Especially for photographers that have small spaces here’s an idea for being able to photograph art for reproduction. Here’s a technique I use for smaller pieces and for art that has no hangers.
Set up
First thing that is needed for this set is a tripod that can point straight down. Many tripods don’t have that ability. Here’s a work-around for that. Add a Platypod Handle and second ball head to your ball head. This allows your camera to be far enough away from your tripod legs. It will then be extended far enough to not be influenced by the legs of the tripod.
Lighting needs to be bounced into umbrellas. The umbrellas will face toward the camera and tilted down. The idea is to light with the spill from each umbrella giving a perfect wash of even light across the art.
Place artwork directly under the lens with the color checker chart.
Gear
To ensure the lighting is even across the art you will need a light meter. Measure the corners and the center of the art you should be within one tenth of a stop. If not slight adjustments to the position or power will even it out. Ensure the legs of the tripod are not impeding on the fall of the light.
The umbrella is positioned to wash light over the image. Be careful to not include the shadow from a tripod leg. A second umbrella light is washing the light from the opposite direction. When you set your lights like this you will have light within 1/10th of a stop across the entire image. Make sure that your lens shade is in place.
A Color checker is important to ensure there is a way to neutralize any color shifts from the color of the room. Once the image is brought into color correction you can use a White Balance Tool. Click on the neutral grey color of the color chart. That should take you to a fine place for additional color work when you are fine tuning the color.
Essential tools. Light meter and Color Checker, remote trigger for flashes.
Obviously a camera is needed. I use OM System cameras with the high megapixel capture. With eight exposures, with time to recycle the flash, it makes an 80MP file. Here are a couple links which include more info on photographing and processing artwork for artists. Photographing art the easy way. Photographing flat art for artists.
There are other ways to create large mega-pixel captures by photographing different sections of the art and blending them together in Photoshop. But, that’s an article for a different time.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
