Repo Work, Advice and C&C will help.

[Stryno]

Here is some photographs. my basic work flow is to shoot in my garage, when I am satisfied with the image I shoot the spydercheckr/cube. I then edit the photo based on those calibrations (lightroom), I print a test in a small size, refine things like Contrast, white point, and black point, I do not adjust color. I try to trust my equipment, and so far the calibration, with the tools, trumps any color adjustments, or tweaks, I have tried, so I dropped doing those and except the readings. Though the cube is great sometimes the contrast is higher on the repo when using it verbatim, so I will try to adjust from that, usually to less contrast. I then print on a Cotton Canvas Matte with a Epson SP7890, then if it calls for it add a varnish or texture to mimic the painting.

Equipment
2 5x85 watt CFL inside 2'x3' soft boxes,
Nikon D5100 Body,
85mm Rokinon prime lens (full frame)
Epson 7890
M. graham acrylic medium & varnish.
I am calibrating with Datacolor equipment Spider4elite, SpyderPrint, Spyder cube, SpyderCheckr

Any other questions feel free to ask. These are reproductions of my own work, and I only reproduce with artist permission, or were public domain permits, I do not condone copyright infringement.

[Manfred M]

Chuck - The first thing that strikes me is that your softbox is WAY too far away from your subject. Can I assume you have a matching one on the other side?

By being so far away, you effectively have a smaller, harder light source. In my experience you want your softboxes no more than twice the diagonal of the softbox away from the subject in order to get decent, diffuse light on your subject.

[Loose Canon]

Hi Chuck!

Cool! Another garage shooter! Only yours looks a heckuva lot less cluttered than mine!

Manfred has a good point. Can you adjust your light output with those bulbs?

Also, I assume you are not holding the color checker when you shoot it? It may not make any difference so much but it could catch some color reflection off your clothes. Especially if you are needing to do long exposures with continuous light.

I might be close you. Just across the tracks in MO. on the wrong side! I get down your way as often as I can and have all my life. Probably be on the Buffalo this wknd.

BTW? Beautiful work.

[Stryno]

This was in between paintings we had the lights pulled back so we could see to setup the next shot. When they are hugged in there, my large proportions hits them when changing out the paintings. I came back to the camera to check the painting to camera was square, my brother took the picture you see, then we moved the lights back in. You can see in the shot the setup is way off the shadow fills on the wall are not even, clearly the off camera light is closer, its filling more of the shadow on the far side. When I have them set, I can judge the shadows and determine if one is hotter then the other and adjust accordingly.

But thanks for the comment I was moving them in and out from guessing to get it right, the tip, 2(hypotenuse) should be easy to remember and a great starting point.... Also would it be better to landscape the poxes or leave them upright since there is two?

[Stryno]

Terry- I have room to lent can make you a great deal on the square in Mtn. View, should you ever need it. http://www.arkansasframesmith.com/lodging.html, and at the very least I am Open this weekend maybe you could stop in and see my humble little store.

[Loose Canon]

Hey Chuck, cool!

I had a little peek around your site. Very nice and the room looks great! My kind of place!

We’ll be on the upper stretch of the river this weekend (Ponca area) but were originally planned to be in your area at the Hi 65 bridge. We are there fairly often.

I’ve been going to the Buffalo area since before it became a National Scenic. The land was all family farms and some in the family for generations. I remember when I could come down there and not see a soul in the back country or on the river for days and days. Ah, the “good ol’ days”!

I’d love to stop in sometime, introduce myself, and check out your store/artwork.

I’ll do just that next time I’m in your neck o’ the woods! Be looking forward to it and thank you for the link. I’ll keep it bookmarked.