Tuesday Painterly Photo Art
Karen Nakamura – M.Photog.,M.Artist
Judging gets you exposed to a lot of imagery. You can be critically thinking and talking about thousands of photographs over the course of a year. What is interesting is that there are some artists whose work seems to jump out from the rest showing something different. Judging is blind as far as knowing who the maker may be during the competition. At a later date a maker’s work may be seen with a name attached and I really enjoy talking with the maker and Karen was one of those people.
That’s why I asked her to join us on Successful-Photographer in this post. Here’s Karen!
How Karen learned
“I’ve been creating art pretty much as far back as I can remember. I’ve taken art classes since the 3rd grade. I’m really lucky because my mom would give us art projects throughout the year when I was little. I’ve taken everything from painting, drawing, sculpting, 2 and 3-dimensional design, photography, photoshop and industrial arts.”
The Perfect Perch – I’ve been wanting to add birds to my floral images. I went to the San Diego zoo and photographed a beautiful White-necked Jacobin hummingbird. I then photographed the tulips to match the light on the bird and then photographed the vase.
The vase wasn’t exactly what I wanted so I decided to stretch it. The hummingbird was shot natural light at f13 1/160 800ISO Tulips and vase were shot with natural light with reflector. F11 1/60 160ISO
Words of wisdom on learning and/or thoughts on creating art
“Anyone can create art. Just follow your heart. Don’t compare yourself to others and don’t care what others think. Create art that makes you happy because that’s what it’s all about. The more you create, the better you will become. Eventully you will develop your own style.”
Orchid Bloom – I’ve had this orchid for about five years. The plant sits on my kitchen cabinet and when the window light hits the flowers, the colors are so striking. The orchid spray wasn’t perfect so I added one more flower to the stem. The leaves were taken from another orchid image to complete my piece.
The orchid spray was shot in a studio setting with one main light and one reflector. @ f16 1/125 100 ISO The orchid plant was natural window light with a reflector. F11 1/60 400ISO
“To be inspired look at other peoples art, look at art history books and go onto social media sites like pinterst and instagram. Follow artists that inspire you. To learn how to create art, watch videos on Youtube or watch videos on site like Creative Live. Hands on classes and workshops are one of the best ways to learn a techique.”
Delicate Beauty – The freesia is one of the first flowers I photographed back in 2012. I really didn’t like how it came out, so I set it aside until I went to the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles and photographed a Swallowtail hovering over flowers. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my butterfly images until I went back into my library of flowers and came across the freesias again. Visually the light matched so I decided to play around with the three subjects until I created this art piece.
The butterflies were shot in diffused sunlight f8 1/1600 800 ISO. The freesia was studio lit with one main light, one reflector and a backlight. f16 1/125 100ISO
Karen Nakamura Bio
PPA Master Photographer and Master Artist, Karen Nakamura, is widely acclaimed for her signature style images of flowers. She is gifted with a unique take on them that evolves with each new blossom she shoots. Some of her inspiration and creativity comes from an adoration of orchids, which she tended to as a hobby.
Karen also has a fine art background, attaining her Bachelor’s of Fine Art from Cal State Long Beach.
Karen has earned the Professional Photographers of America’s Photographer of the Year awards every year since she first entered the PPA International Photographic Competition back in 2010.
Professional Photographers of America honored Karen with its 2013 Diamond Photographer of the Year and 2014 Artist Diamond Photographer of the Year. Diamond Photographers of the Year had all four competition images accepted into the prestigious PPA Loan Collection. Karen has won the coveted Canon Par Excellence Award, representing the pinnacle of achievement at the Professional Photographers of America regional level. She is one of the first photographers to earn the California Masters Degree from Professional Photographers of California.
You can learn from Karen! Her PPA Super 1 Day Class
Floral Photography and Compositing Course Date: Thursday, October 6, 2016
Mike and I chat about the world of technology as it relates to getting the best images from your camera. As a Lumix Luminary, I get access to new cameras and the opportunity to try out lots of new gear. The beginning of the show we talk about Professional Photographers of America’s (PPA) International Photographic Competition (IPC). I was an entrant and didn’t do too bad. (recent IPC posts on Successful-Photographer here)
Tech Talk – There is International Photographic Competition chat until about 10:45 then we move on to Lumix Cameras and quality along with new tech moving into the world of Micro 4/3rds cameras.
