When certain art forms risk extinction, artists often step up to preserve them. Everything from basket weaving to handmade paper to crankies and natural dyes have found their revivals in
FBAC Silkscreen Studio keeps printmaking alive in Frederick
Airport exhibit spotlights Indigenous heritage
Key Points:
- A new exhibit sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries spotlights 26 contemporary Native American artists.
- Some of the art subtly refers to issues such as missing and murdered Native American women, abuse at Indian boarding schools and climate change.
- The show, “This Land Calls Us Home: Indigenous Relationships with Southeastern Homelands,” features more than 60 paintings and objects that will be on display until November 2024.
While traveling several years back, the Rev. Chebon Kernell came across something interesting at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
It was “A Walk Through Atlanta History,” a permanent exhibit tracing the city’s story up to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
“They included Indigenous peoples there, but it was on just one little panel of this massive display,” said Kernell, executive director of the Native American Comprehensive Plan of The United Methodist Church. “I noticed that one panel was about 13,000 years of (Native American) history. And the entire rest of the exhibit was 200 years.
“That didn’t sit well with me, and so I began to use that example as a teaching moment, to talk about how we have silenced histories, especially in this country.”
Visitors view the newly installed works of “This Land Calls Us Home,” on view at Concourse T North, near gates T12-15 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. Photo by Dan Curran for Global Ministries.
The Rev. Chebon Kernell (Seminole/Muscogee), executive director of the Native American Comprehensive Plan of The United Methodist Church, speaks with a reporter at the opening of “This Land Calls Us Home,” held at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta on Nov. 6. Photo by Susan Clark, courtesy of Global Ministries.
Glenn Kellum, a colleague at the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, where Kernell worked at the time, suggested he meet with airport officials to talk it over. They were amenable.
“So fast-forward five years later, we have developed an art exhibit that gives contemporary examples of Native American culture, identity and even our hopes and dreams for this area that we still consider our homelands in Georgia,” Kernell said.
Double Woven River Cane Basket” (left) and “United First Nations River Cane Basket” (right) were created by Vivian Garner Cottrell, who is of Cherokee and Irish descent and a fourth-generation basket maker. Cherokee patterns are woven into each basket with natural dyed material using black walnut, bloodroot, berries and bois d’arc shavings. Photo courtesy of Global Ministries.
Artist Vivian Garner Cottrell (Cherokee) stands near a display case that features one of her baskets at the opening of “This Land Calls Us Home” held at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta on Nov. 6. Photo courtesy of Global Ministries.
He curated the exhibit with the help of museum professionals and other Native American Methodists and scholars. It is sponsored by Global Ministries.
The show, “This Land Calls Us Home: Indigenous Relationships with Southeastern Homelands,” features more than 60 paintings and objects by 26 artists and will be on display in the T North Concourse until November 2024. It’s free to travelers in the airport.
Artists discuss their work
“Warhol Sequoyah” by Jeff Edwards portrays Sequoyah in a style popularized by the late artist Andy Warhol. Photo courtesy of Global Ministries.
Artists Jeff Edwards and Tony A. Tiger talk about some of their art in related story, including Edward’s “Warhol Sequoyah” and Tiger’s “Influence of Ancestors,” seen at the top of this story.
“Global Ministries is pleased to partner with representatives from our denomination’s Native American community to present this exhibit for display at Atlanta’s airport,” said Roland Fernandes, the top executive of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief, in a statement. “The installation offers a unique opportunity to help facilitate a greater understanding of Native American and Indigenous peoples of the Southeast. Many of the artists have close ties to specific ancestral sites now in the greater Atlanta and Georgia region, which may also be of special interest to travelers visiting the Atlanta area.”
Jeff Edwards, who has three pieces of art in the exhibit, said it was the first time his artwork was featured in an airport.
“I think it’s pretty neat,” he said.
One of Edwards’ pieces is an Andy Warhol-inspired piece about Sequoyah, whose creation of the Cherokee syllabary made reading and writing in Cherokee possible.
“I thought it was kind of cool that you actually have to be a traveler (to see the exhibit),” Edwards said. “If you get a six-hour layover, it’d be kind of cool to have an art show to go to.”
Some of the exhibits tackle Native American issues such as missing and murdered Indigenous women, abuse at Indian boarding schools and climate change, albeit subtly.
