Kim,

I want to say first that this a really lovely painting with an understated but effective use of color. The design is well executed.

The lens problem is another thing. There are lenses and there are lenses. I have a Nikon lens that DOES NOT DISTORT. It is a 55 mm. macro. A small fortune, but it has a 1 to 1 ratio ( as it was explained to me , a photo dunderhead) and is especially useful in copying flat surfaces like art work. As a result I am able to photograph my billboards without any distortion.

This is one reason I am loathe to buy any kind of camera that does not allow for lens changes. Also zoom lenses are notorious for distortion, fixed lenses, digital or otherwise are best.

Hi Kim -

I watched your progress on this and another forum. I was impressed by the lengths you will go to work on a piece until you are satisfied with it. Way to go! I like your final status. Interesting juxtaposition of those gray colors with the warm tones. Kudos!

A book I found really helpful for photography is "Photographing
Your Artwork" by Russell Hart. ISBN 0-89134-449-7. It not only tells the nitty-gritty for paintings, but for sculpture, stained glass, installations, etc. It's older and deals with only film cameras, but the essentials are there.

I hope no one minds, but I decided to post a new one of this. I finally got a fairly straight shot of it. Plus, I kept going back and tweaking a few things. So, anyway - it is completely finished now.

Very nice, Kim!

Thank you ladies!