Due to a change in this year’s judging procedure, I can share my Loan Collection images from the International Photographic Competition (IPC) put on by Professional Photographers of America (PPA). The PPA Loan Collection is judged after a picture has earned a Merit, which is defined as an above average image by an above average photographer. Loan Collection images are considered among the ‘Best of the Best.’
And here we go. I’ll comment under each image for what I was trying to accomplish.
“Going Up” – A study in perspective. Trying to make an everyday object into an art piece. I do this in practice for my commercial and architectural clients.
“Dance of the Snowy Egret” – This was me on vacation. I was studying this snowy egret tracking down its meals in the marsh. I noticed some patterns as I watched its behavior. This image began to form in my head. The Master Artist category is judged on the final output. Also, the difficulty and expertise in applying the techniques is a major part of whether an image is accepted.
“Shape Form Tone” – Made in Atlanta while I was a PPA headquarters for a meeting. We were on break, and I had brought a camera with me and saw this view out the window. Again, working on perfecting my craft by creating depth and dimension in my work.
“Iris” – This was a design I created for a silk scarf. (my clothing designs are available at SHOP VIDA) Depth and dimension are critical to adding life to a two-dimensional surface. Shadows are essential in making that happen.
There you have it. My photographic and design work in the 2016 PPA Loan Collection as judged by Professional Photographers of America.
Like many photographers around the country, I have been watching the judging of the International Photographic Competition hosted by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA).
‘Hiding’ – General Collection Artist Category – This image of model and mask, performer, and artist Pash Gabalvy of Sedona was an effort to create a painterly feel to this capture. May have processed this one a bit too dark.
I submitted eight images. Four in the Photographic Open and four in the Artist category. Of the eight images presented, Three images were not accepted. One was accepted into the General Collection earning a Merit. Four were deemed to be ‘best of the best’ and accepted into the prestigious Loan Collection.
I can share the ‘less successful’ images that Merited or were not accepted, but not the Loan Collection images as there will be additional judging of those images for the Grand Imaging Awards which will be announced at the Imaging USA convention in San Antonio, TX in January.
‘Eagle’ – Was not accepted. The Artist Category is judged based on the final image but also the difficulty and execution of the artwork itself. I will rework this image and try again.
Notice I did not say, ‘unsuccessful’ I said, ‘less than successful.’ We always want our images to score well, but I believe I learn just as much, if not more, from those that don’t. Why? I have been experimenting with lots of new capture techniques, new painting techniques in creating art from my images and different ways of processing photos. I get feedback on why the treatments and processing didn’t work, and I can grow my skills with that information.
‘Nightwatch’ – Another Artist submission that fell short in the judge’s opinions. This was challenged, so I received feedback on what the judges found lacking. “No specular highlights on the beak. Some leaves the were a distraction behind the owl’s head. Not enough shape and form on the owl’s body.” I agree with all contentions and will be reworking this image again.
‘Secret Canyon’ – Not accepted n the Photographic Open Category
I did not receive feedback on this image yet. My guess is that it might be a little too artistic for the subject. Many pictures of slot canyons have been entered over the years.
That’s my story so far. I’ll follow up with the Loan Collection images after the GIA’s have been selected.
“Bob, your images show your expertise and I absolutely agree with all you say. I will add one thought. The images you show in your article are for the Artist category. My thought is those entering for the first time might mostly be in the Photographic category. So maybe you can add some of your beginning ones that merited rather than your most recent advanced ones for perspective.
Some of my own frustration does lie in that critiques in the Photographic category often talk about changing backgrounds, etc. To me that should be in the Artistic competition since that is not “photographic”, but I understand there is not a way to monitor this, so anything goes in Photographic pretty much.
I think it is important to explain to entrants that even if your image scores a 74 let’s say, this is based on a professional standard and is “average among your peers” so it is not “average for anyone with a camera.” So there should not be fear to enter because you might not be good enough. My thought is this, if I thought I was not good enough, I certainly would want to know that and learn. I would not be charging clients money for my work if even I thought I was not good enough. On another note even a score below competition standard of 65 might be a sellable client image in some instances, it just misses too many marks of the 12 elements for merit.”
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Joanne Fabian
Photographer/Owner
J Gray Fabian Photography
Souderton PA
Excellent thoughts from Joanne. I will pass on the idea about critiques and backgrounds to other PPA Jurors in the Photographic Open category. We are always trying to improve the experience of judging and providing feedback to members. (I am a PPA Approved Juror)
The images that I shared in the original post were ones that I had quick access to and wanted to illustrate the post. I took some time to dig back in through some older files for examples in the Photographic Open category that merited and some that made it to the Loan Collection and below a video of many of my entries over the years.
