating
in space. You want to have some sense of the surface it is sitting on, and
you should not have to ask any judge about whether this is what they want to
see. No one wants to see floating objects. I personally agree that a
jet-black background is usually inappropriate, but I love a deep charcoal
gray background behind claywork. As long as the lighting is appropriate,
the foreground surface will be visible in front of the work. One of my
favorite surfaces for photographing artwork is a 4x8' sheet of charcoal gray
satin-finish Formica.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Richard Aerni on wed 6 mar 02
>
> SOLID black is often frowned on, and that's the effect that
> velvet gives...looks like the stuff is floating
The slides of my work that I've personally found the most striking were
taken on black velvet with a black velvet background. Nevertheless, two
separate ceramics magazines both rejected those images (even though my work
was specifically solicited for the articles) because of the black
background.
Best,
Richard Aerni
Bloomfield, NY
Susan on wed 6 mar 02
thank you everyone for your advice. I will be redoing my slides. As a
graphic artist/art director/current student, I agree with Richard that black
velvet is striking but up to now only used this background for
advertisement. For university acceptance portfolio, those reviewing slides
have their own requirements they are used to. IMHO, one's artwork is unique
and their slides should be less ordinary and more striking and individual.
I happen to like CM's cover this issue. The black to gray background is
striking but the average ceramic student trying to get into a decent masters
program may not have the graphic design skills of airbrushing shadows in
Photoshop to make their slides look like the cover of CM.
susan
> From: Richard Aerni
> Organization: Richard Aerni Ceramic Design
> Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
> Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 07:49:31 -0500
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: portfolio (slides) question
>
>>
>> SOLID black is often frowned on, and that's the effect that
>> velvet gives...looks like the stuff is floating
>
> The slides of my work that I've personally found the most striking were
> taken on black velvet with a black velvet background. Nevertheless, two
> separate ceramics magazines both rejected those images (even though my work
> was specifically solicited for the articles) because of the black
> background.
>
> Best,
> Richard Aerni
> Bloomfield, NY
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
Marie Gibbons on wed 6 mar 02
In a message dated 3/6/02 8:53:48 AM Pacific Standard Time,
sgraphic@MAIL.INSTANET.COM writes:
> I happen to like CM's cover this issue. The black to gray background is
> striking but the average ceramic student trying to get into a decent masters
> program may not have the graphic design skills of airbrushing shadows in
> Photoshop to make their slides look like the cover of CM.
>
that gradiation of black to grey is often done with lighting. my
photographer shoots my work against a greay paper... the shading happens by
the way he lights the work.
marie gibbons
www.oooladies.com
Fredrick Paget on wed 6 mar 02
Tastes sure do vary! Black velvet is the preferred background in Orchid
photography,
Fred
>>
>> SOLID black is often frowned on, and that's the effect that
>> velvet gives...looks like the stuff is floating
From Fred Paget, Marin County, California, USA
Richard Jeffery on wed 6 mar 02
there's never a right way.
we have a high profile magazine in UK - Country Living - which does a good
craft spread in the opening pages. B ut everything has to be photographed
on white so it fits their page style, which is to cut out the object and
just float on the page. looks good, but a pain to light.
Richard Jeffery
Web Design and Photography
www.theeleventhweb.co.uk
Bournemouth UK
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Susan
Sent: 06 March 2002 15:51
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: portfolio (slides) question
thank you everyone for your advice. I will be redoing my slides. As a
graphic artist/art director/current student, I agree with Richard that black
velvet is striking but up to now only used this background for
advertisement. For university acceptance portfolio, those reviewing slides
have their own requirements they are used to. IMHO, one's artwork is unique
and their slides should be less ordinary and more striking and individual.
I happen to like CM's cover this issue. The black to gray background is
striking but the average ceramic student trying to get into a decent masters
program may not have the graphic design skills of airbrushing shadows in
Photoshop to make their slides look like the cover of CM.
susan
> From: Richard Aerni
> Organization: Richard Aerni Ceramic Design
> Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
> Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 07:49:31 -0500
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: portfolio (slides) question
>
>>
>> SOLID black is often frowned on, and that's the effect that
>> velvet gives...looks like the stuff is floating
>
> The slides of my work that I've personally found the most striking were
> taken on black velvet with a black velvet background. Nevertheless, two
> separate ceramics magazines both rejected those images (even though my
work
> was specifically solicited for the articles) because of the black
> background.
