digital photography in archaeology

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Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk Photography in Field Archaeology Viviana Culshaw Courtesy of University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. La Civita near Artena, Italy, 1967. Archaeologists improvise!

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Page 1: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

Courtesy of University of Pennsylvania

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

La Civita near Artena, Italy, 1967.

Archaeologists improvise!

Page 2: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

Photo Documentation

A comprehensive and technical record of an investigation from beginning to end.

An historical record of excavation, process of recovering artefacts, sequences, units and profiles, survey finds.

Ethical responsibility of archaeologist to visually record an irreversible process such as excavation or survey. Subsequent analysis or re-analysis of your work in future.

Photo Illustration

To provide images for publication or presentation

What are you trying to communicate to the public or in the journal?

Page 3: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

Archaeological Photography – Objectives

• Why?

• What ?

• How ?

• When ?

• Who ?

Page 4: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

Only take the photographs you are absolutely need to.

Every photograph must be worth the time taken to catalogue and archive it.

Page 5: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

Technical language – Know your camera

• Time Value/Shutter Speed - Length of time the camera shutteropens to expose the film/sensor to the light coming through the lens

• Exposure - total amount of light reaching the film/sensor

• Depth of field - the zone extending in front of and behind thefocussed distance within which points will appear to be sharp

• Angle of view - the amount of the scene in front of camera taken inby the lens.

Page 6: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

Are you confused?

Don’t worry

Page 7: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

Equipment:

• Cards/laptop

• Batteries

• Filters

• Camera hood and waterproof case

• Scale (range pole and/or centimetre scales)

• Photographic form or notebook/register

• North arrow

• Tripod and remote cable release

• Flash/Supplementary Lighting

• Lens cleaning material

• Chalk board (think twice!)

Page 8: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

General Principles of Archaeological Photography

• Technical Photograph descriptive and realistic

• Use a tripod and get your camera on the self-timer to minimise camera shake

• Control the light

• Use an appropriate scale

• A scale should be in the same plane as the object

• Viewpoint is critical. Fill the frame. Use macro lenses/function for small objects

• Record on proforma/notebook (Never Later)

• Save images to digital archive at highest resolution possible and back up records

Page 9: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

General Principles of Archaeological Photography

Preparation

• Always photograph as soon as possible!

• Make sure the area is clean

• Remove everything from the excavated area to be photographed

• Remove everything non-essential from the visible area of the photograph

• Be aware of what and who is in the photograph

• Viewpoint is critical. Fill the frame. Use macro lenses/function for small objects

• Try to convey a sense of context or environment

• Try to take an elevated photograph if possible

Page 10: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

General Principles of Archaeological Photography

Light

Avoid bright sunlight

North-facing section (if you can!)

Face the same direction for each photograph x2

Remove everything non-essential from the visible area of the photograph

X Side- or front-lit by sunglight

X Use flash (with exception)

© CPAT, 2015

Page 11: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

General Principles of Archaeological Photography

Scale

• Scales should be metric

• Scales should be clean

• Horizontal scales aligned with the feature or at right-angles

• Vertical scales must appear to

be vertical in the photograph

© CPAT,2013

Page 12: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

A set of Round or Flat Red & White Scales

marked off in100mm sections in the following

sizes: 500mm, 400mm,300mm & 200mm.

A set of Black & White 10mmwidth scales

marked off in alternate 10mm black & white

squares in the following sizes:

250mm,200mm,150mm,& 50mm.

A set of Black & White North

Directional Arrows

© BAJR, 2006

Page 13: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

© CPAT,2013

Page 14: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

General Principles of Archaeological Photography

People

• Take working shots every day

• Watch the flash!

• If it is too dark adjust the aperture and/or ISO settings.

• Make sure appropriate PPE is worn correctly by everyone

Remember:

Smiling faces are better than

soggy bottoms.© CPAT, 2014

Page 15: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

• Record your photographs regularly

• Download frequently and regularly

© BAJR, 2006

Page 16: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

Looking after your camera:

• Dirt, water, dust, sun can damage cameras

• Use bag or waterproof case (e.g. Pelican) for rainy days

• Lens tissue for clearer picture. Check the lens!

• filters will help protect the lens

• Do not over tighten the tripod screw

• Batteries may leak if for a long time in the camera

Page 17: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

Close-up and finds shots

Most digital cameras can take amazing close-up shots and

details, however you must tell your camera what you are doing or

it will end up with out of focus shots.

© BAJR, 2006

Page 18: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

• To prepare your camera you must enable Macro mode

• Get close to the subject and photograph it

• Take at least two photographs, one with and one without a

centimetre/millimeter scale

• Keep the background neutral

• Ensure an even light

Close-up and finds shots

© BAJR, 2006

Page 19: Digital photography in archaeology

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust www.cpat.org.uk

Photography in Field Archaeology

Viviana Culshaw

Bajr (2006). Short Guide to Digital Photography in Archaeology.

Online: http://www.bajr.org/documents/digitalphotography.pdf

Conlon, V M Camera Techniques in Archaeology.

Dorrell, P. 'Photography in Archaeology and Conservation' (2nd

edition, Cambridge University Press, 1994).

Grey,Tim Color Confidence: The Digital Photographer's Guide to

ColorManagement.

Harp, Elmer Photography in archaeological research.

Howell, Carol L. A Practical Guide to Archaeological Photography

(Archaeological Research Tools)

Simmons, Harold C. Archaeological Photography.