How to Lose Your Mind In A Few Easy Steps

[JAS_Photo]

I was perusing the Club website a while back and was appalled at how bad the photos of the art owned or on loan to the Club were. So in optimistic style I said, "Hey I would like to photograph the art!" *Smile* How hard could it be? It turns out incredibly difficult. Part 1 of my master plan was that I would bring my fluorescent photography bulbs to work and just use the Club's upright lamps. They have a ton of them and it would save me lugging around a light stand. Turns out the Club does not own one upright lamp that takes standard bulbs. What the hey??? So, I think not really a big deal the lamps have fluorescent bulbs in them. But.... they cast really, really warm light. Ummm.... Ok. warm light is cozy, no big deal. I persevere. Have you ever felt like taking that little inexpensive ballhead you got on your tripod and flushing it down the toilet? I have had that feeling before, but try lining up a painting with one, it intensifies the hatred. What hair I have left on my head still needs cutting. So on my break, off I go head straight to The Camera Store, conveniently located two blocks away, to get a new head. A Manfrotto Junior Geared Head to be precise. Happy Birthday to me. And oh, what the heck, my birthday is coming up so let's throw in a sturdier and taller tripod as well. Brent, the salesperson is charming and it makes handing over the debit card a little less painful. (Truth is everyone at the Camera Store is an enthusiastic photographer. ) Back to the Club and it is much less difficult to line up/ square up the art but still not that easy. And gosh, every room is fraught with reflection monsters that I must try and conquer; Pot lights, windows, chandeliers, shiny things! They are all there taunting me. Taunting, I tell you! Well, as Joe McNally says in his videos, Photography is basically a series of problems to be solved.

So to make a long story even longer, last year the Club sent to auction three pieces of art that together were valued in excess of half a million dollars with the idea to use the proceeds to start an Art Committee and acquire more art. The committee has so far held two plebiscites in which selected pieces of art were voted on by the membership. One of the pieces selected and purchased by the Club is the one below, "Hear the Call of the Loon From My Dream Bed" by Joane Cardinal-Schubert, Blackfoot Artist. Sadly, Joane passed away shortly before this painting went to auction after a lengthy bout with cancer.

[Bambi]

thanks for this tale. I get into more difficulties taking on projects thinking 'how hard can this be?'.

[Marko]

We all have tales like this - and that's how we learn. Everything is easy once you know how to do it..

For artwork - 2 lights (or portable flashes) at 45 degrees to the artwork while it is hanging on the wall. I've done this many times with film. With digital it should be the same except you'll need to triple check the colour balance for accuracy.