Whether you want to capture a painting, digitise old prints or take on a copy work job, photographing artwork is a useful skill. But there’s more to it than pointing your camera at the canvas. Here we’ll look at a host of camera skills that you can use to hone your technique, from lighting and shooting set-ups to cross-polarisation and more.
James Paterson
James is as skilled a photo editor as he is a photographer. His work has appeared in countless magazines and books, and in 2014 he was appointed editor of Practical Photoshop magazine.
Visit www.patersonphotos.com
What kit do I need?
Camera - A DSLR or mirrorless camera that lets you set manual exposure.
Lens - A 50mm prime or longer lens is the best option. We used a 105mm lens.
Lights - Two speedlights or strobes are ideal, or strong LEDs, plus two stands and white umbrellas or softboxes.
- A tripod that lets you swivel the centre column to a horizontal position is helpful to use, as it allows you to shoot downwards without including the tripod legs