‘Randy’ – General Merit & Showcase Book 2006
‘Enduring Comfort’ – General Merit 2009
‘Variations on a Theme’ – Loan Collection 2006
‘135 Painted Cliffs’ – Loan Collection 2007
‘Tango Toes’ – General Merit 2007
I tend toward more of a commercial and fine art imagery in my business so these may be a little more ‘arty’ than other people’s entries. I’ll share a video showing most of my submissions from 2005 through 2015. Not all images made it to the merit category, but it will give you a good idea of my body of work over the years.
Bob Coates Photography IPC entries 2005-2015 (3:14)
Again I highly encourage everyone interested in improving their photography in an accelerated manner to participate in International Photographic Competition. Even if you did not enter this year spend some time streaming the IPC starting on Sunday, July 31 and continuing thru Wednesday, August 4th.
Questions, comments and other points of view always welcome.
I am extremely fortunate in many ways, one of which is being named a PPA Approved Juror. This gives me the opportunity to be exposed to photographers creativity in a very intense, concentrated form. Thinking critically about the work and listening to my fellow juror’s opinions. It is an intense education.
Have I told you lately how much I appreciate the educational value of PPA’s Imaging Competition? Both as an entrant and a judge I learn more about photography every time I place images before my peers or sit on a panel sharing my opinions about the quality of work before us.
A painterly image by yours truely
I love to see new areas being opened up and explored. But, I would like to add a word of caution and offer my opinion on a new trend many photographers are embracing. Creating painterly images. There are some magnificent image makers who have embraced this and I applaud a lot of the work I see coming through. A word of caution. Some of this new work is less than stellar.
The reason behind this sub-par (in my opinion) image making is that painting is a whole ‘nother skill set. Those that are producing beautiful work have studied the work of classic art and artists. They have studied and practiced with software like Adobe’s Photoshop and Corel’s Painter programs to replicate the depth and dimension found in paintings. They have learned color. They have learned to balance blending of the painting technique with the photography using the Goldilocks method. Not too much, not too little but jus the right amount.
Other photographers have seen this art trend and tried to get the look via a shortcut. That is what inspired this post. You really can’t just push a button on a software plug-in and think you are creating artistic images. The software that ‘replicates’ a Monet or Degas style of painting does not work. They are flat. There are repetitious strokes that are quite evident in the work which will limit the amount of time anyone will want to be viewing the image.
Just as learning photography has a learning curve so does creating a look in the style of the old masters or any other artistic genre.
So what are the options if you want to offer this product line to your clients?
You can ‘half-a**’ it and push the button on a plug-in.
Or you need to study, learn and practice, practice and practice some more. You will need to want to create this type of art. Immerse yourself deeply in the new art. Explore the new world with the same ferver that you brought to learning your photography skills.
Or you can continue to make your photographic images and hire out the art creation. There are some marvelous photographers who enjoy the creation of the art and are excellent sources for a new product line for your studio.
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be sharing art and artists that I feel are transforming true art from their photography images. See if the difference shows from those who are at the top of their game. Hopefully you’ll find inspiration to take your work to new heights.
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The vase wasn’t exactly what I wanted so I decided to stretch it. The hummingbird was shot natural light at f13 1/160 800ISO Tulips and vase were shot with natural light with reflector. F11 1/60 160ISO
Orchid Bloom – I’ve had this orchid for about five years. The plant sits on my kitchen cabinet and when the window light hits the flowers, the colors are so striking. The orchid spray wasn’t perfect so I added one more flower to the stem. The leaves were taken from another orchid image to complete my piece.
The orchid spray was shot in a studio setting with one main light and one reflector. @ f16 1/125 100 ISO The orchid plant was natural window light with a reflector. F11 1/60 400ISO
Delicate Beauty – The freesia is one of the first flowers I photographed back in 2012. I really didn’t like how it came out, so I set it aside until I went to the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles and photographed a Swallowtail hovering over flowers. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my butterfly images until I went back into my library of flowers and came across the freesias again. Visually the light matched so I decided to play around with the three subjects until I created this art piece.
The butterflies were shot in diffused sunlight f8 1/1600 800 ISO. The freesia was studio lit with one main light, one reflector and a backlight. f16 1/125 100ISO
