Bang head here

So - here's some of that "frustrations" piece that I include in my introduction to my blog: 

Photographing my work! 

I am a former professional photographer and so I tell myself I should be able to figure this thing out. I have never been the anal - type photographer who can rattle off the f-stop number of a particular photo nor can I explain aperture settings. I've always been a feeling her way along sort of photographer and fortunately or unfortunately it's always worked for me. Technology is great but don't ask me to talk about it in any depth. If you do you may be entertained by concepts like, "thingy" and  "til it feels/looks right". 

I have done a good deal of research on how to photograph your art. My art never seems to photograph well no matter what I try. My work has depth inherent in the layers of media that just do not translate in photographic images. But I continue to try. 

My latest venture was this week as I attempted to capture sharp images of my newest pieces in my 'Nurture' series before I release them to an Art Association.

I set up my tripod and easel in the snow recently dumped in my back yard. 

I did the dance of attempting to adjust the camera to be square on to the surface of the painting. This all went swimmingly. 

I bracketed my shots to make sure I was getting the best possible exposure, white balance, etc...

I made adjustments on my computer to get as close as possible to the tones and contrast to the originals.

I uploaded them to this blog.

And my heart sank. The images are washed out and flat. They are not washed out in Windows Photo Gallery - what happened? 

I loath excuses but here I am, making excuses. 

I welcome advice by any of you more technically savvy artists/photographers out there. Feel free to use phrases like "click the thingy" and "bang your head on your desk for five minutes"...I will understand. 

"Chamber"
36"x36"x2" acrylic, watercolor, colored pencil, ink and tissue paper on gallery profile  wood  panel

"Epiphany II"

36"x36"x2" acrylic, watercolor, colored pencil, ink and tissue paper on gallery profile  wood  panel

"Blooming pains II"

36"x36"x2" acrylic, watercolor, colored pencil, ink and tissue paper on gallery profile  wood  panel