uncommons

Earlier I met with Terry Beye, one of the auctioneers at the Ivey-Selkirk gallery in Clayton, for an assignment previewing the upcoming auction of incredible antiques. We were talking about how he catalogues and photographs items for auction when he showed me a cramped quarter of his office full of books currently staged with an improvised gray paper backdrop and two incandescent lights for lighting. He shrugs his shoulders, points a civil war-era Navy sabre at the backdrop, and remarks that the impromptu photo studio looks pretty sad compared to what I am used to. I asked if it works for what he needs. He says it’s perfect. If it works, don’t look back, I reply. There’s no shame in winging it.

I think it’s safe to say that plenty of photojournalists wing like 90% of the stuff we shoot, especially when equipment is hard to come by or you’re trying to accomplish a certain look. Winging it includes using airline barf bags for flash diffusers, roofing panels for backdrops, a washer n’ bolt combo for a camera stabilizer, or any combinations of aluminum foil, gaffer tape, white printer paper, bricks, fluorescent strip lights my favorite, carpet remnants, and a variety of reflective materials that provide just the perfect kick of light. There is nothing wrong with being resourceful and cheap, especially when you accomplish what you started out to do.

I love being cheap. Are you cheap as well? Show me some stinginess and send a few cheap-o ideas my way.