Build one exhibit sheet.
A repeatable sequence for separating object, support, enclosure, background, access and route.
The objective is not a clean object portrait. It is a layered display record whose viewpoint and limits another reader can inspect.
Minutes 0—10: locate the system
Photograph the room, case or plinth and its title before selecting one object. Record museum, gallery or section, date, route direction and public boundary. This establishes the exhibition unit and prevents a close frame from losing its location.
Minutes 10—20: separate layers
List object, ancient base where known, restoration, mount, plinth, enclosure, backing, light and nearby objects. Make a whole frame that preserves their relationships. Do not classify uncertain materials or joins from color alone.
Minutes 20—35: test viewpoint
Make frontal and oblique views from permitted positions. Note eye line, approximate distance, glare, seams and unavailable sides. Change position to distinguish reflection from object surface. Never cross a barrier or press equipment against glazing.
Minutes 35—45: collect object and label
Photograph the whole object, a located detail, individual label and any section text. Match inventory number before leaving. Keep group captions separate from individual identifications and verify facts through responsible records.
Minutes 45—55: record the route
Make one frame before and after the display to show sightline and sequence. Note alternate entrances, shortcuts and current obstructions. Present order is evidence of curation, not automatically chronology or archaeological relationship.
Minutes 55—60: state limits
List missing surfaces, unresolved reflections, uncertain object-label matches and edits required. Separate direct observation, museum wording and external scholarship. A short limit note prevents the final layout from implying more access than the visit provided.
Afterward: build the layer sheet
Arrange context, enclosure, whole object, mount or boundary detail, label and route frame. Retain original masters and make documented responsive derivatives. Check phone crops so they do not remove the display feature discussed.
Archive a portable manifest
Export filenames, capture date, creator, museum, object identifier, source, licence, edits, viewpoint and missing views. Test that a detached derivative can reconnect to its source. Portability turns a private camera roll into a revisable public record.
Write a three-layer caption
Begin with visible display facts, continue with source-supported object identity, and close with access or image limits. This order prevents atmosphere from becoming object evidence. Date corrections and retain earlier manifest entries so downstream users can identify which version they copied.
Test the public release
Open each image at wide desktop and narrow phone widths. Confirm responsive crops preserve the case edge, mount, background or sightline named in text. Check visible credits, source links, alt text and local image loading. The release should remain understandable without private working files.