Karen, It all depends on the size of your photography space and also on the sort of objects and artifacts and artworks that you may have a need to photograph. If you have a staff photographer they usually have very strong preferences. It also depends if you need reference photographs for the files or if you need a more professional set-up for exhibition catalogs and publications. In general the larger and taller the object the larger the space - and you can also multiply the backing material and it also effect the amount of light coverage you'll need. In my work as a conservator I do a huge range of photodocumentation from microscope photography, to small objects, to sculptures, to architecture. I personally dislike hot lights because they are bulky, they suck power and trip breakers, and they get hot enough to soften and weaken adhesives in mended ceramics and objects if left on long enough. In the past year I have been experiementing with a strobe / slave system (the slave is a small device that attaches to the hot shoe of the camera that allows you to active the strobe - thus making it a cable free operation). I have found by experimenting with distance and angle of the strobe head that I can create strong direct light or a very diffuse soft light by just bouncing it off a nearby ceiling or a white board. You can also buy a soft box that attaches to the front of the strobe head that will effectively do the same thing. You have to also experiment with exposure and white balance, etc. to get your system tuned in. But I have had spectacular results. I also like the strobe because I can use it either in the studio or take it with me into the field. My specific unit requires a power cord but you can also buy units that can be totally portable and fire on batteries. I submitted a powerpoint on just this topic to the tips session of the Objects Specialty Group of the AIC this past June. Cheers! Dave David Harvey Conservator Los Angeles, California On 8/17/06, Katherine McLeister <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Please reply on list. We are interested in this too. > > Theatre Historical Society of America > Elmhurst, IL > www.historictheatres.org > > > "O'Brien, Karen" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > Hello Oh-wise-ones! > > My director has asked me to look into getting a set up to take photographs > of our collections. We already have a copy stand we use for small items, but > we need to put together a system for taking photographs of our ethnographic > materials (clothing , paintings, baskets, moccasins, wood panels, etc.). > > What do you folks use in terms of lights and/or umbrellas for diffusing > light, backgrounds, or anything else? > > Is there anything I should make sure I am aware of before purchasing > equipment? > > Thanks in advance for any help you can give. > > Best, > Karen > > Karen O'Brien > Collection Manager > Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan > 1109 Geddes Ave. > Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079 > 734-764-6299 > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at > http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain > detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line > e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message > should read "help" (without the quotes). > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to > [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff > Museum-L" (without the quotes). > > > > ________________________________ > Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ > countries) for 2¢/min or less. > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at > http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain > detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line > e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message > should read "help" (without the quotes). > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to > [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff > Museum-L" (without the quotes). > > > > ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).