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How do you photograph quilts so that the quilting shows?

How do you photograph quilts so that the quilting shows?

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Old 08-20-2011, 04:54 PM
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I pretty much get how to take a picture of the quilt so that the pattern shows (hang it on the wall and try to get a straight-on shot). Right?

But I don't seem to be able to capture the quilting design...which I'm now getting better at. Any hints? I've seen some beautiful ones posted.

Thanks so much!
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Old 08-20-2011, 04:58 PM
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I have to do a close up of a smaller area of the quilt as full view picture usually does not show quilting designs.
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Old 08-20-2011, 05:01 PM
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Close ups, try with and without flash, tilt the quilt at an angle. Sometimes you just have to get creative and try different things with the lighting :D:D:D
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Old 08-20-2011, 05:02 PM
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I put my camera at an angle and I also think it works better to show the quilting if the flash isn't turned on.
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Old 08-20-2011, 05:15 PM
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very close up
sometimes it shows up better on the back- the quilt design is not competing with it- choose which side shows the quilting best then get up close and take some pictures- if you have a good whole quilt picture- then a couple detail pics- you have it :)
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Old 08-20-2011, 05:32 PM
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If the back doesn't have a heavy print sometimes the quilting shows better.
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Old 08-20-2011, 06:10 PM
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It's all in the angle of the light. If the light source and the camera are coming from the same direction--like if you use the flash, or the light is behind you--it will flatten the picture and all dimension will be lost. If the light source is from the side, or coming from the opposite direction, you will see shading and texture which will allow the quilting to show up. And yes, photographing the back will help if the back is a solid color. A print will always overpower the quilting to some degree.

I have a good example...

Light from window behind me. Flat, no quilting shows.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]244518[/ATTACH]

Now the window is opposite my camera. Quilting shows!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]244519[/ATTACH]
Attached Thumbnails attachment-244512.jpe   attachment-244513.jpe  
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Old 08-20-2011, 06:29 PM
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Very good example, I will have to remember it when I take pics.
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Old 08-21-2011, 06:14 AM
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i try to take my pictures in front of my slider in the morning because it gets the afternoon sun.

and thanks to sparkmonkey for the great example
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Old 08-21-2011, 03:59 PM
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They say "a picture is worth a thousand words," and SparkMonkeys photo examples are proof of that. I also find that side lighting and no flash give the best results. Good luck!
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