Wonderful photos, Bill! Burning out the lights on the face in a photo is my number one problem, other than painting, of course. Could we get you to take a photo of your light setup and equipment?

Me, too!

I

Thanks Bill, now I don't feel so bad.

Michele,

I should have explained I was interested in the histogram for this exact set up. I have to take a reference photo of a little blond girl in a white shirt and green background a week from Tuesday so I thought the inside scoop on the histogram for these photos would be very helpful. And, I can use all the help I can get. Sorry, for the confusion.

Does your camera have a histogram function? MIne does and it will show on the camera's monitor a bell curve or whatever it turns out to be, indicating the quantity of pixels in each value, from dark to light, in that particular shot.

It might. I'd have to read the instructions to find out.
I'd have to learn to read.....

Actually, by taking test shots right on my computer screen (using a handy program that came with my Canon) and then comparing the result with the real subject, I just let my eyeballs do the work.

Sincerely yours in low-tech,

Bill

Setup
 

Thanks Bill,

I was curious about your new photo setup and was going to ask you about it, but now I see you've already gone into great detail here. You never cease to amaze me. My only problem now is finding someone who will trade in my guitar for a banjo.
P.S. using your extra easel as a monitor stand is brilliant. I'll have to steal that idea.

Bill,

Your photographs are wonderful! Do you paint from your monitor screen or do you make prints and paint from them? Just curious because I am looking at moving my computer into my studio and painting from the monitor since making prints with acceptable color is driving me crazy.

Thanks,
Ardith

Ardith,

I have found that working from a good computer monitor is the next best thing to working from life. I don't work from prints.

I have an Apple 23" LCD display. It was state-of-the-art when it came out, but there are probably better ones on the market now.

There is a review of 23" LCD displays in the March, 2005 issue of MACWORLD, page 22. They compare my Apple with four others and give their editor's choice to the HEWLETT PACKARD L2335. It lists for $1,599 as compared to the Apple, which lists at $1,799.

Dear Bill.

What a fabulous and elegant setup! Thanks for sharing your innovations and expertise so generously.

I have been painting partially from a monitor for about five years now. The superior image quality to be seen on an Apple Studio Display was enough to convert me from PC to Mac in 2002! I am smitten and hooked for life.

My budget allowed for the smaller, more modest 17 inch monitor, but it has served me well. (I may have introduced my setup before so I hope this is not too redundant.) I have an ancient (50 years?) Chicago Majestic movie camera tripod that will extend from 3 feet to 8 1/2 feet. To this I have installed a custom plywood top that supports my monitor. The nice thing is I can crank it up and down in tandem with my easel. It also can be cranked to any tilt position desirable. Unfortunately it has absolutely no banjo attachment! As you can see I like the same wall color as you do.

Thanks again for your leadership in showing us your best studio methods and practical approaches.

Garth