[Leica] Thoughts on photographing art

[George Lottermoser]

> On Jun 3, 2016, at 11:48 PM, Christopher Crawford <chris at chriscrawfordphoto.com> wrote:
> 
> What are you shooting with? A full frame digital camera? Iąd use at least
> a 50mm lens. Anything between 50 and 100mm is fine. If you have one, use a
> macro lens, even if the art is large. Macros have better flatness of field
> than most other lenses, and give a lot better sharpness, especially in
> corners, when photographing flat art like a painting. Zooms donąt work
> well, even within the focal length range I recommend. If you donąt have a
> macro, a standard 50mm is probably best.
> 
> Lighting is the hard part. It must be PERFECTLY even. Measure it with an
> incident light meter with a flat diffuser. Place the meter in all four
> corners and in the center. All 5 reading must match exactly. Even a 1/3
> stop difference will show.
> 
> Remove the work from frames if possible, frames will cast shadows on the
> edges of the work if its oil or acrylics framed without mats, where the
> frame touches the edges of the painting.
> 
> Another lighting issue is the color of the light. Photograph in a
> windowless room where no daylight can get in, or shoot at night. Daylight
> wonąt be the same color as the lights you use to light the paintings, and
> will mess up color balance. Also turn off any lights in the room and
> adjoining rooms in the house for the same reason. I was once messed up by
> using two soft boxes from different manufacturers in the same shoot. The
> color of the interiors of them were not exactly the same and it showed in
> the photos! So be sure to use the same brand of strobes and the same
> accessories on each strobe.
> 
> On 6/4/16, 12:14 AM, "LUG on behalf of Adam Bridge"
> <lug-bounces+chris=chriscrawfordphoto.com at leica-users.org on behalf of
> abridge683 at fastmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Iąve been asked by a local artist to help her photograph and make prints
>> of her paintings.
>> 
>> I was wondering if any of you who might have done this before can give
>> some suggestions about best focal-length lens to use for this? I was
>> thinking that, longer is better? Iąll be shooting work thatąs lit with
>> camera and art on tripod and easel, using remote shutter release etc.
>> 
>> Any thoughts on technique would be greatly appreciated.

Superb advice from Chris.

I’d add that depending on the type of art
You may wish to consider a polarizing filter.
If the art uses a heavy impasto of glossy oil paint
The reflections may distract from the feeling of the painting.
Especially if she wishes to print “facsimile” prints of the art.

If watercolor art - the texture of the paper can become a distraction
if attempting facsimile printing.
And require a hyper flat lighting approach to hold the ‘texture” at a minimum.

Regards,
George Lottermoser 

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