“You’ll see little bits and pieces in some of the expressions that we’ve selected,” said Kernell, a Native American scholar and educator. “Sometimes they might take a little bit, maybe an explanation from the artist or different things, to kind of bring it to the forefront.”
“Spearfinger’s Deception” was created by Luzene Hill of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Her work is informed by pre-contact culture of the Americas and advocates for Indigenous linguistic, cultural and individual sovereignty. In Native American lore, Sprearfinger could transform herself from the ugly, old woman she was into a beautiful young female. Her deadliest weapon was her sharp finger that resembled a spear or awl, which she used to cut her victims. Photo courtesy of Global Ministries.
The Rev. Chebon Kernell (second from left), executive director of the Native American Comprehensive Plan, leads a stomp dance demonstration at the opening of “This Land Calls Us Home” held at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta on Nov. 6. Photo by Susan Clark, courtesy of Global Ministries.
For example, there is a painting by Jody Bradley Lipscomb of a young girl clutching a tree. Titled “The Crying Tree,” it alludes to abusive Indian boarding schools — a few operated by Methodists — intended to separate Native Americans from their culture. “The Crying Tree” refers to an oak grove where children sought refuge from Cherokee Indian Boarding School in North Carolina.
Tony A. Tiger, another artist featured in the airport show, believes exposure to Native American art could do the opposite of the boarding schools by sharing Native culture with people of other races.
“We have a narrative to share with America,” Tiger said. “I think it’s important that people understand that we weren’t savages; we did have civilization here with many different languages and we had large villages.
“With more knowledge … possibly we can treat each other better.”
An exhibit at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, “This Land Calls Us Home: Indigenous Relationships with Southeastern Homelands,” showcases 60 works of art by 26 Native American artists. It will be on display in the T North Concourse until November 2024. Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.
“Know Your Enemy” by Jeff Edwards portrays a Cherokee Native American. The spider held by the subject’s left hand originally was the head of Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. It was changed to a spider because of concerns the reference would be missed by non-Oklahomans. Photo courtesy of Global Ministries.
But Edwards said there’s a line he won’t cross between honoring his Cherokee heritage and doing what he called “pity pieces,” or art that reflects stereotypes.
“Oh, look at what has happened to us Cherokee. We’ve had such a horrible history.” Edwards said. “Yes, of course we have. But … we’re still here, you know, so we survived that history.”
Having the exhibit at the airport means it may reach people who don’t go to museums very often.
“One advantage … is to counteract the historical silencing that I feel the other exhibit does in the tunnel area of the airport,” Kernell said. “To have something more in depth that provides the community with a deeper understanding of Native American people.”
Patterson is a UM News reporter in Nashville, Tennessee. Contact him at 615-742-5470 or [email protected].
To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests.
About the Native American Comprehensive Plan
The Native American Comprehensive Plan serves as the United Methodist entity that resources, strengthens and advocates for the local church in Native American communities and contexts for all generations.
“Post-COVID … the focus that we’ve taken is (to cultivate) relationships with the entities that surround us and do a lot of education to the non-Native American world about the things that we’re going through,” said the Rev. Chebon Kernell, executive director of the plan.
“We have relationships with universities. We have relationships with museums … and we’ve tried to reach what they’re teaching so that a good message about Native American people today can be taught that can be a good pedagogy there.”
Watch video: Stomp Dance
“This Land Calls Us Home” is an artistic multidimensional exhibit highlighting the contemporary expressions of Indigenous peoples and their relationship with their ancestral domains and homelands. Representing primarily Mvskoke and Cherokee indigenous communities, “This Land Calls Us Home,” tells a story of the eternal connection that modern Native American people have with their respective homelands. Sixty works of art by 26 Native American artists will be on display in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Ga., until November 2024. Video courtesy of Global Ministries. Click here to watch video
Physics Ph.D. student named Honorary Commencement Marshal
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Media Contact:
Elizabeth Gosney | CAS Marketing and Communications Manager | 405-744-7497 | egosney@okstate.edu
Jared Austin-Harris, an Oklahoma State University Department of Physics Ph.D. candidate, has been named an Honorary Commencement Marshal for OSU’s fall 2023
graduate commencement ceremony. Austin-Harris is one of four graduate students selected for the role.
This honor tops off Austin-Harris’ time at OSU and adds another distinction to his
academic career; he has earned two bachelor’s degrees in physics and mathematics,
master’s degrees in physics and teaching, learning and leadership and he will receive
his Ph.D. on Dec. 15.
