By Natallia Nagorniak
Natallia Nagorniak is a UAE-based freelance photographer with Belarusian and Ukrainian heritage. She photographed many of the pieces currently on exhibit in Kutubna Cultural Center’s “One Hundred Years of Painting: Arab Art from 1916 to 2017.” Below, she shares her techniques for photographing art.
Preparation and Setup
Before photographing, I ensure the artwork is prepared and mounted on or near a neutral-colored wall. This background minimizes distractions and color change. Remember that the light is bouncing from all the walls and the ceiling, which may affect the end result.
I used a level ruler to ensure the artwork is vertical and perpendicular to the camera lens. We used a sturdy low table to hold the bigger pieces with the help of an assistant. Smaller pieces were mounted on an easel.
A tripod is essential for sharp photos and accurate squaring of the artwork.
The level on the camera screen has to be checked repeatedly to ensure it’s parallel to the artwork. When both the camera back and artwork are parallel to each other, the perspective should be close to correct.
Camera Setup
I set up my camera so its lens height matches the center of the artwork.
The camera should be leveled and positioned correctly relative to the artwork. I use a level to check both the artwork and the camera alignment. The lens height should match the center of the artwork. I use Capture One app for tethering to see the image on a big screen and add immediate adjustments when necessary.
Lighting Considerations
Artificial lighting offers consistency and control over the shooting environment, which provides stable conditions for accurate color representation. I prefer to use 1/200 shutter speed on the camera to eliminate distracting light sources in the place of shooting.
A setup requires a large room to get the lights far away from the artwork to reduce the glare from the protective layer that artworks typically have.
I position two identical light sources at equal distances in front of the artwork to minimize glare and achieve uniform lighting. If I don’t have identical light sources or their power is different, I adjust the position and the power accordingly.
I always use special light diffusing papers in front of the light modifiers to diffuse the light and avoid glare from the protective layer on the surface of the artwork. The distance of the light sources from the artwork, the size of light modifiers (the bigger, the better), the distance of the diffusing paper from the light source, and the artwork are all equally important and produce separate results when positioned differently. In our case, big light softboxes were placed at a distance from the artwork and diffusing papers were also placed at a relevant distance from both the modifiers and the artwork. This was intended to diffuse the light as much as possible.
Achieving Color Accuracy
I use a grey card checker to balance the white and ensure accurate colors. This step is crucial as it sets the foundation for maintaining the artwork's true hues throughout the shoot.
Choosing Camera and Lens
The Sony a7R V is a high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera. I chose it instead of my older Sony a7iii because of the greater resolution capability of 61 MP in comparison with 24.2 MP. Higher resolution imaging sensor gives an output at a larger size and retains high resolution even when cropped.
If you want to avoid optical distortion of the artworks, the optimal lens is a 50mm lens. I used zoom lens 24-70mm to be on the safe side because I wasn’t sure about the dimensions of the artworks and space availability. If I used a lens different from 50 mm, I would have to remember to use distortion adjustment in post.
Settings
I set my ISO as low as possible to minimize noise.
I chose a narrower aperture (e.g., f/8) to ensure the entire artwork remains in sharp focus.
I always review the camera's histogram. It provides a visual representation of the tonal range in the image, helping to adjust exposure settings for ideal results. I also use my eyes to compare the real art with the picture I see on the computer. Some artworks have less contrast and some are too dark, so you should not rely completely on the histogram or the previous settings to achieve the correct look.
Focus
Contemporary cameras are doing a great job with focusing, but sometimes manual focusing is required in areas when the contrast is subtle and the camera can’t get the focus in the right place. I rotate the lens ring until I get a sharp focus in the designated area, and I double check the focus in the image after each shot on the computer to be on the safe side.
Photographing art pieces demands patience and meticulousness. The goal is to accurately reproduce the artwork's colors and proportions.
About Natallia: Natallia’s creative mind and eye for detail come in handy when it comes to photography, which gives her an incomparable feeling of freedom. She is most inspired by personal projects and gets her ideas from a combination of colors, textures, memories, and more. You can explore Natallia’s work by visiting her website shotrecp.com or following her on Instagram at @natallia.nagorniak.