SFSC Art Professor Karla Respress Captures Local Artist's Pinecone Quilts in Book

Karla Respress, an Art professor at South Florida State College (SFSC) and professional photographer, has provided photography for a book by local artist Betty Ford-Smith. The book, “Learn to Make Your Own Heirloom Pinecone Quilts: Keeping Tradition Alive,” was published in 2023. It showcases Pinecone Quilts, also known as Pine Burr, which Ford-Smith has been making since 2004.

The book shares Ford-Smith's personal journey and the history of quilting. It also includes instructions for making pinecone quilts and recommendations for fabrics and materials. Ford-Smith continues to promote her work and the history of pinecone quilts through various platforms.

When preparing her book for publication by C&T Publishing, Ford-Smith was asked to send her quilts to California for photography. She was reluctant to do so and suggested that Respress take the photos. C&T Publishing agreed, and Respress collaborated with their photography team.

Respress started photographing pinecone quilts in 2017 for a French magazine article. She provided high-definition images for the article and a subsequent book. For Ford-Smith's book, she took large images of the quilts, details of the quilts, and portraits of Ford-Smith. Some photos required specific locations, which Respress selected.

Respress faced challenges in photographing the large quilts without distortion. She sought help from Kenny Meza, a former SFSC photography student, who used a drone for the task. Ford-Smith commended Respress for her excellent work. The book is now available in paperback and e-book formats through various retailers, including C&T Publishing, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.com.

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