A brief history of how I got started in woodworking (my main expensive hobby). I was an application programmer working for a company that owned and operated portrait studios, mostly at WalMarts in the US, Mexico, Canada and, briefly, in Germany. I did some image processing coding that was a lot of fun and relates to photography, my second expensive hobby.
The company (Portrait Corporation of America - PCA) went belly-up in 2008, in large part because of the digital revolution in the photography world. At about the same time, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, so I figured there was someone up there telling me it was time to retire, even though I was only 60. Luckily, I got SS-Disability approved pretty quickly and have a very supportive spouse who is an RN (and an extremely thrifty person), so retirement is working out pretty well.
Mostly I do segmented wood turnings. Here are a few examples. Comments are welcome, either on aesthetic or technical issues. I am still getting the hang of shooting this type of photo, so I am interested in pointers on issues such as lighting, shadows, hotspots, and getting the whole piece in focus.
phv
Loc: Goleta, California
The photos are great but the woodworking is fantastic! Beautiful pieces of art!
Nice work, both the turning and photography. I did a lot of that kind of turning until the arthritis in my hands made me give it up.
WOW!! That's to both your wood work and your photos. The only nit picky things I can see are the wrinkles on the floor of the photo. But that, like I said is nit picky. They are absolutely gorgeous.
We have quite a few on the forum that have wood working as a hobby also. I doon't think any of them work with segmented. They are really different and beautiful.
Quaking Aspen wrote:
A brief history of how I got started in woodworking (my main expensive hobby). I was an application programmer working for a company that owned and operated portrait studios, mostly at WalMarts in the US, Mexico, Canada and, briefly, in Germany. I did some image processing coding that was a lot of fun and relates to photography, my second expensive hobby.
The company (Portrait Corporation of America - PCA) went belly-up in 2008, in large part because of the digital revolution in the photography world. At about the same time, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, so I figured there was someone up there telling me it was time to retire, even though I was only 60. Luckily, I got SS-Disability approved pretty quickly and have a very supportive spouse who is an RN (and an extremely thrifty person), so retirement is working out pretty well.
Mostly I do segmented wood turnings. Here are a few examples. Comments are welcome, either on aesthetic or technical issues. I am still getting the hang of shooting this type of photo, so I am interested in pointers on issues such as lighting, shadows, hotspots, and getting the whole piece in focus.
A brief history of how I got started in woodworkin... (
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There very ice , do you photograph them for sales , , do you sell on the net , or just for your own use , there's a movie actor William H MASY
who is into turning , if the pic are for showing, I would look into making a light box , there very cheap to make your self , rather than spending , $49 to a $ 100 or more ,all you need is a card board box. some white liner a couple lights and duck tape.
Thanks for the nice words. I'll look in to making a light box. I suppose I can google up some plans.
I sold stuff at a local gallery for a couple of years until they closed. There are 'art walks' in Cottage Grove during the summer and I occasionally sell pieces there. And then, my relatives get turnings for gifts. I do this mainly for my enjoyment so I'm not terrifically driven to do production and sell a lot of pieces.
Eric
Heh, really great work. I love the look of nice wood. Looking forward to seeing more. And the photos of them are darn good also.
Another member here "Erv" is a carver and posts stuff he does from time to time.
Quaking Aspen wrote:
Thanks for the nice words. I'll look in to making a light box. I suppose I can google up some plans.
I sold stuff at a local gallery for a couple of years until they closed. There are 'art walks' in Cottage Grove during the summer and I occasionally sell pieces there. And then, my relatives get turnings for gifts. I do this mainly for my enjoyment so I'm not terrifically driven to do production and sell a lot of pieces.
Eric
I hear you i make a wood product , no where near the quality as yours , but mine sell for $5 but only cost me $1.50 to make
And they only take ten minutes each to make , maybe less than that, I'll have to time it , but it's only four pieces of wood 6"long x5 1/4 " w and a couple strips I cut from each piece,
Beautiful work and stunning forms. I have taken this type of photo using a sheet and wasn't happy with the creases or folds. Using white is great but next time I am using white paper or cardboard to see if it improves the result. I teach and make ceramic work and are very impressed with your forms and the two tone timber used. Lovely.
Quaking Aspen wrote:
A brief history of how I got started in woodworking (my main expensive hobby). I was an application programmer working for a company that owned and operated portrait studios, mostly at WalMarts in the US, Mexico, Canada and, briefly, in Germany. I did some image processing coding that was a lot of fun and relates to photography, my second expensive hobby.
The company (Portrait Corporation of America - PCA) went belly-up in 2008, in large part because of the digital revolution in the photography world. At about the same time, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, so I figured there was someone up there telling me it was time to retire, even though I was only 60. Luckily, I got SS-Disability approved pretty quickly and have a very supportive spouse who is an RN (and an extremely thrifty person), so retirement is working out pretty well.
Mostly I do segmented wood turnings. Here are a few examples. Comments are welcome, either on aesthetic or technical issues. I am still getting the hang of shooting this type of photo, so I am interested in pointers on issues such as lighting, shadows, hotspots, and getting the whole piece in focus.
A brief history of how I got started in woodworkin... (
show quote)
Stunning and unique products. Well done for the woodwork and the photography.
Fantastic and very beautiful work and can only imagine how much time it must take to create these unique turnings!
These are gorgeous. I call woodworking my "other expensive hobby," but I have yet to acquire a lathe.
Quaking Aspen wrote:
A brief history of how I got started in woodworking (my main expensive hobby). I was an application programmer working for a company that owned and operated portrait studios, mostly at WalMarts in the US, Mexico, Canada and, briefly, in Germany. I did some image processing coding that was a lot of fun and relates to photography, my second expensive hobby.
The company (Portrait Corporation of America - PCA) went belly-up in 2008, in large part because of the digital revolution in the photography world. At about the same time, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, so I figured there was someone up there telling me it was time to retire, even though I was only 60. Luckily, I got SS-Disability approved pretty quickly and have a very supportive spouse who is an RN (and an extremely thrifty person), so retirement is working out pretty well.
Mostly I do segmented wood turnings. Here are a few examples. Comments are welcome, either on aesthetic or technical issues. I am still getting the hang of shooting this type of photo, so I am interested in pointers on issues such as lighting, shadows, hotspots, and getting the whole piece in focus.
A brief history of how I got started in woodworkin... (
show quote)
Dear Quaking Aspen, So sorry about the Parkinson's, but advances in treatment are coming every year. Wonderful woodworking you do--terrific photos, too!
Woodworking takes a great deal of planning and patience. YOU are the BEST.
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