“I am excited to be recognized for my hard work and achievements during my graduate
career by being named as a graduation marshal,” Austin-Harris said. “As a first-generation
college student, I am humbled to be honored as such.”
As a student, Austin-Harris spent countless hours working in physics professor Dr.
Yingmei Liu’s lab, dating back to working on his undergraduate degree. The work he
did as an undergrad is still impacting the lab today.
“Since joining our program in 2018, Jared has demonstrated outstanding research ability and potential,” Liu said. “He has successfully
implemented the first state-of-the-art highly programmable ultracold quantum simulator
in Oklahoma. This project combines modern developments in cold atom physics with important application-driven
precise sensor research in a completely unique way.”
His dedication to physics research and advancement has helped him build a resume stacked
with notable accomplishments and awards. Austin-Harris is listed as the first author
of four papers published in physics journals and won the 2023 Robberson Summer Dissertation
Fellowship, 2021-23 OSU Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, the 2022 and 2019 American
Physical Society Travel Award, the 2021-22 Walt Kolb Graduate Studies Scholarship,
the Niblack Research Scholarship, and the 2022 Joel Martin Endowed Scholarship.
“Jared is a highly motivated student and has been an excellent mentor to several undergraduate students in the physics
program,” Liu said. “Jared’s work enabled my research group to win major research funds totaling more than $2 million.”
After graduating with his undergraduate degrees, Austin-Harris pursued a career in
education, teaching high school students for two years. Following graduation, Austin-Harris
will continue his work in Liu’s lab in a post-doctoral position that blends his passions
as an educator and a researcher.
“This role will allow me to train and guide the next generation of Ph.D. students
to begin their work in the lab,” Austin-Harris said. “My long-term goals include the
opportunity to use my skills and love for both education and physics in a tenure-track
position within academia.”
Story By:
Erin Weaver, CAS Communications Coordinator | erin.weaver@okstate.edu
Want to Start Getting Paid for Your Photography? Follow This Formula
Aspiring photographers often hit a wall when trying to transition from hobbyist to professional work. It’s one thing to take nice photos for fun, but landing those first paid gigs requires a strategic approach and understanding of what a client needs, not just what you like to shoot. The fantastic video tutorial boils down a simple yet effective formula any beginner can follow to start photographing local small businesses and getting paid.
Coming to you from PJ Pantelis, this excellent video tutorial discusses how new professional photographers can get started photographing small businesses. Notice that Pantelis focuses on the client experience just as much as the final images. Clients are trusting you with the public representation of their image, and that’s a heavy responsibility. He walks through best practices like scouting locations, finding interesting angles, posing subjects, flattering lighting, and effective framing. But the nuts and bolts of running a shoot go beyond aperture and shutter speed. Making a genuine connection and delivering a great experience builds the trust and relationships necessary to get rebooked and referred for future work. Small touches like learning the client’s name, working efficiently, and sharing sample edited images soon after the shoot leave a positive, lasting impression.
For any photographer hoping to make that leap, applying Pantelis’ straightforward tips will simplify what can feel like an overwhelming process, and that’s important when you’re just starting out. With some solid fundamental techniques, intentional client care, and consistent delivery, the transition from amateur to paid professional photographer can be smooth.
If you’re looking to turn your photography talents into a money-making endeavor, be sure to check out the full video above and take notes on Pantelis’ invaluable advice.
‘It’s been a grim year—but the importance of art cannot be overlooked’
As the year ends, our thoughts are with the victims caught up in the war in Gaza. Our readers will be universally distressed at the suffering of innocent people, Palestinian and Israeli. Gaza has rightfully had saturation media coverage during the past few weeks. But at The Art Newspaper our remit is very much narrower: to focus on the impact of armed conflict on art, museums, archaeological and historical sites, religious buildings and heritage.
Gaza must be rebuilt and every society depends on its culture to help bind its people together
Needless to say, losses to culture pale into insignificance compared with the deaths, the injuries and the suffering caused by the displacement of millions of people—and the terrible fate of hostages. But in the long run, Gaza must be rebuilt and every society depends on its culture to help bind its people together.
Determining what damage has been caused to Gaza’s heritage is at present a very challenging task. The Art Newspaper has no correspondent in Gaza and, even if we did, reporters there operate under either Israeli or Hamas control. As all journalists know only too well, truth is the first casualty of war. But using a wide spread of media sources, we have done our best to assemble data on damage to Gaza’s culture.
