How to Light and Photograph Art Installations for Artists

Date: Saturday, January 11, 2025

Time:  10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Location: Washington Printmakers Gallery,
                1675 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20007 

Course Description:

Artist Bio:

Kat Thompson is a visual artist and educator working in Virginia. Thompson works with photography, textiles, collages, and installations. She then combines these mediums to explore notions of Afro-Caribbean selfhood within the African Diaspora. Being of Jamaican heritage, Thompson confronts her dual identity through recent projects that depict traces of her family’s journey through personal and found materials. Her focus is to uncover stories that mirror parts of ourselves back to us, including our histories, current realities, and future possibilities. Her works have been exhibited at Page Bond Gallery (Richmond, VA) Visible Records (Charlottesville, VA), the Fenwick Gallery and Gillespie Gallery at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, and the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Reston, VA). She was a recipient of the Young Alumni Commissioning Award, College of Visual and Performing Arts: George Mason University (2021-2022) and she is currently a Hamiltonian Artists Fellow (2023-2025) in Washington DC and a recent Post-Grad Artist in Resident with the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA.   

Thompson received her BFA in Photography from George Mason University and her MFA in Photography + Film from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Workshop Lesson Plan: Lighting and Photographing Art Installations

Audience:

Artists and creators interested in photographing their installation work effectively, particularly in gallery or studio environments.

Workshop Overview:

This workshop provides artists with essential skills to effectively document their installation work through photography. Participants will learn fundamental lighting principles, including how to manipulate light placement, color temperature, and shadow to capture the true essence of their installations. The session covers practical aspects of camera operation, such as setting exposure, white balance, and focus for both DSLR cameras and smartphones. Artists will also explore composition techniques that convey scale and detail, experimenting with different angles and distances.

In the hands-on portion, attendees will apply these techniques to a sample installation, receiving feedback to refine their approach. The workshop concludes with a tutorial on basic editing to adjust lighting, color, and contrast, ensuring cohesive, high-quality images ready for portfolios or social media. This session empowers artists to showcase their installations authentically and professionally in photographic form.

Workshop Objectives:

Understand basic lighting principles for photographing art installations.

Set up lighting to emphasize textures, colors, and intended mood.

Learn camera settings, composition techniques, and editing essentials.

Practice photo-taking techniques for producing portfolio-ready images.

Workshop Duration:

3 hours (includes demonstration and practical session)

Maximum number of participants: 6 people (over the age 18)

Materials Needed:

• DSLR or mirrorless cameras (smartphones with advanced settings are also acceptable)
• Tripod
• Various lighting sources: softboxes, reflectors, LED panels, diffusers
• Extension cords and clamps
• Laptops or tablets with photo editing software (e.g., Lightroom, Photoshop)
• Sample installation setup for practice

Workshop Outline:

1. Introduction to Lighting Basics

• Types of Light
• Essential Lighting Concepts

2. Installation Lighting Setup

• Evaluating the Space
• Positioning Lights

3. Camera Settings and Basics

• Exposure Control
• White Balance
• Focusing
• Using a Tripod

4. Composition Techniques

5. Practical Session: Taking Photos

• Lighting Practice
• Photography Practice
• Review and Adjustments

6. Basic Editing Techniques

Photo Editing Basics

How to save images in different formats for web, print, or social media.

This workshop will equip artists with the technical and creative skills to take high-quality, professional photos of their installations, enhancing their portfolios and online presence.

Material Cost for Workshop: Neewer 700W Photography Softbox Lighting Kit

Participants will need their own supplies, DSLR + editing software. Lighting equipment will be provided during the workshop.

Venue Details: 

Location:  Washington Printmakers Gallery,
                  1675 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20007