Photo Magic or "POOF" Photo Disaster - The Hand as a Prop in the Photographic Image
February 01, 2011
Hands are particularly challenging in a photo. This is because our brains are engineered to stare at our hands. Thus we can't help looking at the hands in the photo before anything else. Another problem is that most people's hands tend to look a little awkward. Bad combination! For these reasons, hands are particularly challenging in a photo.
My very calloused and scarred hands with
"Jeweler's tattoos" (those little trophies
from drilling into your fingers).
The hands of artists and makers can be very unattractive. Calloused, cut, worn, scarred, muscular, and downright unsightly makers' hands ruin the whole photo. "Poof" photo disaster. My first suggestion for "photo magic" is that artists should avoid using their own hands in a photoshoot.
When photographing jewelry or clothing to be worn on the hand or arm, decide whether the benefits of a model's hand outweigh the distractions. In this case, the hand is a prop. Its purpose is to highlight key elements of the work.
To achieve "photo magic" make sure the hands look attractive. This requires long graceful fingers and clean, perfectly manicured fingernails.
During the photoshoot, pay close attention to the model's hand positions. If the model's hands aren't working naturally, either position the hands exactly as you want them or try a position such that the hands don't show.
If you can avoid including hands in the photo it is much easier to get successful photo magic. For example, two photos in the new Professional Guidelines brochure (left) have taken this approach.
In the far left image of Jesse Mathes' necklace, the hands are hidden behind the model's back. This gives the body a sculptural form with no distraction.
In the photo of Marjorie Schick's body sculpture (left) the model's hands are also hidden. Just imagine what this photo would look like with the model's hands showing. Hopefully, you realize how distracting hands can be.
Even with beautiful hands, it might be one out of 50 shots with varying light and positions to get just the right photographic image.
Ask for some honest critique to see if the hand is drawing attention away from the work or contributing to the focus of the photo and comprehension of the artist's intent.
The next post will describe a few MISTAKES and SOLUTIONS with photographs of hands. Either you will have Photo Magic or "POOF" photo disaster! It's all in the hands.
Recycle plastic jewelry work by Harriete Estel Beman. Photo Credit: emiko oye.
Photo of my hands: Photo Credit: Aryn Shelander
This post was updated on January 27, 2022, to provide current links.