Page 354 - Green - Maritime Archaeology: A Technical Handbook. 2nd ed

Chapter 12: Artifact Photography 333
difficult. An example of the use of the internal metering is in taking pictures of the internal decoration in the body of a porcelain object. With this system, the flash shines through the body illuminating the hidden decoration.
Natural light can be a good source, simply because if handled properly, it can create shadow-free photographs. It is limited to black and white work, because with color there are problems with color balance. This is particu- larly true where the light is reflected off walls or buildings that are colored, thus giving a color cast to the photograph. However, natural light is not always possible to utilize, as direct sunlight causes strong shadows and high contrast. It is necessary to wait for an overcast day or possibly to make use of indirect sunlight. This may imply low light levels and thus problems of long exposures and depth of field. The inflexibility of natural light tends to make it difficult to use, although silver or white reflector boards can be used make it easier.
Reasonably high light levels are preferred for a number of reasons. First, high light levels give a crispness to the subject, as long as care is exercised to avoid shadow effects which can obscure profiles (Figure 12.4). High light levels also allow faster shutter speeds (reducing the effect of camera shake) and higher f-stop numbers (for greater depth of field). Additionally, at higher light levels, the film speed can be reduced, and the lower the film speed the finer the grain. For artifact photography, very fine grain film (PAN F) is essential for high-resolution work.
III. TECHNIQUES A. IDENTIFICATION
As has been mentioned above, identification of an object in a photograph is important. The problem of looking at an object that has no scale and no identification in the view occurs often. The photograph may be a printed digital image or printed from a negative, but there are usually no clues. So the photograph can be almost useless. It is so easy to place some form of identification in the field of view so that the artifact and the photograph can be identified. A simple peg board used to mark the prices of items is ideal. This is usually a black, plastic peg board where plastic numbers and letters of various sizes can be attached. The results are neat and easy to read and the system is inexpensive and very compact.
Another option is good quality print-labeling systems (Dymo). Alterna- tively, a printed label off a desktop printer can be used and as a last resort, a handwritten note of the necessary details is better than nothing. The reg- istration, date, and other minor details can be set up on the board in a neat