by successfulbob | inspiration, photography - art quote
Sunday Photo/Art Quote – Seth Goodin
Seth Goodin is an author of seventeen books and shares lots of ideas about marketing. I’m grabbing a quote from him that hits the heart of creators.
Art is not in the …eye of the beholder. It’s in the soul of the artist.” ― Seth Godin
Let’s go to the expanded version from which I pulled this quote.
“Art is what we call…the thing an artist does.
It’s not the medium or the oil or the price or whether it hangs on a wall or you eat it. What matters, what makes it art, is that the person who made it overcame the resistance, ignored the voice of doubt and made something worth making. Something risky. Something human.
Art is not in the …eye of the beholder. It’s in the soul of the artist.” ― Seth Godin
Show your soul.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – There is one other thought that I believe came from Dean Collins. “Beauty is in the eyes of the checkbook holder.” Hmmmm, maybe there’s a middle ground somewhere. You decide.
by successfulbob | inspiration, photography, photography - art quote, photography education, success education
Sunday Photo/Art Quote – Henry David Thoreau
Sometimes I head a little far afield of even the art world when I choose the quotes for this Sunday morning art thought.
Today is one of those days.
But I’ll bring it around. I promise.
Walden by Thoreau is an interesting read and his sharing of thoughts on slowing down and observing the world in which we hang out in real time and that it is a good idea. You don’t have to take as much time as he did, but you can slow down and observe for small chunks of time.
I find it quite helpful. On to today’s quote, so we are on the same page.
“Only that day dawns to which we are awake.” Henry David Thoreau
I share this idea today because I find many people, including myself, often living in the past or the future instead of the present. Don’t believe me? Ever drive home and then wonder how you got there? In the shower do you feel the water cascading from your head down your body and hear the musical splashing of the drops onto the floor? Or, are you on auto-pilot missing these moments and planning what you should be doing after you get to work? Or are you wallowing in the past upset with something someone said and replaying that conversation over and over ad nauseum??
Other examples abound. Reading and not know what you’ve read moments later. Shaving your face and missing the whole left side. Brushing your teeth and not knowing whether you’ve done the top inside yet. You get the idea.
We can become better creators if we learn to be in the present and learn to observe more. See more details, Retain more of those details. For help with seeing more and recalling what you see, you might want to try Amy Herman’s book Visual Intelligence. It’s a guide to visual understanding and communicating more clearly. Her book is based on a course for law enforcement, such as the FBI, police officers and CEO’s, ER professionals to become more observant.
Getting control of our thoughts is the first step. Slowing the constant cascade of the unstructured noise that our brains are capable of generating. Meditation can be of tremendous help in quieting the mind. I recommend Jon Kabat-Zinn and his book Wherever You Go There You Are. He also has a set of guided meditations that are wonderful as you start down the road of being in the here and now. Mindfulness Meditations.
Hope you enjoy this reading list. I hadn’t intended to go this deep. Sometimes writing can lead you to a rabbit hole, and the exploration can take you to interesting places. Just ask Alice.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – Here’s the tie in. When you see better and remember what you see you can be a better creator of images. Happy reading!
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Visual Intelligence – Amy E. Herman
Wherever You Go There You Are – Jon Kabat-Zinn
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by successfulbob | art books, inspiration, photography books, photography creativity, tuesday painterly photo art
Tuesday painterly Photo Art – Julianne Kost Part 2
Julianne keeps pushing in new directions. In
In Part One of Julianne in this blog, we spoke of her Adobe Photoshop Evangelism which is her primary job. No that’s not a religious designation. She travels around the country sharing new features of the Photoshop and Lightroom programs with photographers.
While on her travels she creates art that many of us would not think to do until we saw it. I hear the chorus of voices now. “I could have done that!!” But you didn’t. Julianne sat looking out from the window seat of jet planes traveling 30,000 plus feet in the air a got a vision of how to use that vantage point to create art and share with others how that art was created.
Window Seat
Kost travels about 250 days a year, and, for better or worse, she’s required to fly to get to almost all of the places she visits. As a result, Julianne spends lots of time on airplanes in those tiny, cramped seats with little to do but try to work or read.
Window Seat Image – © Julianne Kost
Window Seat Image – © Julianne Kost
Julianne shares the genesis of the project, “
Shooting photographs allows me to stay sane during those long flights, because what most people don’t know is that I have a bit of a handicap when it comes to flying; I am scared to death of it. I’ve always been afraid of flying, but during one particular 20-minute bout of turbulence in the middle of the Andes years ago, I found myself white-knuckled, fingers embedded in the hard plastic armrests. It was in that instant that the camera became a comforting buffer between the reality of that moment and my own thoughts.”
