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Art Portfolio
Tips for Photographing Your Artwork
Good slides and photos of the creative work you do are essential for a
number of reasons. It is well worth your while to invest some time and
effort in capturing the images you want to be known for rather than
trusting that a juror or committee will see your skill through the haze
of blurs, distractions and distortions. A good manually adjustable
camera is required to get a great slide, proper lighting is essential
and some practice in placement and alignment of subject matter will help
you create great images and slides to be proud of. You can save money
doing this yourself and the time invested will be well worth the effort
if slides are a big part of your portfolio.
You will need quality slides for competition entry and exhibition
proposals. Most competition jurors will accept only slides for the
contests they jury. The slides are shown in unison so that the judge can
see multiple images, all at the same time or in immediate sequence,
created by a given artist. If your slides are not good quality or if
they do not correctly represent the work you do, you are sabotaging
yourself before the juror begins. When the focus is bad, the image
distorted or the background distracting, the juror might immediately
dismiss your skill and the value of your work. Gallery owners and
curators will want to see clear, definitive examples of your work, and
the same slides used for quality portfolio and competition entry will do
very nicely.
Further, slides make a great professional-style chronological record of
the work you do. It is important for you to keep tabs on your growth
throughout your career. Slides do that very well and duplicates of the
same slides used for exhibition and exhibit proposals are perfect for
this purpose.
The camera used for creating good quality slides is one that can be
manually adjusted, which enables you to control the depth of field and
achieve the exact crispness of focus you want. Use of a tripod will make
the effort more worthwhile. It will hold the camera still, straight and
at the perfect angle so that the image will be the best possible.
Proper lighting is vital and is the most important element after the
choice of camera. Light bulbs with the "temperature" or light quality of
daylight are the best choice in tungsten lighting. Fluorescent tube
light has a green cast and will greatly change the look of your work.
Filters can correct the greenish tone, but natural light and special
tungsten are best. Natural light is good and readily available. Avoid
using direct sunlight because it might be so harsh that it burns out the
colors of your work. The perfect day is one that is overcast, or the
setup can be made in a shaded area where there is a lot of indirect
lighting. A patio is often perfect - covered with an overhang, lots of
indirect light and a place where setup is easiest.
Photograph without glass for the best images because glass will reflect
any light that shines on it, and those reflections will wash out your
photo in those spots. Also, be aware that clutter in the background is
distracting and may automatically disqualify your work during a jury.
The juror does not have enough time to decipher your item from the
background and may hurry past your entry. Solid, basic colors make the
best background. Rolls of background paper are available through camera
supply houses or you can create your own backdrop with a large piece of
fabric. Drape it in a fashion that will not distract from the art;
ideally, it will simply be an undefined space around and behind the
artwork being photographed. If there is some distraction in the
background, use special slide masking tape to cover the clutter. This
tape is available at photo centers or camera catalog ordering
facilities.
The film used is very important, too. In 35mm you have a lot of choices,
but a medium speed film--one that allows for a reasonable depth of field
and adjustable shutter speeds--will be your best selection. Brand is
unimportant, although most artists find one they like and stick with it.
When it comes time to process the film, use a reputable film development
center. It's difficult enough to get the shots you want, and doing them
a second time is downright painful! When you find a processor that works
with you, develop a relationship that will last because they are a
valuable tool in your presentation attempts. Mail order developers are
both good and bad. The time lost in mailing/shipping and the likelihood
of eventual mishap with the arrival of your images is a major
consideration.
With a bit of trial and error, you will find the right combination of
light, depth of field and a setup that will make creating slides of your
work easy and fun. This is part of the business of art, one that you may
not love to do, but that's important to your success. Professionals can
help, but you'll pay for those professional services. Try it first on
your own or ask a friend for assistance. It may be easier than you might
think.
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