March 20-2006
Hi Bob,
Due to popular demand, instead of reprint the Welch Clocks book, I am now
working on "WELCH CLOCKS - 2nd Edition" which will be ready by the end of
this year. In order for me to make a better book, I will be needing your help
by providing me with pictures of your Welch clocks. You could also assist me
by announcing my request at your meeting to see if any collectors in your
Chapter have Welch clocks. Please let them know that they may contact me if
they wish to have pictures of their clocks included in my book. If you are
willing to help me get this project together and provide me with a list of
collectors who own Welch clocks, please let me know, so that I can credit you in
the acknowledgment pages of Welch book. In appreciation for your assistance, I
will send you a complimentary copy of a new "KROEBER CLOCKS - American &
Imported". In the event the Kroeber book is not of interest to you, please
log on to
www.arlingtonbooks.com and click under WHOLESALE LIST to see if there
are any titles that would be of interest to you.
I will give you a one time only discount at 50% off of any quantity of the
selection you choose. You may take this opportunity to order books for your
meeting door prizes.
The following are a few tips on how to get good pictures:
- Lighting: For the best pictures, take the clock(s) outside on cloudy day;
however if the the sky is too cloudy, you may not have enough light to take
optimal pictures.
On the other hand if it is a sunny day, the best time to take good pictures
is between 9:00AM and 11:00AM or late afternoon and you must take the
pictures in the shade.
- Background: A slightly off-white background will give the best results
for most wood clocks.
A pure white background often causes wood clocks to appear dark because the
automatic exposure control of the camera will attempt to overcompensate for
the background.
The off-white background will develop as white and offset the clock to make
it appear sharp and clearly detailed.
For brass novelty clocks or brass movements, a black background offers a
good contrast. A roll of firm backdrop paper, poster board, or even a plastic
window shade, will provide a wrinkle free background. Fabrics used as a
background can show wrinkles and may obscure part of the clock's base. The weight
of a clock on a soft fabric, rug or towel, creates an indentation.
When photographing a wall clock, do not hang it on a decorated surface by
avoiding wallpapered, brick, or cement block walls. Remember, a white or
off-white background works best. Also, if you stand too far from the subject, the
details will be lost. A photograph showing the clock in its entirety is
certainly necessary; however, close-up photographs showing details such as the
dial, movement, tablet, label, and any special features, such as carvings or
inlays will give the viewer a more concise idea of your clock.
Also be aware of any reflections from your surroundings showing on the
clocks from windows, glass tables, etc. This is not often obvious until the
pictures have been developed.
Again, remember to take several exposures from different angles. If you use
a 35mm camera, it is best to use Fugi 100 Professional film. If you use a
digital camera, images should not be lifted and then printed out from internet
sites as they are only 72dpi resolution and will not print a good, sharp
image. Most digital cameras will not produce a high enough resolution picture
to be used in a publication such as mine. I must have a 300dpi resolution and
maximum size if you are using a digital camera. However, the file may be
too large to be e-mailed or put on a floppy disc (a 31/2 inch by 6 inch picture
will be well over a megabyte). If you plan on sending your picture please
make sure that you download the file onto a CD. Although before you send a CD
of your pictures, please try to email them to me in 200dpi, one at a time to
see if it is possible send the pictures by email. I hope these tips will
enable you to get the most optimal pictures.
Thank you for your help.
Tran
Tran Duy Ly
arlingtonbooks.com
215 Shadowood Drive
Johnson City, TN 37604
Phone: 423-283-9004
Fax: 423-283-9001
email: TRANDUYLY@AOL.COM