Window Seat – The Art of Digital Photography & Creative Thinking
“I discovered that shooting pictures out of the plane window allowed me to view the scenery in a different context: not as the earth some 30,000 feet below, but as an immense, constantly scrolling image. As long as I could see the world as an image through an eyepiece rather than as a harsh, physical reality, the threat was less real. I became a spectator – an observer of the scene rather than part of it.”
Julianne Autographed my copy back in 2006 – The book is still valid today as a learning tool
Passenger Seat
Passenger Seat Image – © Julianne Kost
Julianne referred me to the Adobe blog site for more information on her Passenger Seat project where she was interviewed by Lex van den Berghe who is a Principal Product Manager on the Digital Imaging team at Adobe.
This will get you started on Lex’s interview…
Tell us more about how you got started with the Passenger Seat series. Where did the inspiration come from?
Passenger Seat, the project, started as a purely personal one as I traveled through the northeastern United States to view the leaves in fall. We drove all day looking for iconic New England landscapes, and between the small towns, I started taking images out the window of the car. At the end of the day, the images that I had made “in between” were the images that resonated with me. I found myself capturing a distinct yet ephemeral moment that was not entirely apparent or observable when the image was made, yet these photographs conveyed the mood, colors, and transient notion of fall better than anything that I had mindfully composed.
Passenger Seat – Creating a Photographic Project from Conception through Execution in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
With photography so often about the obsession of capturing perfect moments and frames in crystal clear focus, can you explain what it was like to create images that seemed to deliberately go against the grain of all technical and aesthetic conventions?
It was fun! I believe we need to constantly explore different techniques and subjects in order to stay healthy and not atrophy. This project helped me continue to look at things with a new perspective, photograph what I could not see, learn how to make technology work for me, and “let go” and lose myself in the process of making images.
Passenger Seat Image – © Julianne Kost
Continue reading the rest of the Passenger Seat blog post here…
Kost Bio
Named one of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business,” Julieanne Kost is a Principal Evangelist at Adobe Systems, responsible for fostering relationships with customers through meaningful and inspirational Photoshop and Lightroom instruction. As a highly sought-after speaker for the industry-standard Digital Imaging franchise, she devises and presents motivating and educational training sessions, sharing original techniques and tutorials worldwide — via live events, Adobe.com, her own website (jkost.com) and blog (blogs.adobe.com/jkost). She is also the author of “Passenger Seat—Creating a photographic project from conception through execution in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom” and “Window Seat — The Art of Digital Photography and Creative Thinking”, (I have an autographed copy: Ed) an accomplished photographer and fine artist, and creator and host of the popular Photoshop CC Essential Training, Adobe Camera Raw Essential Training, and the Art of Photoshop Compositing for Lynda.com.
Kost is well-known for her unique approach to instruction, infusing practical tips and tricks with an equal amount of humor and creativity that keeps audiences entertained and engaged. She often serves as a guest lecturer at distinguished photography workshops, industry events, and leading educational institutions around the world. She’s a contributing columnist and author for a variety of print and online publications and has created over 500 instructional videos as the host of Adobe’s “The Complete Picture” featuring Lightroom and Photoshop, serves as producer and instructor of the “Lightroom Getting Started” and “What’s New in Lightroom,” training courses, as well as the “Revitalize your Workflow with Lightroom” seminar on CreativeLive.
Kost has been recognized for her outstanding service and contributions to the professional photographic industry, winning the Gerhard Bakker Award from the Professional Photographers of America, the Honorary Educational Associate Award from the American Society of Photographers and was inducted into the Photoshop Hall of Fame by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals.
The combination of her passion for photography, mastery of digital imaging techniques and her degree in psychology, makes her photographic and fine artwork familiar, yet surreal with inventive and mysterious worlds where things are not quite as they seem. Her work has been exhibited numerous times and featured on Behance.net, PetaPixel.com, thisiscolossal.com, photographyserved.com, and Photoshop.com.
Kost holds an AA in Fine Art Photography and a BS in Psychology.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
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by successfulbob | inspiration, photography, photography competition, photography education
International Photographic Competition – AKA IPC
Professional Photographers of America (PPA) has an incredible member benefit known as International Photographic Competition. I feel that this one benefit has been worth the price of PPA admission and has helped me develop the photography skills I have today.
Sandhill Cranes – Artist entry from last year – General Collection Merit Image
I do believe there can be a misconception of what this is all about because of the name. The word competition can scare off a lot of folks. It gives them the opportunity to give excuses. “My work is not ready to compete.” “I don’t need to compete and win awards to validate my skills.” “I’ll never win.” And other similar thought patterns that keep them out of the game. I can tell you when I first started my work was, how you say, less than stellar.
YOU DO NOT GET INTO PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION TO WIN AWARDS! Notice that the caps lock was on for that last sentence because it’s supposed to sound like I am shouting. Yes, awards can be a sterling byproduct of imaging competition, but that’s not why you compete. YOU COMPETE TO BECOME A BETTER PHOTOGRAPHER! I see every photographer that gets into image improve their work in a relatively short period. Those that put it off tend to stagnate and their progress is much slower.
