Recording your work in progress

I was recently showing someone some photos I had and one person commented on how many photos I had of my unfinished work.  He asked if I always record my work that way.

I realised that I do tend to take pictures of my work quite frequently.  Part of the discussion was that tapestry weaving grows so slowly that sometimes you don't think you have done much and it is good to have a photo to validate the time you have spent on it.

Another reason I like to take photos is so I can see the work differently - a bit like using the security viewing thing you can put into your doors.  It puts the work into a different perspective and sometimes things just jump out at you, asking to be changed.  You can also rotate the photo image easily and get a better perspective too, especially if you are weaving from the side.
Of course, it is also good for blogging.

I also came across this at warpedart&design:

It helps to put what you have achieved on the loom into perspective by reminding you of the time frame involved and the technical choices made. It keeps a record of the process and design involved in the making of that particular piece, what worked well, what challenged you, what made the piece relevant to you and the rest of your work as a whole. 

 Actually, to do this, I think you need to write a bit too, especially the challenges and how you solved them (or tried to). I know I quickly forget what I have done, especially as I come across new issues to solve.

The design time is something we often leave out when we talk about how much time it has taken to make something but it is so important.  It is hard to qualify though, as often I find that I am thinking about designs as I am doing other things - sweeping the floor, travelling on the train, etc.  It just is there, in your mind, not something that you always sit down and work on in an on-the-clock way.

The door security thingy that quilters often use.  It makes your work look distant and gives quite a different perspective. 

Of course, I don't just take photos of my tapestry weaving, I also like to record the process in other techniques. I think I have increased my propensity to do this because of the requirement to have visual diaries in our course.  I like this recording of process and will continue to do it. Digital photos are so easy to take and store - as long as you don't accidentally wipe them all out!

I just can't resist putting the date - 12/6/12.  I had to post today!