How to Photograph a Sculpture
Sculptures have many shapes, sizes and finishes. They can be indoor pieces on a tabletop or elaborate outdoor sculptures created by well-known artists. They can live among the flowers in a garden or in a corner in a museum. Capturing a sculpture in a photograph doesn't take a professional. Anyone can get a good photo by following a few basic steps.
Instructions
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Decide whether you're shooting inside or outside. If you can move the sculpture, you'll have a choice of places to shoot.
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Keep the background uncluttered. Use a neutral colored backdrop, if available, to avoid distractions in the background. If you can't, focus on the sculpture and try to blur the background. Always make the sculpture the main focus of the photograph.
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3
Pay attention to lighting. If you're outdoors, a cloudy day or at sunset or sunrise is a good time to photograph sculptures. You can photograph in a brightly light room or use a handheld flash and aim it at the ceiling or wall to create soft fill light. You can also use white cards to lighten the shadows of the sculpture.
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Use a tripod to avoid camera shake. If you don't have a tripod, hold your camera in both hands and pull your elbows tightly to your ribs. This will keep your camera steady.
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Take shots at several different angles to get different perspectives. Decide which features are important to you and what your photograph is trying to convey.
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Tips & Warnings
Use white cards by holding them next to the sculpture to reflect light to areas you want brighter. Take your time to set everything up properly. Use a digital camera to see your image and fix it instantly, if needed.
Don't use a flash directly on the sculpture or it will cause a bright spot in your photograph. If you use white cards make sure they're not in the shot.
