mel jacobson on mon 17 apr 06
mel,
I've twice sent this post to say thanks and to clarify some things about
the Photography Workshop but it hasn't gone through. It's not in the
archives and I don't see it in my digest.
Could you make sure it gets posted. Thanks
------------------------------------
I also had a wonderful time at NCECA, it's always great getting together
with my clay friends and I always come away inspired.
Thank you all for attending the Photography workshop. I hope you found it
helpful and hope that you plan to attend next year.
I'd also like to thank Suzanne, Polly, John and Fred, our informal panel,
for so generously giving us their time and advice.
There seems to have been some people who's questions didn't get answered.
Normally, once the workshop gets started, I just stand back and let it
happen only jumping in to make sure people are heard. I think next year,
I'll have to take a more active role and catch the questions and field them
to the individual panel members.
Some other topics I'd like to visit, next year are:
- that digital photography isn't for everyone. For instance, say someone
takes wonderful slides of their own work and has been doing it for a long
time. They want to learn how to do it digitally but find the learning curve
daunting. If you take your slides to a PROFESSIONAL lab, they can scan them
to cd for you and provide you with VERY high quality images. You get to
keep using the equipment you know, still have slides when you need them AND
have digital images. The best of all worlds.
- Photographing your own work isn't for everyone but how do you find and
work a photographer? We touched on this briefly with examples from Sandy
Miller and Bill Van Gilder. These are both very good approaches. I'd like
to hear some others and some other peoples' experiences.
I'm sorry that the photogaphy workshop can't be everything for all people.
We try to provide an event that caters to the broadest audience possible.
I've noticed that the majority of people who come already have some
experience with photography and may have already tried photographing their
own work. I don't think we can spend too much time on the very basics
without losing the rest of the group.
With that in mind, I'd like to recommend a REALLY good primer on
photographing your own work, I've been recommending Steve Meltzer's book
for years. I got mine several years ago for $15. It's too inexpensive, not
to own and Steve does an excellent job of explaining.
Photographing Your Craftwork: A Hands-On Guide for Crafts People (Paperback)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0934026815/qid=1142806134/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-4782022-1012813?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
Steve writes me that he's currently working on a "Digital" version of his
book for Lark, due out in January of 2007.
This is his web site:
http://www.stevefotos.com
He writes a column on craft photography for The Crafts Report:
http://www.craftsreport.com/
This link will take you to some of the articles he's written for the Crafts
Report:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLC,GGLC:1970-01,GGLC:en&q=site:www%2Ecraftsreport%2Ecom+%22steve+meltzer%22
You can probably get the book from him directly if you write him at:
stevefotos@cs.com
There are also the VERY good articles that John Hesselberth has writen for
ClayTimes at:
http://www.claytimes.com/PhotographingWork.htm
And on his own site at:
- http://www.frogpondpottery.com/articles/photopot1.html
- http://www.frogpondpottery.com/articles/photopot2.html
There was also the excellent hand out that John provided at the workshop
with a photograph of the setup he's using now, how to use it and a price
breakdown for each item. Damn Good!
In addition, I know that Ceramic Review has also published at least one
article on the subject a few years ago.
Tony Ferguson, who has served on past panels and always offered great
advice has started doing workshops on photographing your own work. Arrange
for him to come to your group to share his knowledge! Ask Karen Terpstra
about him, she had him come out to her university. He is also putting
together an online course that I'm sure he'll announce very soon.
So there are plenty of materials out there, go for it!
This doesn't mean that we don't want beginners. Just like Clayart, please
do come, you will always get something out of it.
We look forward to seeing you again, next year.
Russel
"Luck is prepaid."
from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://my.pclink.com/~melpots3
John Hesselberth on mon 17 apr 06
On Apr 17, 2006, at 4:53 AM, mel jacobson wrote:
> There was also the excellent hand out that John provided at the
> workshop
> with a photograph of the setup he's using now, how to use it and a
> price
> breakdown for each item. Damn Good!
