Nov 2016 Demo
“IN THE BEGINNING… AND AT THE END”
Marty Kaminsky
At the End, Photography. Handout
This presentation is a “twofer” – two subjects for the price of one. For the “In the Beginning” portion I show you how to build a
forced air drying box that will dry your rough-turned bowl blanks in three to seven days. The beauty of it is that, unlike most other fast drying schemes, it’s extremely simple to use, requiring very little effort.
In the “At the End” section of the presentation I’ll demonstrate how to take professional grade photos of your turnings with modest digital cameras (point and shoot). I’ll show you how to construct an inexpensive mini-studio, how to take the photos, and finally how to use photo editing software to optimize the final quality of your images. Photos created using my techniques are suitable for high quality prints, magazine or book reproduction, web site usage, Powerpoint presentations, or emailing.
“In the beginning” you want to make a bowl out of dry wood so that it stays round, and, “at the end” you’ll want to take great photos of your fine work.
Bio --
I began my interest in photography and woodworking while still in elementary school and by the time I was in high school I 
taught both subjects at the Toledo (Ohio) Central YMCA Youth Department. In 1974 I graduated from The University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. While a student, in addition to my engineering courses, I took several art courses including sculpture, glass blowing, design, and calligraphy. After college I taught photo courses for The Lima (Ohio) Arts Association.
My engineering career, starting at Ohio’s Standard Oil Company led me to Texas in 1980 where I worked for Exxon, Cain Chemical, Occidental Chemical, Contech Engineering, and S&B Engineering. While an engineer I also provided photographic images used in brochures, presentations, and displays.
In late 2000 I saw my first woodturning demonstration. I instantly knew that this art form suited me – within a month I purchased a lathe and started making wood shavings with joyful abandon. With much mentoring from my friend Bill Berry and membership in the Gulf Coast Woodturning Association and the American Association of Woodturners I was able to learn my craft much quicker than I would have otherwise (although I still think Bill is holding out vital information from me).
I have exhibited photography, jewelry, and woodturnings in shows at The Lima Arts Association, The Arts Alliance at Clear Lake, Innuendo Gallery in Galveston, San Jacinto College, Fleury Gallery (Houston), and elsewhere. For several years I taught photography and jewelry/metalsmithing in the art department of San Jacinto College South, and I have taught woodturning and photography at the Gulf Coast Woodturning Association and the Southwest Association of Turners (SWAT) symposiums. I’ve had a one-person show of photographs and woodturnings at the San Jacinto College Marie Flickinger Fine Arts Center Gallery. Currently I have pieces in the show “Turning Point: Woodturning’s Evolution from Ancient Craft to Fine Art” at the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts in Spring, Texas.
I live in exotic San Leon, Texas with my wife Martha (who promotes me shamelessly) enjoying a beautiful view of Galveston Bay.