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We have some really top-class work on show in SEOS events. The work has clearly taken considerable time and thought to create.  So why do so many artists spend so little time and thought when photographing their work?

The single most important feature of an SEOS entry is the image. It will be competing for attention with over 300 others.  If it does not stop a visitor in their tracks, they will simply move on to one that does. So that entry will have failed.

About 50% of the images sent to SEOS require some degree of corrective work to make them usable for the guide and website. Another 10% need substantial correction or are rejected. The remaining 40% can be used as supplied.  Over the years we have collected a 'Rogue's Gallery' of bad examples. Some are featured here without names (you know who you are!)

We don't expect artists and makers to be professional photographers or Photoshop wizards (although some are!). But we do expect more care and consideration than would be used for the average holiday snap! Just a little more time and thought can make a big difference to a small image. See our PDF guide- How to Photograph your work for SEOS 2012 for more information.

Example 1
Good lighting- shame about the angle!  Shooting at an angle creates horizontal and/or vertical perspective. This had to be corrected and background removed.

Example 2
The picture is a rectangle but the sides are curved like an old fashioned TV screen!  This is called barreling and is caused by the camera lens being too close to the painting. In this case the camera was so close, the image was also out of focus. To correct barreling, move the camera back, even if it means including more of the background. If the camera has a zoom lens extend it about half way.

Example 3
This has been shot at a three-quarter angle and the painting is distorted by sharp perspective. The camera has focused in the middle so the nearest corner is slightly blurred.  The lighting vignettes from light to dark and for good measure there's a window reflection in the glass!  Images this bad are usually rejected.
Always photograph watercolours without glass and oils before varnishing. Shoot square to the painting, preferably using a tripod. Photograph outdoors to get an even spread of light.

Example 4
Technically it's not too bad. It's been taken square to the picture and the lighting is even. But the large areas of black had to be removed and the resulting letterbox image made poor use of our 4cm square image space. At 4cm wide, it had lots of empty space above and below and the figures became far too small. If it had been a square shaped detail showing just a few figures, it would have had so much more impact.

Example 5
So what's wrong with this one? Absolutely nothing!  The image is simple with bold colours and not too much detail.  The format is square making maximum use of the space. It's evenly lit and shot at right angles to the painting. It's in sharp focus and the frame (if there was one) has been cropped out. 
In short, a well chosen, well presented image.