Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=121518&Start=1&Sectionid=8&WhatsNew=Yes

I posted this in Photograph Gallery, but got the advice to post in in the Photography Forum, cause I need a little (or big) help.Thanks from gunsan I need some help with taking pictures inside the house. This jumping man I once made out of a piece dead juniper wood. I would like to take a nice photo of him, but I dont succed so well. First I tried with the light in the camera, but that was just a failure. Then I tried with my worklamp and shot without bulblight, And this is the result, not so very good.(And how is it with glassed paintings, how do I avoid reflexions in the glass?) Maybe someone know of some good tutorial sites? I have a Canon digital Ixus but I think they call it Elf in US. I really love the camera, but have a lot to learn.

Cool looking sculpture. I think that this one is begging to be taken somewhere and shot 'on location'. Maybe take it back to where you first found the piece of juniper -- is it 'driftwood' from the sea side? Maybe he should be shot somewhere where he can cast a shadow that gives a different perspective of his shape. We should think this through. I think that this could make an extraordinary study. ..Hey! How'bout this; have you seen Sweetwon's shot called "In the Air" (posted in this forum on 12/31? - that rather mimics the jumping man. Maybe you could have an exhuberant child junping off a swing in the background (slightly blurred). ..OK, I'm still thinking...

OK -- now I finally took a look at the whole picture on the link. I think that for the purpose of practical display he looks great on that back-board, but for a strong photograph he should be removed from the display board. If you think about it, having him 'pinned agianst the wall' like that takes him away from the idea of jumping or flying or freedom, and makes it a little more like a pitiful gothic crucifix (oops, can you tell I'm a protestant?).

Thanks for your answers,great to get some fresh ideas. I will keep trying, And yes, I have certainly seen it as a crucifix too, but it was not what I had in mind when I worked on the branch.It is fascinating with that kind of wood that you have to follow the natural form,cause it has such strong "personality" of its own, so you have to just entice it out to be born. I made some more that summer, but it hurted my wrists so bad that now I cannot work with carving anymore. Thank God for my computer :-)

Ohh wonderfull wood. And nice mounting. I think you need a second light source. Try using the flash in the camers but at the same time use the work lamp to direct light to the side of the man. Hopefully that will take away your strong shadows. You may also try taking the picture outside. Avoid taking the picture at midday. However perhaps at say 10:00am. That should give you enough light but avoid the shadow problem at the same time. Plus it may show the natural colors of the wood. Also see if you can get closer to your peice. It's a wonderful carving so you may as well show as much as you can of it in your photo. You don't need to show the mounting as much. Some would say to fill the picture with your carving but I would suggest leaving some small border at the top and bottom with the mounting showing. However that's my peferance. Bsteph