Photographing the creative works of various artists
One of the more interesting subjects that I enjoy capturing is the creative works of other artists. It always gives me a chance to not only enjoy trying to capture the nature of the piece, but they often present technical hurdles that test my skills. For instance photographing glass reflections can cause all sorts of issues, or pigments can drink up the light and need to be finessed in order to see their true colors instead of dark blobs. Highlighting shapes and textures in a way that shows detail, and the “feel” of a piece can also be challenging. Another aspect of this type of work that I truly enjoy is forming working relationships with the artists. The exchange of ideas, and being challenged to perform my best work offer me the opportunity for my skills to evolve.
Center Ground Studio, Sculpture by John Pahlas
I’ve enjoyed working with John Pahlas of Center Ground Studio. His sculptures are alive, and we’ve enjoyed collaborating on creating some fun imagery.
Paintings by Various Artists
Flat paintings offer their own ways for me to exercise creativity in order to capture the
essence of the art. Reflective oils, unusual pigments, and sometimes the larger scale of certain pieces offer unique challenges. I’ve experimented with a variety of lighting, and try to use accurate color keys to achieve the perfect white balance of each piece. For many of these photo projects I use a Tilt/Shift lens to eliminate as much parallax as possible.
Paintings by artist Mark A. Barill
Paintings by artist Flavia Zortea
Artists in Their Studios
While working to take photos of the art itself is rewarding, what I truly enjoy is talking with the artists themselves. There’s something magical being in a studio and exchanging ideas with a creative soul. I once worked with other artists to produce exhibits at a museum, something that I have already posted about in these posts, Carnegie Museum of Natural History - Part 1 & Carnegie Museum of Natural History - Part 2. Once I became a stay at home parent and took up photography as a small business I often found myself working solo. I missed the interactions with other people, so these brief opportunities to mesh with like-minded souls are like coming up for air from under the ice.
In order of appearance in the above collection, S.V. Medaris, Barabara Westfall, Heidi Clayton, Larry Welo, Nancy Bruins, John Pahlas
Above is a small sampling of the many, many sessions I have spent taking photos for Barbara Westfall. Her glass creations are always a challenge because of the intricate ways light moves across and though the art. Not only can their sometimes large scale be an issue, as well as the reflective nature of the glass, but sometimes her pigments absorb my lighting leaving only dark blobs where the human eye sees vivid color. I also do very technical shooting at times to create accurate views of the pieces from different angles such as from the sides, as well as the center. Hands down this is one of my favorite gigs, and the evolution of my shooting style has really advanced because of working with her.
Below is her rendition of the Bucky Badger project. Titled “Spark A Dream,” this large sculpture is covered in many detailed paintings.
