Lesson 8 Photography is an art[SIZE=2]
Photography is archaeology is multivariate and difficult to learn even the basics.
It is not good enough to just keep setting the camera at 60 and 8 focusing, pointing and pressing.
The first question is why are you taking a photo; what is the purpose of the shot. Is it an section record shot? Is it a shot to be rectified? Is it a working shot? Shot for publication? A shot to record an earthwork? etc etc.
Each type of photograph has its own tricks of the trade to get the best shot possible. After all the photographic record is the ONLY proof (putting photoshop aside) that the archaeology was as you are saying it was.
It is important to gain experience of different types of photography, but the only real way to improve your own photographic skills is to see the photos you have produced......and better still have someone more experienced cast a critical eye over them.
So when asked if you're comfortable taking your own photographs on site the correct responses are:
no, can I have some training
yes but can I have some pointers, or
yes but do you have any special requirements
To summarise some of the basic mistakes made in archaeological recording shots include:
remembering to remove tools, string and lumps of spoil from section shots;
putting the wrong context number on the id board;
not cleaning far enough around the feature so the cleaning line shows;
not getting the scales square with the photo frame or perpendicular with each other;
inappropriate number or use of scales;
shot not in focus;
section not clean enough to see the layers;
shadow of person taking the photograph in shot.
Taking photographs in strong sunlight is often very problematic on a commercial site. Time pressures mean you can't stand, hogging the cameras all day waiting for a cloud that may or may not arrive.
A section half in shadow looks awful and is often useless for discerning layers and cuts. However, sometimes it can't be helped.
And, no matter what anyone claims, getting a bunch of diggers standing with coats/ drawing boards etc to cast a shadow for your photo hardly ever works. The reason for this is usually the area in shade is not big enough, someone lets a crack of light through and/or the light meter reading wasn't taken in the right place.
What does work is a large sheet that lets diffuse light through held high enough up and far enough away to act like a cloud.
But this is just scratching the surface of a much bigger subject.
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Photography is archaeology is multivariate and difficult to learn even the basics.
It is not good enough to just keep setting the camera at 60 and 8 focusing, pointing and pressing.
The first question is why are you taking a photo; what is the purpose of the shot. Is it an section record shot? Is it a shot to be rectified? Is it a working shot? Shot for publication? A shot to record an earthwork? etc etc.
Each type of photograph has its own tricks of the trade to get the best shot possible. After all the photographic record is the ONLY proof (putting photoshop aside) that the archaeology was as you are saying it was.
It is important to gain experience of different types of photography, but the only real way to improve your own photographic skills is to see the photos you have produced......and better still have someone more experienced cast a critical eye over them.
So when asked if you're comfortable taking your own photographs on site the correct responses are:
no, can I have some training
yes but can I have some pointers, or
yes but do you have any special requirements
To summarise some of the basic mistakes made in archaeological recording shots include:
remembering to remove tools, string and lumps of spoil from section shots;
putting the wrong context number on the id board;
not cleaning far enough around the feature so the cleaning line shows;
not getting the scales square with the photo frame or perpendicular with each other;
inappropriate number or use of scales;
shot not in focus;
section not clean enough to see the layers;
shadow of person taking the photograph in shot.
Taking photographs in strong sunlight is often very problematic on a commercial site. Time pressures mean you can't stand, hogging the cameras all day waiting for a cloud that may or may not arrive.
A section half in shadow looks awful and is often useless for discerning layers and cuts. However, sometimes it can't be helped.
And, no matter what anyone claims, getting a bunch of diggers standing with coats/ drawing boards etc to cast a shadow for your photo hardly ever works. The reason for this is usually the area in shade is not big enough, someone lets a crack of light through and/or the light meter reading wasn't taken in the right place.
What does work is a large sheet that lets diffuse light through held high enough up and far enough away to act like a cloud.
But this is just scratching the surface of a much bigger subject.
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