by successfulbob | bird photography, fine art photography, graphic design, Lumix Lounge, photography, photography education
WOW! What great people in the Photographic Society of Chattanooga!
Taught an all-day class today, thanks to Panasonic Lumix being a sponsor, and prepping for tomorrow with an all day advanced Photo-Synthesis class and after coming back to my room after a wonderful dinner I received my favorite kind of email from one of the attendees…
Hi Bob,
I really enjoyed today’s seminar and am looking forward to the workshop tomorrow. I couldn’t wait to put some of the new knowledge I gained today into practice. Below you will see my before and after images. I am not happy with the birds, but as you taught today I saved my work in PS format so when I am fresh I can go back and tweak it. I put my mouse away, used my Wacom and keyboard shortcuts, I need a cheat sheet! I used 4 texture layers three with masks, an burn layer ( I learned about that today ;-) ) added a vignette and dropped in a few birds. I also increased the detail from my original image using topaz adjust.
Oh I forgot to set a timer and now need to move and stretch. Thanks again for such a great seminar!
Until tomorrow,
Rosemary
Here’s the original image © Rosemary Jardine used to start playing with ideas she learned in yesterday’s
Photo-Synthesis class at the Photographic Society of Chattanooga.
Art image using textures, blend modes and masks by © Rosemary Jardine.
Way to put the ideas to work Rosemary! Can’t wait to see where you take your images we talked about in class and what we’re going to learn about tomorrow in the advanced class! I figure you had a good basis to start… Hopefully some of my thoughts spurred you on to this, and more, creativity….
Your in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | fine art photography, Lumix Lounge, photography, photography education, photography seminar
At the end of the week I’ll be winging my way to Tennessee to present a couple all day programs on my techniques for creating fine art painterly images called Photo-Synthesis.
Get more info here
The first day will be in-depth starting with the basics in Photoshop and is hosted by the Photographic Society of Chattanooga and sponsored by Panasonic and the Lumix line of cameras and is $20 Contact the society to sign up and pay. Day two will be more in-depth and hands on. We’ll hit the streets to capture images to work with then go to our individual computers to create artwork with me stepping you through the process… That class will be $49. Get in touch with me to sign up and pay. bob@bcphotography.com
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | fine art photography, photography, photography - art quote, photography education
A conversation that often appears in forums or where artists or photographers gather is one of is photography art?
From Wikipedia – Fine art photography is photography created in accordance with the vision of the artist as photographer.
I absolutely believe it to be true. Look at different photographers through the generations and you’ll find there are several that stand out in different aspects of photography head and shoulders above the rest of the field.
Why? For some it is the pioneering of new techniques. For others it is the subject matter chosen. For still others it is an ability to see light where others find it not. I know early in my career I was hanging out with another photographer and watched him take a photo. I was not sure what he was seeing. Turns out it was a picture of the ground and some shadows created from multi-colored lights. It was captivating! And I never saw it…
Vision. Technique. Tools. All of these things make it possible to create something. Some can push the limits and make the ordinary extraordinary. That my friends is the art of photography. If you give the same camera, lens and subject to 10 different photographers you will receive 10 different photographs. Will all of them be art? No. Will any of them? Possibly. It depends on the skills of the maker with that particular subject, lighting skills.
“…it does seem to me that Capa has proved beyond all doubt that the camera need not be a cold mechanical device. Like the pen, it is as good as the man who uses it. It can be the extension of mind and heart…” – John Steinbeck.
Is my photography art? Some is… but not all.
That’s why I continue to pursue education, to attend classes and conventions, study images, study the classic painters, photographers and cinematographers, read books and magazines on photography, painting and color, experiment, practice and teach. (cause I learn a ton when I teach – I also love to see the lights go on in someone’s eyes as they begin to understand new concepts)
Let’s check in with other art genres and see what they have to say…
I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself. I have nothing else to learn. – Pablo Picasso
I have always been very interested in photography. I have looked at far more photographs than I have paintings. Because their reality is stronger than reality itself. – Francis Bacon
What are your thoughts on photography as Fine Art?
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | fine art photography, photography, photography - art quote, photography education, success education
At the convention here in Nashville Tennessee with Professional Photographers Association at Imaging USA.
WOW!
Way over 10,000 photographers here to network, learn about photography, learn about new products and become inspired bout this wonderful business we have chosen in which to make our living.
That brings me to why my Sunday Photo/Art quote is running a day late (it’s been a really busy time!) And to not delay the quote any longer…
“It’s all about the process!” Thom Rouse
Thom presented a program called “The Case for Fine Art” and suggests if we choose or as we try to move our photography in an artistic direction that it starts with OUR process – whatever that may be.
What is creativity? Thom suggests that Creativity is the process of the prepared mind. It’s anything you do in your creative life to make your imagery. What kind of lens do you put on your camera? What format? What subjects do you shoot? What settings do you use? How do you expose yourself to new imagery to draw inspiration from? Art in museums museums, web sites, books, other photographers images?
Thom Rouse fine art image © Thom Rouse All Rights Reserved
Once you have the tools of the process down you go through a number of steps as you create your images. You need a prepared mind as noted above looking at art and life for inspiration. You can get stuck or as he calls this moment, ‘incubation’. Then possibly a reversal of thinking. Making mistakes including ‘AHA!’ moments and ‘Happy Accidents’. Having Passion and perseverance and knowing that failure defines success.
Thom Rouse fine art image © Thom Rouse All Rights Reserved
Failure defines success. We’ve been talking about that here on Successful-Photographer a lot in this Sunday morning corner and I submit once again if you are not making mistakes not constantly trying to learn you probably won’t be doing anything really creative.
What mistakes are you going to make this week, this month, this year? Go for it!
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – This is only one of over 90 programs available to choose from this year. If you aren’t getting out to conventions and educational programs you are going tot be growing your art and your business
by successfulbob | bird photography, commercial photography, fine art photography, fine art portrait, people photography, photography, photography competition, photography education, photography marketing
Arizona PPA had it’s convention this past weekend. Of course it included the annual imaging competition and as usual I entered images for feedback on new work I am creating. I am always trying to create new artistic looks and it’s good to get feedback from my peers in a formal setting like imaging competition.
My results were favorable. I was awarded the Emil Eger Photographer of the Year Award, first place in the Masters Commercial, Portrait and Illustrative categories. The American Society Of Photographers award was also presented given for having the highest scoring image by an ASP member. This was the 15th time being named to the AZPPA Top Ten in 16 years.
While receiving awards is good for the ego (and sending press releases) the real value is in receiving opinions of fellow photographers to find flaws that were not apparent when working up the images. I found some things to tweak as a result of hearing the challenges between the jurors during judging…
I’ll share my entries here. Wouldn’t mind some feedback from you too…
‘Awakening’ scored 86
‘Catrina – Day of the Dead’ scored 83
‘Old World Juniper’ scored 81
‘Last Stand’ scored 83
‘Sandhill Cranes’ scored 88
‘Sarasota Polo Magazine Comps’ scored 84
I always recommend getting your images into competition for review. Remember it’s not a competition against the other photographers… It’s against yourself and the opportunity to grow your skills.
Yours in creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | fine art photography, inspirational video, photography - art quote, photography education
Happy New Year!
Going to head in a slightly different direction for this Sunday Photo/Art quote. Was directed to this video on creativity by Nick Pappagallo, Jr. from the Photographers Adventure Club. The message is designed for beginners but I posit that we all need the reminder, especially if we are trying new things. To push the envelope and keep the creative mindset.
The video is about a minute and a half and I recommend you give it a look…
Nobody tells this to beginners.Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
