Yellow WeedA few years ago when I began scanning subjects directly on my flatbed scanner I wasn't sure what to call the process. Ever willing to conduct some research, I searched the internet to find what others were calling the technique. I figured I couldn't be the only one having so much fun. But when I first began my search I had a difficult time finding other examples. I did eventually come across a few folks who were working with the medium in similar ways and called the process "scanography." I'm not crazy about the name… it sounds medical to me. But the name seems to have stuck and there appears to be a growing interest in the process. Now when you google "scanography" a whole slew of sites come up. Here are a few that I find informative:
http://www.scanner-magic.com/index.html
http://www.scannography.org/
http://www.shows2go.si.edu/exhibitions/2007/12/scanner-photogr.html
http://blog.scannography.info/
4 comments:
Scanography has been around in many forms since the 90's, as far as I can recall. I first began experimenting with it by placing small dried flowers between acetate and feeding them into my Nikon LS 2000 dedicated 35mm scanner in 1998. Another photographer friend suggested I try a flatbed scanner which she had done around the same time. Finally bought one several years ago and began trying out the process. The biggest problem with scanography is the unflattering light source of the scanner which is common in most scanography. A knowledge of Photoshop can move images from that cold, clinical feel to something more expressive with experience and creativity. You can view some samples of my work with scanography here:
www.snelsonphoto.com
Cheers, Stewart
Thanks for giving a link to my site. It's hard work getting people together to give more weight to this unique technic…
Chris
I've been working in Scanography for the past 10 years. I think we are beginning to see artists using this as a true artistic tool. There are also a lot of really awful images circulating out there which aren't helping with lending credence to the technique. I know Patri Feher is trying to get a book published through Sterling. There is a book out in German.
My own work has morphed from some very simple floral work into more sculptural, metaphorical works. I have a few solo shows recently and am represented by a gallery at this point. I've found that I've been able to expand the depth of field by using the tools in PhotoShop. I agree with Stewart that PhotoShop expertise is really necessary to make high quality images. You can view samples of my work at
www.debbvandelinder.com
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and the link to your work Debb - your site features some really intriguing pieces as well as some beautiful floral compositions. :)
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