Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Photographing Mask Work
An inexpensive digital camera is quite sufficient for photographing mask work although there is a knack to getting gorgeous compositional shots with great atmosphere and style and visual interest. Because the light bounces off masks in unusual ways the photographer has to master the angles exactly, get the eyes in the right position (if the mask is being worn) or get the light in the eyes (if not worn), arrange a complementary backdrop, or perhaps add a small prop to the staging, etc.
Like faces, some mask designs are just more 'photogenic' than others. Sometimes an ordinary-looking mask photographs really well, while a clever/complex mask doesn't. It's all in the lighting which brings the magic in...light is where it falls and the fact that you can never quite control it makes the photographic work artistic.
A strong collection of mask images can be posted online [or sent to masks@maskworx.co.nz for adding to the SHOWOFFS COLLECTION], or published in the form of calendars which make great Christmas presents for parents or thank-you gifts for classroom helpers.
Note: Warehouse Stationery has easy-to-use calendar-making technology.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Voice Projection
If the students need to speak or sing in their masks, it's better if the masks are cut away from the mouth [half-masks] in order to project the voice better. Alternatively, the open or gaping mouth (as per the mask above) would do the trick. Wearing a full face mask on stage tends to muffle the voice.
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