Hi Everyone,
The page Russell referred to can be downloaded at:
ftp://ftp.frogpondpottery.com/OnePageDigitalPhotoLesson.pdf
It shows how to use a light tent and what you need to buy--many
thanks to Jennifer Boyer for introducing all of us to light tents and
fluorescent floods a couple years ago at the photo workshop in
Indianapolis. I have adopted one--that is all I use now. The only
disadvantage they seem to have is if you want to get it back in its
carrying bag. I can still see Jennifer wrestling with that sucker on
the floor of the Clayart room.
Regards,
John
Steve Slatin on mon 17 apr 06
FWIW, a less expensive option for ready-made a
soft box (light tent) is available at
http://www.eaglecool.com/light_tent.html?
where a 30" cube with a white sweep is $36 plus
shipping.
I got it a week or so ago, and have found it easy
to use -- sets up fast, folds down quickly, and I
get good pictures without reflections.
Can't compare it to other models, since I've only
used the one.
Usual disclaimers apply.
-- Steve S.
--- John Hesselberth
wrote:
> On Apr 17, 2006, at 4:53 AM, mel jacobson
> wrote:
>
> > There was also the excellent hand out that
> John provided at the
> > workshop
> > with a photograph of the setup he's using
> now, how to use it and a
> > price
> > breakdown for each item. Damn Good!
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> The page Russell referred to can be downloaded
> at:
>
> ftp://ftp.frogpondpottery.com/OnePageDigitalPhotoLesson.pdf
Steve Slatin --
In the mornin’ cry of the rooster
The baby lay alone
And the old cow in the green grass
Shed white tears in the red hot sun
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Marta Matray on tue 18 apr 06
steve,
can you replace that fabric under and behind the pot?
that wrinkly fabric takes my attention away from the
pot i want to be in the spotlight.
can you show us pictures you took with this tent?
thanks in advance,
marta
, Steve Slatin wrote:
>FWIW, a less expensive option for ready-made a
>soft box (light tent) is available at
>http://www.eaglecool.com/light_tent.html?
>where a 30" cube with a white sweep is $36 plus
>shipping.
>
>I got it a week or so ago, and have found it easy
>to use -- sets up fast, folds down quickly, and I
>get good pictures without reflections.
>Can't compare it to other models, since I've only
>used the one.
Jennifer Boyer on tue 18 apr 06
Thanks for putting the info online John!
You're right: these are a bear to fold up. I leave mine set up.
Anyone thinking of buying one should look on Ebay. If you search
"light tent" There are some for 14.95 that look just like the ones
Steve is talking about. I don't know if these have quality issues re
the type of fabric used, but it might be worth a try.
Jennifer
On Apr 17, 2006, at 4:21 PM, John Hesselberth wrote:
> On Apr 17, 2006, at 4:53 AM, mel jacobson wrote:
>
>> There was also the excellent hand out that John provided at the
>> workshop
>> with a photograph of the setup he's using now, how to use it and a
>> price
>> breakdown for each item. Damn Good!
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> The page Russell referred to can be downloaded at:
>
> ftp://ftp.frogpondpottery.com/OnePageDigitalPhotoLesson.pdf
>
> It shows how to use a light tent and what you need to buy--many
> thanks to Jennifer Boyer for introducing all of us to light tents and
> fluorescent floods a couple years ago at the photo workshop in
> Indianapolis. I have adopted one--that is all I use now. The only
> disadvantage they seem to have is if you want to get it back in its
> carrying bag. I can still see Jennifer wrestling with that sucker on
> the floor of the Clayart room.
>
*****************************
Jennifer Boyer
Thistle Hill Pottery
Montpelier, VT
http://thistlehillpottery.com
*****************************
Steve Slatin on tue 18 apr 06
Marta --
I am absolutely new to this, please remember ...
The box itself sets up 'tight' -- there're no
wrinkles in the sides or back or bottom parts,
and the flexible metal parts that keep the box
taut are stitched inside the cover, so they are
invisible (it's like the popup solar protectors
you can get for your car, and they fold down in
much the same way).
