What a Difference a Camera Made

The physical Internet Portal store is open for the last day in 2018. Someone noticed how different some sweaters look, in real life, from the way they looked in photographs snapped with the Tracfone. Out with a new "smart" phone camera, and person snapped these pictures of three sweaters (Christmas red and green!) that were especially grayed-out by the Tracfone when originally photographed for this web site.

1. Here's a lightweight traditional gansey-type sweater, adapted from a design by Madeline Weston, as photographed by the Tracfone:

As photographed by the "smart" phone...for some reason Google has stopped uploading photos from the original angle. The photograph came through with the neck at the top and sleeves at the sides; Google insists on showing it sidewise.

To knit this or a good half-dozen more lightweight gansey patterns, plus fairisle motifs, Aran-style cable designs, and a lovely Shetland-style shawl, here's a book...Technically these are designer patterns rather than traditional patterns, because they were not copied directly from early twentieth century pieces. They are fairly close to the traditional patterns, which did allow for interpretation. Weston's interpretations are knitted in lightweight wools and cottons with a comfortable fit.



2. This cable sweater with mosaic stitch borders was a knitter's "Tribute to Barbara Walker," knitted around the turn of the century. Tracfone photo:

"Smart" phone photo:

I think, without checking, that the pattern was adapted from this issue of Knitter's magazine.



3. This cardigan and cap were knitted in 2010, when the back pleat made the cardigan particularly stylish. Now it mainly makes it harder to spread out flat. Those little lapels!

Smartphone version, in which the photographer didn't even try to spread it flat. In real life some of the stripes are broken by being knitted in multicolor yarn, but the stripes knitted in one color do line up evenly around the waist.

So, what I want for Christmas...is NOT a "smart" phone. I don't like gadgets that try to be smart. I want a serious digital camera or none.