Light box pictures

I've been struggling with my camera. I'm not a great photographer and I realize it really shows up here on my blog.  Don't even mention Etsy!  I've made many attempts for great pics but to no avail, although I know this is a necessity at this point in order to sell my work.   My books don't photograph well anyway, but they are great in person.  So I'm trying hard to learn some photography basics.  One big recommendation in the craft biz books and on the websites is to build a "light box".  Here's my feeble attempt.  I've taken the pics that follow with both my crappy 3G iphone camera and my digital camera.  I struggle with the ease of posting pictures from my phone, but the quality is pretty bad. 

Maybe this experiment will inspire me to start using my digital more!

So building the lightbox...you know, I take my time when I can be creative, but I have absolutely no patience for nuts and bolts stuff.  I know I've done a messy job with the paper inside the box.  :) 

 

I had to find a box big enough for my books. 

Luckily, my son has an art easel that had white roller paper, so I stole some from him.  I just tucked it into the box and taped the outer edges.  I think I was supposed to cut off one of the box sides but again, I get in a hurry and want to get to the fun stuff--the picture taking!

I just bought this handy white craft table on craigslist that will eventually end up in my studio once I get our big screen tv out of there.  I plan on setting up a permanent corner for snapping shots of my work before it goes out, once I have the room.  But for now I dragged it up into my plant/hot tub room and set it by the slider for some indirect light.  I'll take the pics there.  I also brought up a small task size ottlite for

additional lighting.

So lets compare....the pictures on the left were taken with the iphone.  The ones on the right were taken with my digital.  Both were in the the lightbox with the ott-lite on for some brightness. 



I see a little bit of difference here, but not much....

 


Big difference here I think!

 




And a big difference here (look at the color diff!)

Let's try some closeups.... wowza, big difference here!

I'm definitely seeing a trend.  Looks like I'll be taking more pictures with the digital.  **sigh**

 

Continue to scroll down for more pics of my work.  See if you can determine which are the iphone and digital.  I'll bet you can. 

**Note: most of the items pictured here will be going to Vineyard Gourmet Chocolates in Coloma for sale, although a couple of the potion bottles will be posted to Books Enchanted on Etsy.   You can also buy similar items from Lotsa Little Things/Gallery 248 either online or in Kalamazoo, MI or Grace's Place in Paw Paw, MI. 

Project Dad

So my dad stopped by at the Verhage's show to chat and I think he was all stressed out that I wasn't making any sales, because he offered me $100 to buy my little spice rack with all my witches potions. 

"What the heck are you going to do with potions?" I asked.

"I need something to go over my toilet in the bathroom."  He said.

Dear, dear Dad....well, I convinced him that he didn't need to buy the thing (although it would have been nice to sell it, there's something to be said about STRANGERS buying your stuff).  I told him I'd make hime some special antique bottles and a rack just for him.  After some talk I discovered he was remembering all these old elixer bottles my grandma rozen kept in a cabinet above her potty at the old farmhouse in North Star, Mi. 

I found some old labels and affixed them onto some antique bottles (liver pills, elixers, balm,) and then I went to work making some special items just for him!

My dad is short.  Not as short as I am but def. not tall.  I think this one is going to be a regular in my collection.

Apparently Grandma Rozen gave my dad Castor Oil all the time, for everything. 

Skip this if you have a weak stomach:  my dad likes to call diahrrea the "screamers".  this item is also "garanteed" which he also enjoys saying....over and over....love ya dad

Is my dad the only person that calls a prostate a "prostrate"??? We make fun of him all the time.

Rozen Pharmaceuticals

Snow White Set

Here's a brand new set I just completed today.  You can check out past posts for the tutorial for the box.  I found the mirror at Hobby Lobby and I thought it would look great tricked out!  The bottle was a great clearance find at HL too.  If the set doesn't sell at Friday's show I'm going to make a book too and etsy this.  It seems shippable to me.   I LOVE how the mirror turned out!

Sleeping Beauty and Belle special order books

Here are some special order books and potion bottles I've been working on for a gal I met through Anitas Attic. It was especially fun to begin using my silhouette sd cutter for these mixed media pieces!