by successfulbob | photography - art quote, photography education
One of the most sincere, talented, giving and wonderful photographers I know is the author of today’s photo/art quote.
Woody Walters.
Woody does a weekly ‘Photoshop Tip of the Week’. You can check it out here…
“If sight is the function of the eyes then vision is the response of the heart.” Woody Walters
Woody is a visionary who has shared his techniques in Photoshop and has been an inspiration to me over the years.
Vision is way different than seeing.
Here’s some of Woody’s work… © Woody Walters These are samples of Lightening & Smoke Brushes he created. His set of smoke brushes are, “How should I say?” Smokin!
I wish for you the ability to see beyond what your eyes see and to respond to what is in your heart…
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – If you want to upgrade from Woody’s free Photoshop Tip of the Week you can use the code ‘Coates15’ to save 15% off the bi-monthly subscription price which gives you access to new longer tutorials and access to download some of Woody’s brushes.
by successfulbob | photography - art quote, photography education
It’s been a busy weekend of teaching, Gave a lighting class to Arizona Professional Photographers Association, and presenting a Keynote for the Sedona PhotoFest and I’m getting ready for a two day Workshop today and tomorrow so this Sunday Photo/Art quote is a day behind. My apologies… and have a happy Monday.
Today’s quote fits right in with a lot of the things I have been teaching this weekend. I suggest that practice and playing are two of the main ingredients for successful image creation. If we don’t play we won’t discover new things that I like to call ‘happy accidents’. Without ‘happy accidents’ we are basically repeating what we KNOW will be OK with our clients. And consistent and constant practice allows us to master our skills so that the technical side doesn’t get in the way of our creativity.
If you don’t do it, you don’t know what might happen.” Harry Callahan
To recap. Play! when you have your camera out or are messing about in Photoshop say to yourself, “What if i pushed this button instead of that one?” Then do it. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. If you are not making mistakes you are not stretching to your full creative capabilities.
I’m reminded of this side quote, “There’s a very fine line between a groove and a rut; a fine line between eccentrics and people who are just plain nuts.” Christine Lavin
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – I like to think that I fall on the eccentric side vs just plain nuts but I’ll leave that for you to decide!
by successfulbob | photography - art quote, photography education
Today turned into a lazy Sunday with a little turn-over for a nap before getting out of bed. Then it was off to get some breakfast and the restaurant was a bit crowded with a waiting line. Fortunately, the grocery was next door making it convenient to gather the fixin’s for Eggs Florentine and Champagne Mimosas to have brunch at home prepared by my wonderful wife Holly. That was followed by a couple movies on Netflix and the purchase of the New Your Times Sunday newspaper which I will retire too for the rest of this day after I finish this post.
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes in the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” John Lubbock
John was not an artist per but a very intelligent naturalist, banker, statesman and member of the British Parliament. He let no grass grow under his feet but knew enough when it was time to relax and recharge. As photographers and business people we can tend to let the business take complete control and forget to chill every now and then. Believe me when you take some time for yourself you come back rejuvenated and refreshed. Guess what? You also come back more creative.
Take some time.
Sit back.
Relax.
Come back refreshed.
I believe it’s time for me and the New York Times now, and then maybe a nap…. Bonus quote below.
“Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” Ralph Marston
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | photography, photography - art quote, photography education
I’m not sure if I’ve addressed this quote before or not… But if I did it bears another look. Often new photographers are told to look for the light. May I suggest you look for the shadows instead? Shadows create form, depth and dimension. John Loengard, born in New York City in 1934 and Harvard class of 1956, was a staff photographer on LIFE magazine from 1961 to 1972, as well as LIFE’s picture editor from 1973 to 1987 and picture editor of People Magazine at its launch in 1974, is the author of eight books. John puts it another way…
“If you want something to look interesting don’t light all of it.” John Loengard
So I suggest looking into the shadows. See how a little light or a lack of light can help define and shape your subject.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | photography - art quote, photography education
???????
Questions. Questions are a wonderful tool to enhance your photography skills.
Questions of yourself. How can I make this image better? What if I move the light over there? Add a flag here? Make shadows more apparent here? Wait. If I change the camera angle will it be stronger?
Questions for others. Hey! How did you do that?
Questions for viewers of your work. What do you think of this photograph?
Questions for viewing others work. Let’s see if I can figure out how the lighting on this was accomplished… Why do I like this?
“No man really becomes a fool until he stops asking questions.” Charles Proteus Steinmetz (inventor/engineer)
What questions are you going to ask today?
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
