[Woodcarver] Help

[Joe Dillett]

Hi Alex,

I can't remember my last dry spell but there are times I just need to back 
away from my carving and pick up a piece of wood to make chips without 
concern about what it will become. Just enjoying the smell, sound and feel 
of a sharp chisel slicing through wood is stimulating. Most often after a 
few cuts the block decides what it wants to become so I just help it along 
its journey.

One book I just read, Drawing From Within says that some of the best 
pictures are created when we are not trying to create a picture but just let 
our mind loose to draw. Maybe some of that is true for carving too?

I think Byron's comment about the photo cube is good. Other things that are 
helpful is always use a tripod. I always put something white in the photo, 
even if it's in the corner that will be cropped off, so the camera has 
something to use it for white balance. Shadows help define depth. I like 
using one light source, generally from the side, to show shadows. Natural 
outdoor light seems to be ideal however indoors the daylight type of bulbs 
yield good results.

Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552

(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.net [business web site]
http://www.carvingmagazine.com ['Ask Joe' column]
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
******************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alex Bisso" <albisso at bresnan.net>
To: <woodcarver at carverscompanion.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 9:11 PM
Subject: [Woodcarver] Help



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>

> OK it's about time I asked for some help on two issues.

>    First, I seem to be at a carving standstill.  I have not finished a 

> carving since early last fall when I completed a brown trout started 

> earlier last year.  I just can't seem to get motivated enough to either 

> start something new or complete some started projects that I told myself I 

> would get done this year.  Can anyone tell me what has worked to get them 

> motivated to get back to carving after a dry spell?

>    Second, I have a recurring problem with getting good photos of 

> carvings. My standard method of trial and error with the lighting, inside 

> and outside works sometimes but not consistently.  On my last fish for 

> example, I took one photo (after a couple of tries) using a piece of light 

> blue foam from an old camping bedroll and the color and contrast came out 

> very well.  However, when I tried to set up with a cloth maroon cloth 

> background to take more photos, it looked good but my camera did not like 

> it at all.  The photos were either too dark or too bright and glarey and 

> the colors did not look true.  There must be a way to set up for photos 

> that provides a good background and lighting for true color without glare. 

> Can anyone suggest something simple and reliable that might work.

>   Thanks for any input.

> Alex Bisso

> Billings, MT

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