About Bob Todrick Expertise I can answer questions on most areas of photography. Though fine-art nudes is my main focus, I can, as well answer most questions dealing with darkroom processes (including many alternative processes).
My expertise does not include digital.
Experience I have photographed since 1975. Among my clients have been a number of major retail department stores (the Bay, Eatons). I photographed for Canada's premier motorsports magazine for a number of years, and have done much portraiture and wedding photography.
In 1990 I gave up shooting professionally to concentrate on my fine-art work and have had numerous group and one person shows since.
Organizations Co-founder of the Group of Several.
Publications Numerous newspaper and print ads.
GRAPHIS photo annual.
Expert: Bob Todrick Date: 1/20/2005 Subject: warm and arty pictures
Question Dear Mr. Todrick
I am a metal sculptor with a very basic knowledge of photography. I am creating my own website and need to take my own pictures because I cannot afford a professional photographer. I have a digital camera Sony cyber-shot DSC-V1 5.0 MP ($500.00) I need some help on how to prepare a good setting with stuff that I can find at home or for little money, to take good quality pictures of my pieces. For example light and background. I want to be able to present my pictures showing the piece in a very warm and arty way.
Thank you so much
Alfredo Alamo
Answer The simplest, accepted lighting setup for what you wish is three lights and a plain, light colored background.
Two of the lights are placed at 45 degree angles (from a line imagined between the camera and the artwork), on both the left and right sides of the artwork.
(In other words if your camera is 10 feet from your artwork you will place a light 5 feet to the right, and 5 feet to the left of the camera, both pointed towards the artwork).
These lights need to be identical, so the light is even and their are no shadows (more about that in a bit).
The accepted background for artwork is plain, and of a midrange tone. You can vary from this at your discretion, but that's up to you. One thing is that the artwork needs to be placed at least 5-10 feet in front of the background to alleviate shadows cast by the main lights described above.
The third light is then aimed at the background to give it luminosity and to seperate the artwork from the background.
About the placement of the main lights...start out with them equidistand from the artwork (as mentioned above), but play around moving one of them in or out a bit. Though the aim in photographing artwork is to minimize shadows, three dimensional pieces often need a bit of shadowing to show textural detail. By moving one of the lights in or out, you strengthen or weaken that light and so will create some shadowing on you subject.
All of this can be done for about $200.00 U.S. A set of three simple photofloods lights with reflectors and stands will run you around $50.00 each (x3) and a roll of seamless paper (for backgrounds...comes in various colors) will run another $25-$50 dollars. It comes in either 5' or 9' wide, both in rolls 36' long. You roll out enough paper to fill your image frame, place the artwork on it and fire away. When that piece gets dirty you just roll out some more, cut off the dirty piece and toss it. A roll should last quite a while.
Hope this helps.
