Last week I was given an old photograph to copy, and retouch, in time for a Christmas present, which is not a big job. All one needs is a camera, a lens that can focus close up and a tripod.
My client had tried unsuccessfully to use a scanner, but I think most digital cameras have a better resolution, and will make a sharper enlargement unless the scanner is one of the few, expensive, high quality models specifically designed to copy film and photographs. All I needed was to select a window in my home with indirect light, and turned off any lights that could alter the proper white balance. My advice is to select ”daylight” instead of “auto” white balance on the camera.
I placed the photograph on the floor, and set up my tripod, and made sure I didn’t have any shadows falling on it. I then prepare the camera for readiness by using a level against the front of the lens.
I usually like to take several exposures that start two stops under exposed, and eventually go to two stops over exposed, a range of five stops, to ensure that I have a lot of exposure choices when I open the image in PhotoShop for editing.
I also prefer to release the shutter by using the camera’s self-timer so I didn’t get camera shake. I retouched using PhotoShop, selected a cloning tool to remove scratches, corrected the old photograph’s faded colour, sharpened the image and made a print. As I said, it is not a big job.
You may have an old photo that is starting to fade and crack that records something of your family’s history. Get out your equipment and use my notes as a reference and start copying them. This is a good project for the New Year.
Do I write about this next topic every year? Yes, I do, if only to remind photographers that this is a good and fun project in which to partake.
Every December my wife and I start preparing for our January calendar, and we like to start January off with a photo that sets our mood for the New Year. Readers know my wife, Linda, and I, always photograph our own monthly calendars. We generally alternate responsibility each month and January will be Linda’s turn, and that will be special because she will be using her new Nikon D300s for the first time. And as any photographer knows, it’s always exciting using a new camera.
We like a vertical calendar format with a horizontal picture on top and numbered squares for the month underneath. We find our monthly calendars at http://www.pdfpad.com/calendars each month. They are easy to download and print from various sites on the Internet, and if I wish I could cut matt board to which I can glue the calendar.
Then each month all we have to do is come up with an image to use. The plan is to share, so we will each provide six photographs to produce the calendar for the year.
I am looking forward to printing lots of black and white photographs, and selecting the best from them will be enjoyable. This yearlong project will be fun and setting goals for photography is always a good thing.
We used to go on a hunt for a calendar every December to hang on our wall for the year. There are lots of calendars out there, but many of the monthly images were weak and not up to the quality we would choose for photography to display on our wall.
Yes, there is always an Ansel Adams calendar each year, but we have become very familiar with his work and wanted a change.
I have December’s calendar hanging and although I enjoy it (my photograph) I am looking forward to what my wife will come up with for January.
I think all serious photographers will enjoy their own photographs each month as calendars. I print my own, but for those that don’t, there are lots of good labs around and 8x11 enlargements are not expensive. You’ll have your own artwork on your wall. Or you can make more than one each month and give it to friends and relatives and let them enjoy your photography.
I wish you and yours the best of the season.
Contact me at www.enmanscamera.com or emcam@telus.net. Stop by Enman’s Camera at 423 Tranquille Road in Kamloops if you want an experienced photographer please call me at 250-371-3069. I also sell an interesting selection of used photographic equipment.