I really used to dread taking pictures because I knew it was going to take me FOREVER to get a shot that I could live with. I think I finally have it down, and can now start working on other things that seem to have alluded me as far as photography goes. I've been trying some different back drops lately, and am loving this wood. (the dirty little secret is that it is actually a piece of paper! do you believe it?) I thought I was tired of my black river rocks, but I just can't seem to break away from them.
I just finished this yesterday evening. I already listed it in both the Etsy and Art Fire shops. I couldn't thing of an interesting name for it though. I had originally punched out all these little circles to make a bubble necklace to match the Nouveau Bubble earrings, but I just wasn't feeling it. So, I started playing with some of them around this stone and decided it made a pretty pattern. :)
But back to the pictures. I've tried it all. Taking photos outside, inside, natural light, artificial light, photo tent, no photo tent. I've tried all the settings on my camera. Macro, no macro, tripod, no tripod. After all this trial and error, I've discovered that I get the best photos in my bedroom, from 11:00 am to 2 pm with the light just filtering in through the blinds. (it is a room directly facing the sun during these hours). Open the blinds too much, and it glares off my silver. Close them a bit and it seems to be the perfect amount of light not to create horrible glares or shadows. I alway use a tripod, (I'm too shaky otherwise) and always use the automatic setting with the macro on.
I can even get self portraits pretty quickly now too. I've finally made friends with my camera now that I know how she likes to be handled!
I'm gearing up for a spring birthday celebration tonight for my two daughter's and the son of our oldest and best family friends. Baby back ribs, slow roasting, check. Cake in the oven, check. Refrigerator stocked with Heineken, check. All I have to do is finishing up the housework, and we're good to go! Have a fabulous weekend!
Beautiful piece! It's really helpful to hear about your photo experience, it's one of the things I admire about your shop & I have such a long way to go. I despise doing pics right now & have so many things unlisted because of it. After 4 months on Etsy, I guess I can at least remind myself it takes some time! Thank you for the helpful tips. I hope you enjoy yourself tonight, sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLove this piece Amy, the stone stands out so brightly against the setting. What a great idea using that paper that looks like wood. If you'd never told, I never would have guessed. I am unsure if I want to keep my pictures how they are, or reshoot them all....I am fussy and hard to please when it comes to photographing my own stuff and it's hard to get a chance to do it right too. Hope you had a great evening.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous as always!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about pictures. I am always trying to play with backdrops, lighting, etc. So I only have 7 more months till I get it right? *sigh*
There is one window in my house that works for me, too. The front, between 9-10 am and, sometimes, depending on how bright it is outside, my office window at about 5. But then daylight savings time happens, spring happens, and the light changes and I start all over again...ah well.
OK, my "studio" the top of Kevin's smoker. Shhh, don't tell anyone. Sometimes it's very cold in my studio.
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