You do have the joints to deal with that are
sometimes visible in a photo, sometimes not. The
easy way to deal with that is with a 'sweep'
which is a piece of cloth than can be folded and
stored inside the tent if you want to, but when
ironed gives a nice unwrinkled background. They
are available in various colors; the box came
with white, I bought gray and yellow. The yellow
is a little too bright for my taste; I might not
ever use it. The tent and the sweeps have velcro
on them so you can attach them quickly and it
whatever format suits you.
I hope that's intelligible (I'm firing and got up
less than an hour ago to put the last peeps in
the kiln). I'll try to put a few pictures
someplace, or, if it's convenient for you, I'll
e-mail them.
Best wishes -- Steve S
--- Marta Matray wrote:
> steve,
> can you replace that fabric under and behind
> the pot?
> that wrinkly fabric takes my attention away
> from the
> pot i want to be in the spotlight.
> can you show us pictures you took with this
> tent?
> thanks in advance,
> marta
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Jennifer Boyer on tue 18 apr 06
The best way I've found to deal with backgrounds using these tents is
Varitone Graduated Black to White paper. It's heavy and mat. You can
just tape it in place or use little clamps. It gives that nice shaded
background. Click on my web site link below to see a pic.
I may be picky but I've never seen a fabric background that looked as
good as Varitone. Google Varitone Paper and you'll see lots of web
sites. I used to only like the black to white, but I NEEDDDD an
excuse to use the black to red I just saw! Yummy. One website has it
as the background for a violin..
Jennifer
On Apr 18, 2006, at 11:31 AM, Steve Slatin wrote:
>
>
> You do have the joints to deal with that are
> sometimes visible in a photo, sometimes not. The
> easy way to deal with that is with a 'sweep'
> which is a piece of cloth than can be folded and
> stored inside the tent if you want to, but when
> ironed gives a nice unwrinkled background. They
> are available in various colors; the box came
> with white, I bought gray and yellow. The yellow
> is a little too bright for my taste; I might not
> ever use it. The tent and the sweeps have velcro
> on them so you can attach them quickly and it
> whatever format suits you.
>
>
>
>> steve,
>> can you replace that fabric under and behind
>> the pot?
>> that wrinkly fabric takes my attention away
>> from the
>> pot i want to be in the spotlight.
>> can you show us pictures you took with this
>> tent?
>> thanks in advance,
>> marta
>
> __________________________________________________
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> ______________________________________________________________________
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*****************************
Jennifer Boyer
Thistle Hill Pottery
Montpelier, VT
http://thistlehillpottery.com
*****************************
Steve Slatin on tue 18 apr 06
Jennifer's right about the price on e-bay; but
those are rather small -- some are in the region
of 12" x 24". Fine for a smaller item but
(especially if you want to get a graduated
background) the size may be a hinderance. Also,
some of them are priced funny -- shipping and
handling exceeding the item cost, etc.
Because I didn't have any experience with them, I
took John's advice and went with a 30" x 30",
my personal experiences stem from that choice.
Steve S
--- Jennifer Boyer wrote:
> Thanks for putting the info online John!
> You're right: these are a bear to fold up. I
> leave mine set up.
>
> Anyone thinking of buying one should look on
> Ebay. If you search
> "light tent" There are some for 14.95 that look
> just like the ones
> Steve is talking about. I don't know if these
> have quality issues re
> the type of fabric used, but it might be worth
> a try.
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Arnold Howard on wed 19 apr 06
Light tents or boxes are easy to make. Staple
translucent plastic over frames made from 1" x 2"
wood. Fasten the frames together by threading rubber
bands through matching holes in the frames and
holding in place with pencil-size sticks. I'm still
using frames that I made 20 years ago. The plastic is
fragile but easy to replace.
By the way, to get more even reflections through the
plastic, move the lights farther away from the light
tent.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Slatin"
> Jennifer's right about the price on e-bay; but
> those are rather small -- some are in the region
> of 12" x 24". Fine for a smaller item but
> (especially if you want to get a graduated
> background) the size may be a hinderance.
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