February 2013 Demo

Stormy Boudreau

Topic - Photographing Your Work

So you need a photo and your buddy with the camera is …,

StormySelling your turned art or virtually anything on the Internet is tricky.  Or suppose you have been asked to contribute to an event (Think 2-for-1 Raffle SWAT) but the organizers want an interesting photo to show off your work and advertise the event.  It is not always easy for the visitor to assess the quality of the work, but good photographs can go a long way to remedying this.  It is important to remember that a picture on the web is typically just a few hundred pixels wide and high.  It is not easy to show the qualities of your work with such low resolution. 

In this demo I will show you some of the techniques I use to improve the quality of my pictures.  A quality photo is especially important if you are trying to create a portfolio of work for sale, or for submitting to a juried exhibition., I am not a professional photography, just an informed amateur who has to evaluate photos for website and large auditorium display.  It is not that hard to improve the quality of your photos using material you may already have in your home.  Meaning cheap, we all know that the most expensive tool or lathe does not a great turner make!, Whether you are taking simple photos for eBay auctions and Internet forum postings or high-resolution photos for publication, here is a simple, inexpensive project idea that will help improve your photographs. Regardless of the camera being used, controlling the lighting and eliminating background distractions will allow you to do a better job. This demo will show you how to make an inexpensive light tent to use for photos of smaller turnings and provide you with a few simple tips will help get the most out of each photo.

Stormy Boudreaux, past WNT president, life long woodworker and a turner since 2004.  Currently the chairman for South West Area Turner’s “2 for 1 Raffle”.