Life gets in the way of Art...

So, I haven't posted anything for a little while - things like the day-job and migraines got in the way.   I'm hoping, over the next few days, that I will be able to work on the pieces that are sitting on my workbench in various stages of completion.

One thing that has surprised me since opening quisam for business (as opposed to just pleasure) has been the challenge of taking decent photographs of my pieces.  

For the first few weeks I used my iPhone to take my 'pack-shots'.   Whilst being great for on-the-fly portraiture, the iPhone camera isn't up to delivering the sort of shots needed for etsy.  It's pretty good at close-ups but very limited at mid to long range.

(I love this photo of my daughter being carried by my husband - soft focus is great for this type of shot but completely useless for etsy product photography).

(And dark, contrasty black and whites aren't exactly gonna show the rich colours of quisnam)

Piers, my husband, has a super-duper digital SLR.  But, seriously, who can be bothered changing lenses to get a decent close-up.   Having tried using my daughter's cheapo digital (crap) I bit the bullet and went out and bought a reasonably decent Olympus.  The brief to the sales clerk was 'must take a good macro'.  I have to say I have been bitterly disappointed in my purchase.  It is unbelievably hard to get something in focus, let alone get a decent range of shots needed for etsy.  I have no idea what the solution is. There is some great advice online (including really helpful info from fellow etsian sparrowsalvage)  but still the magic eludes me.

On a lighter (much less whiny note) look a this little darling purchased from etsian www.evaelena.etsy.com.  Isn't she sweet.  

And the naked lady theme continues.

Actually, I want to cut the hands-off and use them as charms (sounds like serial-killer stuff).

Oh, and these photos were taken with my iPhone, of course.  'til next time.