Photographing your knitting (and beyond!)

I'm not a stranger to photography - my dad is an avid photographer so I grew up helping him in the darkroom, plus I took photography 101 in college which also included working in the darkroom (I wonder if it still does).  My dad gave me one of his SLRs for the class and I've used it on and off since then, although not very much recently because, well really, who needs to deal with film?!

But when I heard that Jared Flood aka brooklyntweed was giving a workshop on knitting photography, I really didn't have to think twice before signing up.  I mean, it's brooklyntweed, master knitter, designer and photographer!  I have seen a few other opportunities to take classes with him but I really wanted to go to the photography one because I have been rather frustrated with my knitting photography.  However, I haven't bothered to figure out how to make improvements.  Plus I feel like I've been hitting the limits of my point and shoot and have been thinking about getting a DSLR and wanted to find out more first. (What better excuse than a new baby to get a new camera?! However, I would consider it in addition to, not instead of my point and shoot.)

Anyway, the session was fantastic!  Jared was great - very friendly and accessible, and he packed a lot of really good information into what was a relatively short period of time (less than two hours).  I have now been inspired to:

1. learn more about the features of my point and shoot - I don't really have any excuse for not doing this earlier, but I think playing around with some of the focus and white balance features will already do wonders for my knitting photography
2. make myself a "soft box" - similar to a light box (which I've been talking about for a while) but it will make use of natural light 
3. somehow incorporate into the new baby's room (which will be in the room with the most natural light) an area where I could use this soft box - or figure out somewhere else near windows that will work.  I've always preferred natural light but most of my knitting stuff is close to the kitchen where I have nice counters for laying things out... just very little natural light.
4. I'll try all this out before getting a DSLR but I'm also more convinced than ever that it's worth getting a DSLR. 

Not only was the session great, but the venue was great too - we were in a conference room at Scandinavia House, Volvo Hall I believe.  I hate your typical hotel conference room that generally has no windows, but this room had two full walls of windows and was adjacent to a roof garden - perfect!

Comments

[Robin]

I just got a DSLR and it has made a HUGE difference in my pictures. Colors are true, photos are clear, without really any effort (or truth be told, taking it off of Full Auto, which I'm sure I'd be ripped on for by the true photographers...LOL.)

[annmarie]

I was there, too! Now that the election is over and I'm slowing returning to sanity, I hope to put into practice all the great stuff I learned in the workshop. :)