Sadly, art has hardly flourished in Gaza because of the territory’s tragic late-20th century history. In 1948, the year the state of Israel was created, Gaza had a population of less than 50,000. Now it has 2.4 million inhabitants, making it among the most densely populated territories on earth. Half its people are registered refugees. Art must seem a luxury for people in these circumstances, although it can provide inspiration.
Quandary for museums and artists
The Gaza conflict creates a dilemma for museums and artists outside the region: should they express their views on the rights and wrongs of the Israeli and Hamas sides? Most museums have no special expertise in international relations and arguably should avoid getting entangled in political issues, although they should rightfully be concerned about threats to culture. Artists, as individuals, make their own decisions.
Looking back over this year, the situation in Ukraine since the Russian invasion of February 2022 is highly distressing. Assembling reliable information on damage to Ukrainian heritage has been difficult, although more feasible than for Gaza. Hardly a month has gone by since last year when The Art Newspaper has not carried a report on Ukraine. Our articles have covered damage to historic sites, Russian looting of Ukrainian museums, sanctioned Russian collectors and sponsors, leadership changes at Russian museums and Western support for Ukrainian artists. Sadly, the invasion has meant that cultural links between Russia and the West have become even more difficult than at the height of the Cold War.
Apart from these two terrible conflicts, what other major issues faced the art world in 2023? Restitution of African and Oceanic art seized during the colonial period, as well as the return of Native American and Canadian First Nations artefacts, is now very much on the agenda, particularly over items looted in the late 19th century by British troops during battles at Maqdala (Ethiopia), Benin (present-day Nigeria) and the Asante empire (present-day Ghana). Museums in Europe and North America will face even greater pressures for restitution in the coming year.
One can hardly avoid mentioning the crisis which hit the British Museum this summer, its most damaging since the Second World War. Revelations that one of its senior curators had allegedly stolen 2,000 antiquities from the museum over a 25-year period seemed almost unbelievable.
Hartwig Fischer rightly resigned as director, to be replaced by the steady hand of Mark Jones (formerly at the Victoria and Albert Museum) as the interim head. The search is now on for a new permanent director, who should take over by next summer. Their main challenges will be to restore the British Museum’s reputation, ensure security, and launch the ambitious masterplan to refurbish the building and redisplay the collection.
Looking back on 2023, one of the brightest spots was the Vermeer exhibition at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum. It deserves the highest praise for several reasons: reassembling so much of the master’s oeuvre (28 out of the 37 paintings), its elegant presentation, the number of visitors (650,000) and what it added to our scholarly knowledge of the artist. Vermeer was a triumph, a bright spot amid this year’s man-made disasters.
• Martin Bailey is special correspondent for The Art Newspaper
A comprehensive guide to photography lighting modifiers
Photography is an art form that relies heavily on the interplay of light and shadow. In the pursuit of capturing stunning images, photographers often turn to lighting modifiers to shape and control the quality of light. These tools are indispensable for achieving the desired mood, emphasizing specific details, and creating visually striking compositions. Let’s delve into the world of lighting modifiers, exploring their types, functions, and the impact they can have on your photographic creations.
Understanding the basics
Natural light
Natural light serves as the fundamental canvas upon which photographers paint their images. It is the essence of visual storytelling, offering an unfiltered representation of the world. The interplay of sunlight and shadows defines the mood, texture, and atmosphere of a photograph, making it a cornerstone in the art of capturing moments.
The impact of sunlight at different times of the day
Sunlight is dynamic, with its character evolving throughout the day. Understanding the nuances of natural light at different times is crucial for photographers seeking to harness its full potential.
- Morning Magic: The soft, warm glow of the morning sun bathes scenes in a gentle, diffused light. Shadows are long, colors are rich, and the world awakens with serene beauty. It’s an opportune time for capturing landscapes and portraits with a tranquil ambience.
- Midday Intensity: As the sun ascends, its rays become more direct, casting sharp shadows and intense highlights. This period presents a challenge but can also be leveraged for bold contrasts, especially in street photography or capturing vibrant colors in nature.
- Golden Hour Elegance: The hour before sunset, often referred to as the golden hour, is a photographer’s dream. The sunlight is warm, soft, and casts a magical, golden hue. It’s an ideal time for portraits, landscapes, and capturing a romantic, ethereal ambience.
