Photo Tip: A Tidbit From a College Elective

Many moons ago I took a photography class in college as part of my art minor.  I loved it!  This was back when we used this stuff called "film."  You had to go into a pitch black room and remove your film from the case to transfer it to the developer -- going through a lot of steps I only vaguely remember.  Then toward the end of the process you got to do fun things like "dodging and burning."  And we used black and white film only.  That way we had to pay attention to things like light and composition.

Here I am a decade and a half later, and I'm trying to photograph jewelry.  Sifting through the cobwebs of my mind, I remembered this fantastic little tip I stored away long ago.  I thought I'd share this tidbit with you!

Even with a light tent, lamps, and light colored surfaces all around -- sometimes you still can get dull images where you can't see the details on the front of your piece.  This is especially noticeable on hammered and reflective surfaces.  Like taking a picture of yourself in a mirror, you don't want a tiny reflection of your red shirt on the front of your sterling earrings.

So here's what you do.  Use a piece of white paper.  I used one I rolled up and then unrolled so that it could sit on it's own or be held to reflect back on the jewelry at different angles and still be held outside of the view of the camera lens.  You will have to move it and/or the camera around at different angles until you get the perfect reflection on the surface.

Here are some before and after shots for you:

Learning As I Go: Photo Improvement

One of my 2012 goals has been to strengthen my branding.  A huge part of that is to bring a more pulled-together look and feel to all my online locations.  The primary way to do that is through improved photos and a cohesive "look" to my photos.  Prior to now, I've been photographing my jewelry near my livingroom or studio windows.  This works well . . . when the sunshine and weather cooperates and when I have time to work in a photo shoot while there is good daylight.  Yeah.  Not easy for someone who lives where there is an extended winter season and has a full-time day job!

So, I broke down and bought a light tent.  Yes, I could have made one.  But, no, I didn't want to.  It was a lot easier for me to click and buy, than to find a moment to myself and take multiple trips to the hardware store, fabric store, etc.  And I'm kind of impatient that way!

Feminine & Classic: Earrings for Lauren Conrad

Wow.  2012 is still cruising along and full of amazing and fun opportunities!  I was recently selected through The Artisan Group to create a gift for M.T.V. television celebrity and fashion designer, Lauren Conrad!

Lauren Conrad by Toglenn (Own work)

This unbelievably pretty young lady is only 26 years old, and yet she is not only a well-known television personality, she has also published 3 books on fashion design!  Her style is so very classic and feminine, and yet, also very fresh and youthful. 

Sterling Elongated Earrings

So, keeping this in mind, these are the earrings I designed for her.  A little torch work, a little plier work, and a LOT of coiling with about 20 feet of sterling silver wire went into these! I coiled the wire around and around, and then back again, creating elongated wire hoop earrings full of rich detail, and yet simple and feminine in design.  

I also crocheted this cute little gift bag to send them in.  I hope she really enjoys them!

I'm a Featured Artist Today!

Today I am honored to be a featured artist on Penny Cheng's blog Saniki Creations!  Penny is an incredible chainmaille jewelry artist and a fellow member of The Artisan Group.  Come read my featured interview and then please stick around and look at Penny's gorgeous work! :)

New Adventures ... New Logo!

Wow.  2012 has turned out to be one wild ride of new adventures for me!  It is definitely a year of growth.  Part of the experience of joining The Artisan Group and participating in the 5th Bead Soup Blog Party has involved being in touch with over a thousand extremely talented artisans from all over the world.  Hugely inspirational for me.  And besides inspiring me to "be all I can be" as I am prone to want, they have also been superbly encouraging, insightful, and not likely to let me rest on my laurels, if you know what I mean.  The procrastinator in me is far outnumbered by these highly vocal cheerleaders!

Add to that Facebook's relentless marching in of the new Timeline change to our business pages and the realization that a celebrity or two may actually come look at my sites, and I'm suddenly bent on doing some "Spring Cleaning" before company comes!  

Pinch Me!

Ok - it's not quite St. Patty's Day.  And unless I completely lose my mind and space it (or just forget to do the right laundry!), I will be wearing green on the 17th.  So why "pinch me," you ask?  Well, 'cause I have news.  Big news.  Like I wouldn't have believed you in a million years news.  And actually this big news comes in three equally huge chunks of awesomeness!

Are you curious yet? :)

Wishes & Wonder - Bead Soup Blog Party

A few short weeks ago I showed you this lovely soup of artisan glass beads created by my Bead Soup partner, Lori Greenberg.  It was my task to stir and simmer these beautiful little bits of art into one or more finished pieces of jewelry.  And, of course, I wanted to do them justice.  My aim was design something a unique, something with a touch of whimsy, and something that would stretch my artistic voice up another octave.  You'll have to tell me if I was on key . . .

Unblocking Creativity

I didn't really feel like I was experiencing a "creative block" -- at least not in the true sense where you sit down at a blank piece of paper, or a strand of wire, or a pile of beads and can't for the life of you think of anything to do.  But I had been super busy for a couple of weeks and hadn't had a chance to sit down and start playing with my "bead soup" beads yet.  When I finally had the opportunity 2 weekends ago to go down and spend some time in the studio, I made a cup of tea and wandered downstairs in anticipation of finally getting started on the ideas that had been rolling around in my mind's eye.

Ewww.  But this is what awaited me.  A mess!  It might not look that bad, but to me, there was so much junk on my desk space, stacks of projects sliding over one another, loose papers that needed to be filed -- it immediately deflated my creative spirit.

Clutter = Creativity Blocker

Soup's On!

Peek-a-boo!  Here's the BSBP soup ingredients I sent to my bead exchange partner, Lori Greenberg!  I sent her a large focal clasp -- a copper butterfly I  forged and wire-wrapped with sterling silver wire and teensy tiny deep carnelian beads.  I also made some textured copper flat and domed components that could be bead caps, or spacers, or whatever else strikes Lori's fancy.  To finish off the soup, I added more teensy carnelian beads and some gorgeous aqua terra jasper rondells.  I can't wait to see what Lori creates with these ingredients!

Sneak Peek - Bead Soup Blog Party

OoOoOoo!  The anticipation is building!  Last weekend I finished up my contribution  -- my "bead soup" ingredients -- to send to my Bead Soup partner, Lori Greenberg.

I cannot yet reveal the full-extent of what I sent.  What would the fun be in that?!  But ... we do have permission to let you see a little bit.  A pixel or two.  A sneak peek.

So, ... here goes ...