
Artwork
People love the spirit of their art, and to have a picture which is faithful to the original allows that spirit to be properly encountered in it, whether in the form of a print or a digital image.
In essence, producing an image of a piece of art means transforming it from a material object into light, then into code, then either back into light for a digital image or back into material again for prints.
There is a lot of scope for colour, tone and shape to be mis-translated over this cycle of changes of state.
It takes appropriate tools which are well-honed and well-chosen, experience using them, and a well-trained eye to ensure that print and digital image match the original.
For predominantly three-dimensional pieces, like ceramics and sculpture, I shoot either in-situ (for larger and less mobile pieces) or at my studio.
In addition to colour, tone and detail, with ceramics and sculpture there is an emphasis on shape, space and context.
Direction and shape of light, as well as strong composition are key in unlocking the form, depth and character of an object.
It has a lot in common with portraiture, in fact.
For paintings and two-dimensional art, I am resident every Friday at Blue Cedar Printworks in Glastonbury, Somerset, who handle my photography bookings for artists and provide the facilities for making fine art archival prints as well as many other products of interest to artists, like greetings cards.
You can drop off your artwork there any day of the week but it may be worth making contact beforehand to reserve an appointment, especially if you are travelling from further afield and need your work to be completed in one visit or have a large number of artworks.
You can find more of Pete Borg's work here.
Thanks to these artists for permitting me to reproduce their work here:
Header image: Pete Borg
Test print images: Lucy Bolton