- Twilight Allure: After the sun sets, during the twilight hours, the sky transforms into a canvas of deep blues and purples. This period, known as the blue hour, offers a unique opportunity for capturing cityscapes, silhouettes, and dreamy atmospheres.
Utilizing natural light modifiers like reflectors and diffusers
While natural light is inherently beautiful, photographers often seek to modify and enhance it for optimal results. This is where light modifiers, even in outdoor settings, come into play.
- Reflectors: Reflectors bounce and redirect light, adding fill light to the scene. They come in various surfaces, such as gold for warmth, silver for brightness, and white for a natural fill. Reflectors bounce sunlight back onto the subject, effectively filling in shadows and providing a more even illumination. Whether silver for a crisp fill or gold for a warm tone, reflectors are invaluable tools for controlling contrast and adding a flattering touch to portraits.
- Diffusers: These handy tools soften and scatter harsh sunlight, creating a more pleasing and flattering light source. Diffusers are particularly useful during midday shoots when the sunlight is intense. They help eliminate harsh shadows, reduce contrast, and produce a more even and gentle illumination.
In the realm of photography, understanding and harnessing the ever-changing qualities of natural light, complemented by strategic use of modifiers, is an art form that elevates the visual narrative and brings out the true essence of a scene.
Artificial Light
Introduction to artificial lighting sources (Strobes, speedlights, continuous lights)
In the intricate dance of light and shadows within photography, artificial lighting sources play a pivotal role in providing control, consistency, and creative flexibility. These sources come in various forms, each catering to specific needs and scenarios.
- Strobes: Strobes, also known as studio flashes, are powerful bursts of light emitted in a short duration. They are versatile and commonly used in studio setups for portrait and commercial photography. Strobes deliver intense, instantaneous bursts of light, allowing photographers to freeze motion and capture crisp, well-lit images.
- Speedlights: These are compact, portable flashes designed for on-the-go photographers. Mounted on the camera or placed off-camera, speedlights are excellent for events, weddings, and outdoor shoots. They provide a convenient solution for adding fill light or creating dynamic lighting setups in various environments.
- Continuous Lights: Unlike flashes that emit brief bursts of light, continuous lights stay on, providing constant illumination. These lights are beneficial in situations where a photographer needs to see the real-time effect of the light, such as in video production or when working with subjects who may be sensitive to sudden flashes. I adore using the LumeCube RGB Mini sticks for creating all sorts of effects in the studio.
The need for modifiers to shape and soften artificial light
While artificial lighting sources offer precision and control, unmodified light can be harsh and unflattering. This is where lighting modifiers step in, acting as transformative tools to shape and soften the artificial light emitted by strobes, speedlights, or continuous lights.
- Softboxes: Softboxes are perhaps the most popular and effective modifiers for shaping artificial light. They are designed to diffuse and soften the light, minimizing harsh shadows and creating a gentle, flattering illumination. Softboxes come in various shapes and sizes, offering versatility for different photography genres.
- Umbrellas: Reflective or shoot-through umbrellas are versatile modifiers that can quickly modify the character of artificial light. Reflective umbrellas bounce light back onto the subject, providing a softer, more even illumination. Shoot-through umbrellas, on the other hand, diffuse light for a broad and gentle effect.
- Beauty Dishes: These specialized modifiers are renowned for creating a pleasing balance between softness and definition. Beauty dishes produce a soft but focused light with a central hot spot and gradual falloff, making them popular for portrait photography.
- Snoots and Grids: When precision is paramount, snoots and grids come into play. Snoots concentrate light into a narrow beam, ideal for highlighting specific details, while grids narrow the spread of light, enhancing control and creating more defined shadows.
- Reflectors: Reflectors aren’t limited to natural light; they are equally valuable in shaping artificial light. By bouncing light back onto the subject, reflectors fill in shadows, reduce contrast, and contribute to a more flattering and dimensional look.
Soft modifiers
Soft modifiers in photography refer to a category of lighting modifiers designed to create gentle, diffused, and even illumination. These modifiers are characterized by their ability to soften shadows, reduce contrast, and produce a flattering, wraparound light. They are widely used in portrait photography and other scenarios where a subtle and natural-looking light is desired. Here are some common types of soft modifiers:
- Reflectors: Reflectors bounce and redirect light, adding fill light to the scene. They come in various surfaces, such as gold for warmth, silver for brightness, and white for a natural fill. They are used in both natural light and artificial lighting setups to enhance shadows, reduce contrast, and add catchlights to the eyes. A great reflector is a 5-1, which is available in different sizes and has white, silver, gold, black and a diffuser.
