Chasing the Right Shot

If you were following me on Twitter or Facebook this morning, then you already know I had a difficult time photographing one of my finished crochet projects. Mr. Dee said perhaps I'm a bit too picky in deciding how, when, and where I take my photos. I think it's more than that.

As I played with two cameras, adjusting lighting conditions, backgrounds, and clothing props, I started to blame it all on my poor mannequin. I said things like:

"mannequins with diva attitudes, can you stand them? photoshoot not going well. "
"if I could, I'd take the mannequin's head off; but wait, she hasn't got a head ..."
"this photoshoot & mannequin seem to be taking on a life of their own ... "
and finally, "... will mannequin be upstaged by a simple hanger? ... "

Perhaps I was the one with all the drama. Who knows for sure. The good news is, after almost 100 (digital) photos, and after calling in Mr. Dee to assist me, I got one that I like. So why all the fuss?

Just as I spend the time in deciding what yarn (Rowan's Damask) and hook (Graydog), and stitch pattern (Tumbling Clusters Autumn Scarf) or crochet technique I'll use for a given project, the photo I want representing my work should show (imho) the project's personality. Can projects have personality? I certainly think so.

... and maybe my mannequin has one too. After all, it was only after threatening to put the scarf I crocheted for ME on a hanger did she begin to seriously start posing... what did Tyra Banks say on her show, "America's Next Top Model" ... a good model makes a photographer chase her. And that's just what my mannequin seemed to do... I'm just saying...