Portrait Artist Forum - View Single Post - Photographing your artwork in the digital age.

Sharon Knettell · 10-05-2004, 08:53 PM

I had had all my work photographed for my portrait portfolio, by a professional using a 4x5 camera with the attendant polarizers on both the lenses and the camera. The results were of course, terrific. The gentleman, I used has since retired. I have been doing my own as of late, but since they are pastels, they are much easier to photograph than oils.

This past two weeks, I have been trying to photograph my latest oil, a painting, that is my usual billboard size 69 1/2" x55". The color seems rather dull. During the dinner at the portrait convention, last spring, Dean Paules, allowed that he photographed all his own work, with a standard SLR and Portra NC film. I have used variously, Fuji Reala, Portra NC and Portra UC.

Another photographer, I know, photographed my work with the new Nikon/Kodak 14000 megapixel camera. The color was lovely, but since he neglected a polarizer there was a lot of glare. He said the photo angle of the lights at 45% would solve the problem of glare, it didn't. I can shoot without glare using a polarizer and judiciously placed black velvet cloth. I shoot at midday, in my southeastern exposure studio, with large picture windows and trees, unfortunately only 35' away. I have shot figures in that same room and have gotten lovely color.

The last shots I took were the best, Portra NC, not world beaters however.

What digital cameras seem to work the best? Do you use polarizers? Should I have it re-shot with the Kodak/Nikon with polarizers or is 14000 megapixel over kill?

Help!

10-05-2004, 08:53 PM	#1
Sharon Knettell Approved Member Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,730	Photographing your artwork in the digital age. I had had all my work photographed for my portrait portfolio, by a professional using a 4x5 camera with the attendant polarizers on both the lenses and the camera. The results were of course, terrific. The gentleman, I used has since retired. I have been doing my own as of late, but since they are pastels, they are much easier to photograph than oils. This past two weeks, I have been trying to photograph my latest oil, a painting, that is my usual billboard size 69 1/2" x55". The color seems rather dull. During the dinner at the portrait convention, last spring, Dean Paules, allowed that he photographed all his own work, with a standard SLR and Portra NC film. I have used variously, Fuji Reala, Portra NC and Portra UC. Another photographer, I know, photographed my work with the new Nikon/Kodak 14000 megapixel camera. The color was lovely, but since he neglected a polarizer there was a lot of glare. He said the photo angle of the lights at 45% would solve the problem of glare, it didn't. I can shoot without glare using a polarizer and judiciously placed black velvet cloth. I shoot at midday, in my southeastern exposure studio, with large picture windows and trees, unfortunately only 35' away. I have shot figures in that same room and have gotten lovely color. The last shots I took were the best, Portra NC, not world beaters however. What digital cameras seem to work the best? Do you use polarizers? Should I have it re-shot with the Kodak/Nikon with polarizers or is 14000 megapixel over kill? Help!