Hi James,
Completely agree but with the caveat of what can be realistically expected
at a ground level. If, for example, a museum is engaged in inventory work,
their capacity may be limited to employing a single professional with
collections management expertise including skills in photography and
digitisation. The ability for larger museums to employ teams of
photographers may not be appropriate or even feasible for smaller museums
which may be limited according to the parameters of projects they have set
out and often "too late" once funding is in place. I've often observed
museums getting inventory projects together without really knowing about
standards and the resources required to meet these standards. This often
results in poor photography and / or scanning creating digital assets which
aren't suitable for sharing within online environments hence having to
reapply for funding to repeat the digitisation process again; not very
efficient and a bit short-sighted!
As you have mentioned, more often than not it is volunteers engaged in
digitisation work, but even more importantly it is often the case that
standards are not rolled-out as fundamental part of the work programme.
Projects are occasionally poorly planned, lack consultation with
professionals and are often developed with false assumptions; that's why
talking with professionals is so important right at the formative stages of
the planning process. If the project gets some funding in and is able to
employ a professional(s), fantastic! However, the sustainability of this
position is usually determined by ongoing income and / or project funding,
resulting in an essential requirement for the 'project' to have a training
element built in in order to ensure that standards are maintained in the
future should the position cease to exist. Sadly it happens, and much too
often.
Robin
--
Robin Patel
Heritage & Museum Consultant (Collections & Access)
t: 01786 860 691
m: 07815 312 562
[log in to unmask]
https://ergadiaheritage.com/
On 22 June 2016 at 14:26, James Stevenson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Tony's point about CH institutions employing professional image makers
> (photographers) is worth thinking about. Maybe there is an imbalance how
> people are employed in CH. Too many senior managers in both large and small
> CH institutions think that image making is something that can be left to
> volunteers, interns and staff employed as curators or archivists. Witness
> the appalling scanning of prints and drawings at the British Museum. If
> these senior managers recognised that a primary part of their organisation
> depended on efficient and productive digitisation programmes they they
> would employ the correct staff, trained photographers, rather than
> amateurs.
>
> James Stevenson
> Director
> Cultural Heritage Digitisation Ltd
> mob: 07562 894001
> email: [log in to unmask]
> www.culturalheritagedigitisation.co.uk
> Skype: agpphotography
>
>
> On 22 June 2016 at 10:00, Tony Harris <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > The problem I've seen in various museum photo studios in the recent past
> is
> > that the big A2 & A1 plus scanners of yesteryear are no longer supported
> > (or even manufactured) so they cannot be used unless old computer
> equipment
> > is maintained with them, which studios have found to be problematic with
> > their IT depts.
> >
> > The large museum photo studios have found that the new 80 & 100 megapixel
> > medium format cameras can easily match this output especially if
> stitching
> > is involved. Some are now using motorised easels to capture large items
> > such as maps with this equipment and then automating the stitching and
> post
> > production thus becoming very efficient.
> >
> > Obviously the costs involved here are huge and the large museums and
> > archives can afford this which is possibly unfair, but that's life. At
> the
> > end of the day it is why professionals are employed at the larger
> > institutions, as some things in life you have to pay for and cannot do on
> > the cheap with volunteers and cameras bought in the Argos sale.
> > Tony
> >
> >
> > On 21 June 2016 at 20:52, James Morley <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > > Funny that, I also have a V750 that only gets dusted off from time to
> > time,
> > > compared to my DSLR on a home made copy stand / lighting rig which I
> use
> > > regularly. The benefit of a copy stand is also that you can go up in
> size
> > > (V750 is only A4) for no extra budget! Of course if you do want 100+
> > > megapixel images served up through IIIF then no matter what the size of
> > the
> > > original it'll have to be a scanner.
> > >
> > > ---
> > > James Morley
> > > Work: iwm.org.uk / [log in to unmask]
> > > Personal: www.jamesmorley.net / @jamesinealing
> > > <https://twitter.com/jamesinealing>
> > > Also: www.whatsthatpicture.com / @PhotosOfThePast
> > > <https://twitter.com/photosofthepast>
> > >
> > > On 21 June 2016 at 16:42, Tony Harris <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Dear Damien,
> > > > The Epson V series scanners should do all you need, I have a V750,
> but
> > to
> > > > be honest scanning is too slow so we use copystands and DSLRs for all
> > > copy
> > > > work.
> > > >
> > > > Best regards
> > > > Tony Harris
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > [image: cid:image001.png@01CF86F9.22C2BC80]
> > > >
> > > > *Tony Harris*
> > > > Digital Media & Photography Officer
> > > > Government Art Collection
> > > > tony.harris @culture.gov.uk <[log in to unmask]>* |* 020
> 7211
> > > > 2426
> > > > [image: cid:image002.jpg@01CF86F9.22C2BC80]@govartcol [image:
> > > > cid:image003.jpg@01CF86F9.22C2BC80] /governmentartcollection |
> > > > www.gac.culture.gov.uk
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 21 June 2016 at 10:41, damien kimberley <
> > > > [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Morning all, and apologies for blatant cross posting.
> > > > >
> > > > > Quick question, can anyone recommend a decent spec A3 flatbed
> scanner
> > > for
> > > > > about the £850 mark? I need it to scan photographic prints, glass
> > plate
> > > > and
> > > > > acetate negs, but don't quite have the budget for an Epson
> Expression
> > > > > 11000XL etc.
> > > > >
> > > > > If anyone can point me in the right direction I'd be very grateful.
> > > > >
> > > > > thanks
> > > > >
> > > > > Damien Kimberley
> > > > > Local Studies & Research Officer
> > > > > Culture Coventry
> > > > >
> > > > > T: 024 7623 4289
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > [cid:image009.png@01D1CBA9.7939AEB0]<
> > http://www.transport-museum.com/>
> > > > > [cid:image010.png@01D1CBA9.7939AEB0] <
> > > > http://www.theherbert.org/>
> > > > > [cid:image011.png@01D1CBA9.7939AEB0] <
> > > > > http://www.luntromanfort.org/>
> > > > >
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