>
> Best,
> Richard Aerni
> Bloomfield, NY
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Tommy Humphries on wed 6 mar 02
----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan"
> I happen to like CM's cover this issue. The black to gray background is
> striking but the average ceramic student trying to get into a decent
masters
> program may not have the graphic design skills of airbrushing shadows in
> Photoshop to make their slides look like the cover of CM.
>
> susan
>
>
That is why, if you want great photos of your pots, you pay a pro to do the
set for you...either that or learn the art of photography yourself. A good
camera, excellent slide film, and a few hundred dollars worth of lighting,
plus lots of practice and a good eye for design, will for about the price of
photoshop pro produce the results you seek. It is a shame that folks
nowadays just naturally assume that a great photo has been digitally
enhanced...sadder that many times they are right.
Photography ain't hard to do...but it is like pottery, you need to know all
about the process in order to do it well.
Tommy
PS And yes GOOD photographers do all the steps themselves, well all but
making the film, but they know how, and what makes it work, and why. That
is what makes their photos pop!
Jeff Webb on sat 9 mar 02
And Elvis paintings.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Fredrick Paget
Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2002 12:20 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: portfolio (slides) question
Tastes sure do vary! Black velvet is the preferred background in Orchid
photography,
Fred
>>
>> SOLID black is often frowned on, and that's the effect that
>> velvet gives...looks like the stuff is floating
From Fred Paget, Marin County, California, USA
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Tony Ferguson on wed 13 mar 02
I'm back after computer down,
You don't need photoshop. Get neutral gray photo paper or formica. Attach
to wall and bend down onto table. Light from the top and the side with a
reflection card (foam core works great and cheap) on the other side. You
may need to adjust the back of the formica or paper (the advantage of
formica is you can adjust your horizon line if you string it up on
pulleys--I suppose you could do this with paper too but it would depend on
how you mount it on the wall). It will look great and no photoshop.
Besides, any photographer in their right mind is not going to spend their
time using photoshop to make the picture. IT is all in the setup and
lighting. Good luck.
Thank you!
Tony Ferguson
Stoneware, Porcelain, Raku
www.aquariusartgallery.com
Web Site, Marketing & Photographic Services for Artists
Workshops available
218-727-6339
315 N. Lake Ave
Apt 312
Duluth, MN 55806
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Jeffery"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2002 10:09 AM
Subject: Re: portfolio (slides) question
> there's never a right way.
>
> we have a high profile magazine in UK - Country Living - which does a good
> craft spread in the opening pages. B ut everything has to be photographed
> on white so it fits their page style, which is to cut out the object and
> just float on the page. looks good, but a pain to light.
>
>
>
>
>
> Richard Jeffery
>
> Web Design and Photography
> www.theeleventhweb.co.uk
> Bournemouth UK
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
> Behalf Of Susan
> Sent: 06 March 2002 15:51
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Re: portfolio (slides) question
>
>
> thank you everyone for your advice. I will be redoing my slides. As a
> graphic artist/art director/current student, I agree with Richard that
black
> velvet is striking but up to now only used this background for
> advertisement. For university acceptance portfolio, those reviewing slides
> have their own requirements they are used to. IMHO, one's artwork is
unique
> and their slides should be less ordinary and more striking and individual.
>
> I happen to like CM's cover this issue. The black to gray background is
> striking but the average ceramic student trying to get into a decent
masters
> program may not have the graphic design skills of airbrushing shadows in
> Photoshop to make their slides look like the cover of CM.
>
> susan
>
> > From: Richard Aerni
> > Organization: Richard Aerni Ceramic Design
> > Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
> > Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 07:49:31 -0500
> > To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> > Subject: portfolio (slides) question
> >
> >>
> >> SOLID black is often frowned on, and that's the effect that
> >> velvet gives...looks like the stuff is floating
> >
> > The slides of my work that I've personally found the most striking were
> > taken on black velvet with a black velvet background. Nevertheless, two
> > separate ceramics magazines both rejected those images (even though my
> work
> > was specifically solicited for the articles) because of the black
> > background.
> >
> > Best,
> > Richard Aerni
> > Bloomfield, NY
> >
> >
>
____________________________________________________________________________
> __
> > Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
> >
> > You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> > settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
> >
> > Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> > melpots@pclink.com.
> >
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
> __
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
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