pointing a camera

So, I've spent the last few weeks knitting some pieces I hope to enter in a show at the Textile Center of Minnesota.  Returning to an old tendency of mine, they are objects based on clothing. Funny how there are these recurring themes over the course of a career - but often I find conceptual art ideas are best presented with reference to the commonplace.  I'll post some pictures presently...but first I have to make the images.  And to do that, I have to consider a few things, like, do I buy a mannequin form and present them on false human form or do I find models? The drawback to models is, I didn't regard any sizing when creating my "garments" - I'm not sure they'll fit a real human, or if I'd need a set of real humans of different sizes, or given that they are really made to be less than comfortable looking, if I'd lose the friends I could recruit for the project!  Also, time is a factor - in all things art, the deadline is king. 

My plan is to attempt to first photograph them flat, or, search my vast hanger collection for a simple, elegant hanging solution for a 2 piece swimsuit prone to stretching, and also check out how they might work on my existing display form (which is tiny and only goes to the hip, with a bar to contend with below.) The next cheapest option is an inflatable display mannequin I can get (with cloth cover) for $20.00 plus shipping. These are sort of nifty inventions, for people who do trade shows and the like. The drawback to the inflatable is that I could see the shiny plastic through the cloth in the sales photo, so, I know I'm going to have to make an adjustment to the form so that the work will

look decent, and the form won't distract from the art.  I also wonder how to secure it so it won't tip when the art is on it - I need to be hands-free.  The last option is to invest about $60.00 in a fiberglas female torso form, which is more of a long-term option, but I feel confident that the fiberglas option is also more likely to be used again in the future (loaned out) and also is a sure re-sale item if I choose to get rid of it.  It's a bit shiny, as well, so it'll need a coat of matte spray paint as well. 

This is where the grant cycles fail me.  I can't wait until school is in session to ask for money to buy these necessities for photographing my work, even though my institution supports purchase of materials related to scholarship (they bought me the camera, for instance) and the cost of the form is well within even shrinking state budgets.