- Softboxes: Available in different shapes and sizes, softboxes are designed to create a broad and even source of light. They work by diffusing and scattering light, resulting in soft shadows and flattering skin tones. These are ideal for portrait photography, fashion shoots, and product photography where a soft, wraparound light is desired. Used in portrait and product photography.
- Umbrellas: These modifiers create a broad, even light source. They are also portable and versatile modifiers. You have the option to choose between reflective vs. shoot-through umbrellas. Reflective umbrellas bounce light back onto the subject, while shoot-through umbrellas allow light to pass through, creating a softer effect. They produce a wide, diffused light. These versatile modifiers are perfect for portraits, group shots, and events. Reflective umbrellas can be used for more directional light, while shoot-through umbrellas provide softer, more even illumination.
- Beauty Dishes: Beauty dishes produce soft yet defined shadows, making them ideal for portrait photography. They add dimension and highlight facial features. Beauty dishes produce a soft yet defined light with a central hot spot and gradual falloff. They are excellent for highlighting facial features and creating catchlights in the eyes. Widely used in portrait photography, beauty dishes are favored for their ability to add dimension to the subject while maintaining a soft look.
One of the best soft modifiers I have used is the Phottix G-Capsule. I have the 85cm softbox which offers a softbox, beauty dish, and umbrella all in one. A mix of an 85cm softbox and a 45cm beauty dish gives a beautifully lit portrait (see image above). The telltale signature of two catchlights in the model’s eyes tells where the lights were placed. Round softboxes and beauty dishes give round catchlights, whereas strip boxes and square softboxes will give square or oblong catchlights.
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Hard modifiers
A hard modifier in photography refers to a type of lighting modifier that produces a more focused and defined beam of light. Unlike soft modifiers which create a diffused and gentle illumination, hard modifiers maintain the sharpness and intensity of light, resulting in more pronounced shadows and highlights. These modifiers are characterized by their ability to produce a more direct and concentrated lighting effect.
- Grids: Control the spread of light, narrowing it into a more focused beam. They help prevent light spills and create more defined shadows. Ideal for highlighting a subject against a dark background or when you need to control light spill in a confined space. In the image above, a large grid was used to create harsh highlights and strong shadows.
- Snoots: Concentrate light into a narrow beam, creating a spotlight effect. They are used to emphasize specific details or create dramatic highlights with a defined edge. Useful in portrait and product photography where precision and control over light direction are crucial.
Specialized modifiers
Specialized modifiers in photography refer to a category of lighting modifiers that are designed for specific creative purposes or to achieve particular effects in the image. These modifiers go beyond the standard softboxes, umbrellas, and reflectors, offering photographers unique tools to enhance their creativity and add distinctive elements to their work.
Here are some examples of specialized modifiers:
- Ring lights: Ring lights create a unique, circular catchlight. Ideal for portrait and fashion photography, they reduce harsh shadows and provide soft, even, and shadow-free illumination. They are also commonly used to create a unique circular catchlight in the eyes. As such, they are popular modifiers for creating captivating close-up shots.
- Gobos and cookies: These modifiers are great for incorporating patterns and textures into the scene. You can add interest to backgrounds and create storytelling elements. Gobos (go-betweens) and cookies introduce patterns or textures into the scene. They create interesting shadows and add visual interest to backgrounds. They are also often used in theatrical photography, creative portraits, and adding a storytelling element to the composition.
- Silk and Diffusion Panels: These modifiers soften light in outdoor settings. They soften and diffuse harsh sunlight or artificial light to mimic the effect of overcast skies. As such, they are perfect for achieving a natural, even look. They are essential for outdoor photography when you need to soften sunlight, reducing harsh shadows and creating a pleasing, natural look.
DIY modifiers and hacks
DIY modifiers, short for “Do It Yourself” modifiers, are homemade or improvised tools that photographers create to modify and control light in their photography setups. These modifiers are often crafted from everyday materials or repurposed objects, providing cost-effective alternatives to commercial lighting accessories. Photographers use DIY modifiers for various reasons, including experimentation, customization, and budget constraints. Here are some common types of DIY modifiers and reasons why photographers choose to use them:
- Household Items: Utilize everyday objects like aluminum foil, shower curtains, and more for creative lighting. Items like white bedsheets, shower curtains, and walls can be used to reflect or diffuse light creatively. As such, they are inexpensive alternatives for achieving unique lighting effects, especially in a pinch or for experimental photography.
