Program item

Archiving 2025

The Fine Art of Documentation: Bridging Creative Lighting with Science

SC06

CANCELLED NEW The Fine Art of Documentation: Bridging Creative Lighting with Science
Instructor(s): Tahnee L. Cracchiola and Rebecca Truszkowski, J. Paul Getty Trust
Level: Introductory
Duration: 2 hours
Course Time: 11:00-13:00

Benefits
This course enables the attendee to:
- Understand the optical properties of bronze and porcelain surfaces and how light reflection impacts image quality, enabling students to anticipate and control surface shine and texture in their photographic compositions.
- Demonstrate proficiency in selecting and positioning polarizing filters to effectively reduce unwanted glare, reflections, and surface specular highlights when photographing bronze and porcelain objects.
- Apply techniques for managing color saturation, contrast, and detail preservation when using polarizers on metallic bronze and ceramic surfaces across different lighting environments.
- Present basic principles behind light polarization and how polarizers interact specifically with various materials to enhance photographic clarity and visual representation.
- Develop advanced camera settings and post-processing skills tailored to bronze object photography, including appropriate aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and filter rotation techniques to maximize image quality.
- Evaluate and troubleshoot complex lighting scenarios involving three-dimensional objects, using cross-polarization strategically to reveal surface textures, minimize distracting reflections, and produce professional-grade documentation and artistic representations.

Course Description
This specialized course explores the intricate art of photographing three-dimensional bronze and porcelain objects using cross-polarization techniques. Students will learn to master light manipulation, polarizing filter strategies, and advanced camera settings to capture exceptional images. The curriculum covers reflective properties of metallic and ceramic surfaces, techniques for reducing glare and reflections, and methods to preserve color saturation and surface details. Participants will develop sophisticated skills in managing complex lighting scenarios, understanding polarization principles, and creating professional-quality documentation and artistic representations of challenging three-dimensional objects.

Intended Audience: Cultural Heritage Photographers and Imaging Specialist Documenting Three-Dimensional Objects

Fine art photographer Tahnee Louise Cracchiola is the Imaging Manager for the Getty Villa Museum Imaging Studios under the J. Paul Getty Trust. She joined the Getty in 2006 to photograph the Fran and Ray Stark Collection of 20th-century sculpture for publication. As an Art Center College of Design alumna with over 28 years in the industry, Tahnee brings her unique artistry and production experience to her role as a cultural heritage photographer. At the Getty, she is a leader in establishing best practices and quality standards for conservation, promotional, and publication photography.

Rebecca Truszkowski is a Senior Photographer for the J. Paul Getty Trust, specializing in the photography of complex 3-dimensional objects at the Villa Imaging Studio. Rebecca is particularly versed in photographing bronze, silver, marble, terracotta, gold and porcelain objects. With 22 years of industry knowledge, Rebecca is also an experienced documentarian and portrait photographer. She holds a bachelor’s in fine arts from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in visual Anthropology from the University of Southern California.