A NOTE ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART WORK
We will preface this section by stating that the best way to observe art is by gazing upon the original work in ideal lighting and in its intended setting. Works of art are unique and in many cases the only one in existence. Naturally, the number of people who can "see" original art work has an upper limit much lesser than through other formats or media. The photographic reproduction of art work helps to overcome this limiting factor. There are discrepancies with the photographing of artwork that should be mentioned. Despite the best attempts, subtleties in the work are lost in a photographic reproduction. In addition, unless careful attention is taken during the photographic process, distortions of perspective and colour may be added. It is therefore in everyone's best interest to represent works of art as clearly and accurately as possible. It is quite disappointing to see a great work of art poorly represented in print or on the web. We have put together a few guidelines help artists produce high quality photographic reproductions of their art work.
PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
This section was included to help anyone improve the quality of their photographs. Although expensive SLR camera's are great, they are hardly necessary to produce great photos. The tips outlined below are for anyone with any type of camera.
The two most important characteristics found in quality photographs of art work are light and a sharp image. We will first address light and then tips on camera position and stabilization to produce sharp and clear images.
Light
Light can dramatically alter the look and feeling of any subject matter. Unless the photograph is intended to be a work of art in its self, we are only concerned with an accurate representation of the original. The most cost effective method for controlling light is by using natural sunlight filtered through a white sheen cloth or blinds. What you want is soft diffused light. Hard light produces sharp shadows that distract from the art work. If you have no deadline to contend with, wait for an overcast day as the sun's rays are naturally diffused by clouds. Take advantage of bright overcast days by photographing as much of your art work as you can.
Position your artwork so that is it evenly bathed in diffused light. Otherwise you will end up with a photo that is darker on the side furthest from the light source. The best way to accomplish this is by placing the art work on a support at an approximate 45 degree angle to the light source. Avoid placing the work too close to the light source as this will result in a noticeable gradient (fade into shadow) in the photograph even if it isn't obvious by direct observation. Five to ten feet should be ideal for most situations. The larger the work of art, the further the work should be placed from the light source.
Finally, make sure the white balance settings match the light source. Sunlight and incandescent lighting have different colour temperatures and will thus be rendered differently on your camera unless you account for that difference. For those of you using digital cameras, this is an easy fix. Simply change the setting to sunlight for sunlight, incandescent for standard light bulbs, florescent for fluorescents, etc. If you are using film, then you will have to employ the use of filters or change the film if your film doesn't match your light source.
Camera Tips
The first and arguably the most important factor in producing well composed, clear and sharp images is the use of a tripod for camera support. Unlike action photographers who have a necessity for mobility, we can afford to painstakingly adjust every aspect of our picture. Simply put, we strongly believe every image taken of art work should be taken by cameras mounted on a tripod. That said, we will discuss alternatives to a tripod below.
Tripods come in many different sizes and weights. There are many light and inexpensive models that will serve the point-and-shoot camera owner well. SLR owners should choose the sturdiest tripod within their budget.
A point-and-shoot camera mounted on a sturdy tripod for stability.
With the camera mounted on a tripod, it is possible to compose and focus the image with great accuracy. Position the camera such that the camera's back is parallel to the art work.
Notice that the camera is roughly at the same angle as the subject.
No Tripod?
If you do not have a tripod handy, then you have to make use of any support you can for your camera. You can employ a table top, chair, or any other item you can creatively use to place your camera on. Note, however, that you will be limited to surfaces parallel to the floor if you want maximum stability. Your artwork, therefore, should be perpendicular to the floor. You should also employ the use of the timer function to avoid bumping the camera while pressing the shutter button.
One final note on camera positioning
Avoid placing the camera too close to the art work. This forces you to use a wide angle lens (or the wide angle portion of your zoom) which causes distortion of lines. A better option is to place the camera further away and making use of a narrower angle telephoto lens. This lessens the chance of you casting a light shadow on your subject do to being to close and provides a more natural perspective.
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