Regarding photography, the only effective and efficient way for novices to achieve industry usable results is by hands-on practice under supervision/instruction. There doesn't seem much point in putting substantial resources into digital workflows if the original images aren't up to it. On the other hand how much better for everyone in the chain if the images look worthwhile and the end users agree too. More emphasis on photographic training might be prudent in the long run or, perhaps, use of digital file-types with maximal loss!
On 24 Oct 2014, at 11:58, Matt Faber wrote:
Dear all,
I must apologise for the blatant publicity seeking but I felt it was pertinent to this discussion regarding skills for digitisation. We all accept that nothing will take the place of the skills and experience offered by professional image makers however, there is a need for guidance, for people who work on digitisation projects, which don't have the funding to engage imaging professionals. Jisc Digital Media exists to provide advice and guidance specifically to FE and HE in all matters relating to digital media, including image digitisation. We run courses and workshops on digitisation and publish a number of guides and infokits on our web site (here comes the publicity).
Peer reviews are always welcome!
The three day BTEC course on digital imaging is always well attended and covers, at a basic level, all issues relating to image capture, optimisation and management, in the context of a digitisation project.
I am currently drawing up a course curriculum for using Bridge, Photoshop and Lightroom for digitisation projects and would be very interested in hearing members views as to what elements this course should contain, bearing in mind that it will be directed towards people who have little experience of Adobe. I look forward to hearing from you.
Matt Faber
Advisor - Image Digitisation
P 0203 697 5872
S mattfaberjisc
One Castlepark, Tower Hill, Bristol, BS2 0JA
jisc.ac.uk
Jisc is a registered charity (number 1149740) and a company limited by guarantee which is registered in England under Company No. 5747339, VAT No. GB 882 5529 90. Jisc's registered office is: One Castlepark, Tower Hill, Bristol, BS2 0JA. T 0203 697 5800. jisc.ac.uk
-----Original Message-----
Sent: 24 October 2014 08:22
Subject: Re: Collections Trust's Simple Guide to Digitisation
Dear Laura,
Thank you for posting to our list, as Chair of AHFAP I shall be in touch off-list to discuss this further.
The offer to link to our fledgling Members Directory to the Collection Trust's website would be very welcome. This will be a great boost to the initiative and I hope yours and I imagine more members will wish to list on the directory if we can achieve this.
Best regards
Tony Harris
AHFAP Chair
Twitter: @AHFAP
Dear AHFAP members,
I really appreciate this discussion taking place as I think we could
add a lot to the Collections Trust's Guide by getting your input. I
work for CT but have a Picture Library and Image Licensing background
and I am very conscious that there are many situations that absolutely
require the services of a professional photographer in order to get a
high quality image and, as you have mentioned, a publication-ready one.
The Guide, as Nick said, is aimed at those museums with little to no
budget who are highly unlikely to be able to employ a photographer but
do desperately need to get their collections digitised and online to
improve access and research.
However, what we would really like is to be able to do some comparison
for museums as to the costings they may need to outlay on equipment,
space, and training if they are to do it themselves, vs. hiring a
professional who will inevitably work faster with less likelihood of
needing to redo imaging who can work on or off site depending on the
materials involved. For specific digitisation projects, I think there
could definitely be a cost benefit to outsourcing the work rather than
bringing it in-house but I would love to know your experiences.
If anyone feels able to share their pricing for different types of
museum photography they have undertaken so that we could anonymise this
and be able to include a sample budget in the Guide, we would be hugely
grateful. Please message me on or off list:
We can also include a link to your directory of professionals within
our online digitisation pages so that we are directing museums to you
as a first port of call.
Many thanks,
Laura Whitton
Content & Communities Manager
Collections Trust
