Photodocumenting Your Work Outdoors

~ This article is reproduced with permission.
Copyright © 2007 The Opus Visual Arts Newsletter Issue No. 223

Photodocumenting Your Work Outdoors

The sun is finally starting to shine through the clouds! Take advantage of this good weather by getting outside and documenting your artwork for all your upcoming art exhibitions. Not only is it a good idea to catalogue your work to view your progress, but when you apply for exhibitions you are usually asked to submit current work.

What you submit should accurately reflect the true colour, brushstroke and texture of your work – and photo documenting makes this possible.

You will only need a few key items to make this simple and easy. The most important is a Digital SLR Camera, a tripod, a neutral coloured cloth or canvas, and last but not least, your artwork. If documenting 2D work, it is best to photograph on a wall with a neutral or black background as it makes your work cohesive and allows your artwork to stand out. When photographing 3D work, try adding a pedestal (if your work fits on it) to make it easier to photograph as it provides a base. With both 2D and 3D work, it is best to photograph in shade, as direct sunlight will cast harsh shadows and sun spots on your images.

Here are a few important steps and reminders:

Before you begin:

Always use a tripod – this steadies the camera and avoids blurry images.
Change your ASA (ISO) on your SLR to 100 or lower, depending on your camera settings. The higher your ASA, the more noise or grain you will get. Less noise is better, so keep to 100 ASA or lower.
Set your camera to be able to capture the maximum pixels allowed as a jpeg. You want the highest quality image with the least amount of compression.

Setting up:

Securely attach your artwork to your neutral coloured backdrop on the wall. Set your camera and tripod in front of your artwork. Try to avoid using your digital zoom as it tends to distort your image. If need be, move closer to your artwork and fill your viewfinder. Make sure that your artwork is straight on the wall and in your viewfinder. If your artwork is horizontal, position your camera horizontally.
Avoid using your built in flash as it causes hot spots or reflections on your artwork.
Adjust your white balance to match your light source; in this case this would be a cloudy setting. Adjusting your white balance ensures that your whites are white and the other colours in your artwork are as vibrant as they should be.
Set your camera on manual mode and then set your f-stop to anywhere between F8 to F16. The bigger the aperture number, the greater depth of field is achieved. F11 is a good base to begin with. Set your shutter speed according to the f-stop you choose.
Focus on the centre of your image.
Make any adjustments with your aperture or shutter speed with your digital SLR camera. The benefits of this camera are being able to preview and delete any images that are over or underexposed or out of focus. Once finished, load your images directly onto your computer. Editing software, e.g. Photoshop or I photo, allows you to fine tune your images and copy them to a CD to send with your submission forms.

Getting ready to document:

When photo documenting 3D work, the importance is on textures and shapes. Therefore, additional lighting may be needed to avoid making your 3D work appear flat. A convenient way to add depth to your 3D work is to cut out a round piece of cardboard and wrap it in tinfoil. If you can find a friend to help you out, they can tilt this cardboard reflector near your artwork to add dimension and shadows. PS Many of these useful tips can also be applied to photo documenting your artwork with a manual camera and slide film.