Kenneth J. Nowicki on sun 13 jul 03
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Mel wrote:
> would love to hear and see from others how they shoot
> big flat stuff.
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I use a homemade bean bag of sorts. Simple. Zip-lock bag filled with sand.
Set it right behind your platter supporting the piece. A little ball of museum
wax where the bottom of a large platter touches the surface of your backdrop
helps keep your piece from sliding out during the shot too. Just make sure that
you look through the viewfinder and make sure that no part of the bag or the
museum wax is seen.
I suppose you could make different sized Zip-lock sand bags for different
sized work if the work was really big, or just stack them on top of each other
behind your platter. I've gotten by just fine with one or two quart sized bags
filled with sand for up to 22" inch platters.
When I lived in Southern California, you could buy that museum wax at just
about any hardware store... was found in the Earthquake Preparedness area. I
think the product was called "Quake Hold" or something to that effect... same
thing as museum wax. If using for photographing your pots, it comes right off the
pot and backdrop easily, leaving no marks. A little more stubborn though when
sitting on grandma's depression glass vase on the shelf after a number of
years, but does the job.
My mentor and friend Lana Wilson once told me when discussing photographing
one's pots... to NEVER use a plate stand if at all possible. It really detracts
from the shot of your work. Lana's advice is right on the money. I've since
found that everytime I see someone's work shot with a plate stand, it ALWAYS
takes my eye away from the piece being photographed... and in my opinion...
ruins the shot. I would suspect that is a definite "no, no" to a juror or magazine
editor viewing work as well.
Shooting large flat work or platters that need support (without resorting to
using plate stands) can be a little tricky at times but certainly not
impossible, and certainly worth the effort.
All the best,
Ken
Kenneth J. Nowicki
Port Washington, NY
RakuArtist@aol.com
Chris Stanley on mon 14 jul 03
Two 2 x4's if the piece is small , two 2 x 6's if it is bigger butt jointed
together at a 90 degree with a pair of ankle weights on the leg extended
behind and away from the plate. Then use a little bit of wax to stick the
piece to the table and the retaining arm that the plate is laying against.
The weights keep the plate from sliding.
http://www.utpb.edu/courses/arts4365/ClayandGlazeprojects/Xris03a.jpg
http://www.utpb.edu/courses/arts4365/ClayandGlazeprojects/theregoes.htm
http://www.utpb.edu/courses/arts4365/ClayandGlazeprojects/partyboy1.htm
Chris
PS. If that don't work, we use shotguns:) PULL!
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