- Crafting Your Modifiers: Building a DIY softbox or beauty dish, or other modifiers allows for customization based on specific needs and creative vision. DIY modifiers are excellent for photographers on a budget or those who enjoy experimenting with different materials to achieve unique effects. A Pringles can for a snoot is a great alternative as well.
Summary
The introduction of artificial lighting sources broadens a photographer’s tool kit, offering enhanced control over the illumination of a scene. However, to achieve the desired mood and aesthetic, modifiers become essential. They enable photographers to sculpt and soften the artificial light to match their creative vision. Understanding these modifiers and their functions empowers photographers to choose the right tool for the job, unlocking creative possibilities and refining their craft.
In the dynamic world of photography, mastering the use of lighting modifiers is a journey that evolves with each photoshoot. Whether you’re aiming for soft, ethereal portraits or dramatic, high-contrast compositions, understanding the characteristics and applications of different lighting modifiers will empower you to elevate your craft and tell more compelling visual stories. As you experiment with these tools, remember that there are no strict rules — only guidelines to inspire your creativity and push the boundaries of what’s possible with light
Do you need all of these modifiers? No, definitely not. They can be borrowed, bought or created as you need them. It also depends on your style of photography. Think about the images you wish to capture and what light modifiers could be a benefit.
Interlockables Is Actual Furniture Kids Can Build Themselves
One minute your baby is learning to crawl, the next minute they’re putting together furniture by themselves. At least with Interlockables they can! The collection, designed by New York-based design brand House of RoRo has a whimsical yet functional quality, very much reminiscent of the iconic wooden Elephant by the Eameses. In fact, like the Eameses, Belgian interior designer Anne-Sophie Rosseel (who also founded Rosseel Studio) believes that child-friendly furniture and objects should be able to exist in adult spaces and be given every bit of consideration as any other design, especially to reduce overconsumption. “I was looking for ways to combine toy storage with functional furniture that would look good in our home, while reducing the clutter. Kids grow fast and if I was going to make a product, I wanted it to be as sustainable as possible and not have it end up in landfill after 2 years,” the designer shares.
Made from plywood, Interlockables are furniture puzzle pieces that can be assembled together using the slot cutouts and the help of a friend or rubber mallet. There are eight total pieces: the Uma chair, Raymond rocker, Riva stool, Riva table, Sky side table, Box table, Book tower, and Box stool. Audrey Louise Reynolds, an artisanal dyer, custom developed food grade vegan wood stains specifically for House of RoRo using natural pigments – such as mushrooms, flowers, mica, and moss – mixed with a bio-based wood finish. The dyes give the collection a colorful, uniform, slightly transparent color wash.
Like the impetus for creating House of RoRo, which is to create long-lasting furniture that grows with the child’s needs and tastes and stays out of the landfill, the collection is sustainably made using FSC- and TSCA-certified wood, which means the material is sustainably sourced and passes toxicity checks. The pieces are all shipped flat packed with 100% recyclable packaging to further reduce its materials usage and carbon footprint. The wood finishes are zero VOC, food safe oil-based sealers and the waste CNC cut outs are turned into color samples shaped like small toys and puzzles.
To shop the Interlockables collection, visit houseofroro.com.
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Nostalgic 90s-Style Film Cameras
The Moment Long Weekend 35mm Film Camera is a decidedly retro piece of photography equipment for shutterbugs to use as the perfect way to capture moments in a decidedly mindful manner.
The camera is optimized for use with 135 film with an ISO range from 200/400 and is equipped with a focus-free 31mm, F9 optical grade acrylic lens. These features combine to deliver a simple photography experience, which is further enhanced with a lack of adjustable shutter speed and aperture. A built-in flash makes the camera suited for low-light conditions. The unit is powered by a single AAA battery for the camera itself and the flash.
The Moment Long Weekend 35mm Film Camera is priced at $49.99 and available now for preorder with deliveries slated to take place starting December 26, 2023.
The world’s first underwater sculpture park has just gotten a lot bigger
Grenada’s underwater sculpture park at Molinere Bay has welcomed new members of its underwater sculpture population. “Wonder of the World” Listed as one of National Geographic’s […]
