See this Department document regarding documentation.

Ms. Kalmes made this excellent handout to assist you all in the process of documenting your 2D work. Note, you will need to photograph your work weekly and upload images into your personal folder in the Class Drive Folder. (Details to come).

2D Documentation

WATCH 👍

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1219&v=PKO9g7tolSM&feature=emb_logo

You need: camera/phone and tape

#1 Daytime - Indoor - Natural Indirect Light

natural indirect lighting is #1. A room with windows can offer indirect sunlight, even on an overcast day. You do, however, want to avoid sunlight striking your art directly, as this will cause glare. You can try a lamp or two if you want to perfect your indoor photography (read #2 tips).

#2 Daytime - Outdoor - Natural Indirect Light

If natural indoor lighting is not the results you want, try going outdoors. On a non-windy, non-rainy day, find yourself a shady, flat spot and place a sheet or large flat cardboard on the ground, then place your artwork on top of the sheet/cardboard. A cloudy day with diffused light is great too! Do not photograph your work under a tree.

#3 Nighttime - Indoor - Artificial Lighting (2+ lamps)

Artificial lighting can work if natural light is unavailable. In this scenario, two or more light sources — preferably of similar wattage strengths — should be set at about 45º angles to the piece, off to either side. “Off” as in: out of the peripheral vision of both you and the camera lens. Your goal here is to light semi-naturally but not, I repeat not to cast shadows. Manipulate wisely with an eye toward even lighting. Lighting is extremely important in producing correct color. If you find you need lights, hardware stores often sell clamp lights (as does Walmart and Amazon). https://www.amazon.com/Bayco-SL-300-Clamp-Aluminum-Reflector/dp/B007RKKEHA/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=clamp+light&qid=1598829000&sr=8-8

Method

• 1. Tape your 2D work on a wall ideally with a window on the right and/or left on a neighboring wall. When taping, make loops and place on the backside of your work so the tape does not show. Photographing indoors on a sunny day is great so long as the light from the window is not directly hitting the artwork and camera/phone. It is not ideal to photograph artwork on the floor/overhead. Floor photography often creates cast shadows on your artwork. Prop up your artwork to avoid cast shadows.

  2. Set your artwork up to take the picture from its centermost point. You don’t want to be at an angle where you are higher or lower than the center of the artwork, as this will cause your photograph to be distorted. If it is hanging on the wall, center *yourself* in order to point the lens squarely — the lens and the work of art are on parallel planes (“plumb”) when you shoot. Tilting your viewfinder up, down or sideways is not going to achieve the best result.

  3. Become the tripod. You can do the following to minimize motion:

• • Use both hands to hold the camera.

  • Draw both elbows into your midpoint until they’re close to touching one another, then firmly hold elbows and as much of your forearms as possible to your torso/chest. Your hands will be free to aim and shoot, but your arms won’t be moving. Much.

• • Hold your breath just before and while hitting the shutter.

Tips/Reminders

Your images should be clear and in focus. This is especially critical with artwork that has fine detail.

A solid (neutral or white) background is ideal. Make sure nothing is in the background of your images – do not take photos of your work against something colorful, or sitting atop your couch.

Turn OFF the Flash! Please, unless you know how to “bounce” flash from the camera to a middle surface and then to your object, turn this function off. The flash function also has an amazing talent for leveling tones, evening out contrasts and wiping away shadows.