Keeping Watch – Artist entry from last year – General Collection Merit Image
The act of choosing your images. Working on them to remove every possible flaw you can find and putting them before a jury of fellow photographers for feedback is an incredible education. I can’t tell you the number of times I put my best work out there for comment in this process and… Well, let’s say I was less than pleased with the result. Occasionally I would even think to myself, “What the heck do those judges know? They weren’t there and didn’t know what I had to go through to create that image! My client loved it!” After a time away fro the sting of not getting the result I was hoping for wore off I reviewed the judges comments with a calmer frame of mind. And I’ll be darned! They were right. It could have been better had I taken into account the post processing, composition or capture suggestions when producing the image.
Sarasota Magazine Designs – Artist entry from last year – Loan Collection Merit Image
And that’s what imaging competition is all about, competing with yourself to become better. Each year you try to do better than the previous one. Eventually, the awards start to come, and that’s great. But, even after I attained enough merits for my Master of Photography Degree and Master Artist Degree and Imaging Excellence Award I still compete. Why? Because I am still trying to be better than, I was the previous year. Imaging competition keeps me sharp. It eeps me pushing the envelope to learn new techniques and perfect my craft. In short, it makes me a better photographer.
You can Stream the IPC and tune into the learning. You don’t need to be a member of PPA
Wanna be a better photographer? Get in the game! Don’t wait “until you are ready.” If you wait until then, you’ll never be ready. If you aren’t already in you can get an idea of what the judges are looking for in the images by watching the competition online. If you already are in you know that the International Photographic Competition judging process is coming up this Sunday, July 31 thru Thursday, August 4 and will be streamed live. Tune in when you can. There’s an education to be had by being exposed to imagery. More education as you hear the judges speak to the challenges of why they believe an image deserves to be awarded a Merit, or not.
Also returning this year will be the IPC Live broadcast hosted by renowned Florida wedding photographer and co-host of The Photobomb Podcast, Booray Perry, Cr.Photog., CPP. Each day at 10:15 am and 2:15 pm EST, IPC Live will feature live critiques, interviews with the judges, and live Q&A sessions.
If you have any questions about the process, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. Happy to help you.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
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by successfulbob | inspiration, photography - art quote, photography education
Sunday Photo/Art Quote – Steve McCurry
Camera as a passport.
A very interesting thought.
I hadn’t thought of my camera as a way to witness and become part of events, but now that I look back over the years I was exposed to many opportunities I wouldn’t have had in another line of work.
An iconic photojournalist who traveled the world documenting life in many cultures Steve McCurry created many images I’m sure you know. Magazine articles, covers and books too numerous to count are among his output with his camera. The quote below sparked today’s post.
“My life is shaped by the urgent need to wander and observe, and my camera is my passport.”
— Steve McCurry
While I did not have the need to wander quite as much as McCurry, I have moved around the world a little bit. I came to photography relatively late in life a camera led me to experiences, adventures and the ability to set up shop in a new place when my wife tired of the constant threat of hurricanes when we lived in the Caribbean.
Some highlights that come to mind.
Professional Photographers of America cover by yours truly
Aerial photography with my first magazine cover shot while hanging out of a helicopter flying on its side so that the downdraft would not interfere with the Rolex Regatta sailboat race below.
Photographing President Clinton when he made a trip to St, Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.
Documenting the wedding memories of hundreds of couples.
Being behind the scenes with entertainers and performers.
My camera doesn’t have quite as many passport stamps as McCurry’s as yet, but I know that it will take me to more places in the future.
What a great thought.
Where has your camera taken you? Share here if you get a moment.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | graphic design, inspiration, Lumix GX8, Lumix Lounge, photography
Cliff Castle Casino Fireworks Photography
Fireworks! Always beautiful and fun to view.
And, interesting to photograph.
These were taken Sunday night July 3rd with a LumixGX8 and 7-14mm f4.0 Vario lens. Settings f8 ISO 200 for five seconds.
Single five-second exposure
This burst was one of my favorite captures for the evening
Composite image with the Casino, which was behind me and the fireworks in front of me.
Fireworks composite image.
There’s a secret o create composite fireworks images. Develop each image to be it’s best. Drag and drop the images one above another as Layers. The secret is to change the Blend Mode of the Layer to Screen. The mathematics behind Screen mode makes all the dark area of the sky to disappear only allowing the light from the image to register. (Bonus tip: if the fireworks burst is not as bright was you wish to make a copy of the layer and the lighted areas will become brighter. Too bright? Lower the opacity to taste) The next move is to place the bursts where you would like them using the Transform tool. Once the photos have been rearranged, there will be areas that need to be masked out. Adding a Layer mask and painting with black will conceal the unwanted information on the Layer.
File this post away for the next time you get ready to photograph fireworks.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
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