by successfulbob | Lumix GX7, Lumix Lounge, photography - art quote
Taking a couple days off with my wife and am in Winslow, Arizona. (Yes, I plan to stand on the corner from the Eagle’s song) So that’s why this photography/art chat is a day late.
The quote comes from Henri Cartier-Bresson the wonderful captured-moment photographer. His thoughts are more easily put into play when you have a camera with you! How many times have you seen a spectacular image but not had a camera with you? I know it’s happened to me on more than one occasion (make that many) because my gear was too heavy to be constantly by my side so I let it behind. Not happening much anymore as I’ve moved to the micro 4/3rd’s format using the Lumix GH3 and Lumix GX7. These cameras are small and my entire shooting kit fits in a small pouch and a camera over my shoulder. Lovin’ it!
So now I’m catching images of fleeting light moments, mini sketches of composition and more that I don’t believe would be seen and picking up more work because I can show people some of my vision of a scene straight out of my camera.
“Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never be scene.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson
For those not familiar with the expression ‘busman’s holiday’ it comes from England when the gentlemen who drove the buses would then go on holiday taking those same buses. As a photographer when I go on holiday I take my camera and mke images to please myself, test camera’s capabilities and generally experiment with no thought of whether I am making a mistake. In fact I strive to make mistakes! Therein lies the greatest instruction… See my next post on some of the things I’ve photographed at the gorgeous La Posada Hotel in Winslow.
by successfulbob | photography education
Today’s quote is from Wayne Miller.
“I think good dreaming is what leads to good photographs.” I have to agree. When I let my mind run free pursuing ideas for a different photographic image good things happen. I believe that’s because in dreamworld, whether it be day-dreaming or full on dreaming while in the sleep state, there is no negativity. No one saying, “You can’t do that.” Or, “That’s not possible.” Or, “Nobody will like that.” The ‘Negative Nellies’ are not present in dreams. Now the only secret is to bring that idea out and execute it before anyone has a chance to knock it! Dream on!
I didn’t know who Wayne Miller was, I just enjoyed the quote… which led me to find out Wayne was born in Chicago, was a combat photographer in WW II working in the unit with Edward Steichen. He was also a contract photographer for Life Magazine and was president of Magnum Images for a time and helped with the Family of Man photography exhibit in NYC. In other words he was a trail blazer for photographic imaging. Wayne made it to the age of 94 before passing away in May of this year.
by successfulbob | photography - art quote, photography education
Think about images that stay with you.
Here’s one of mine. I remember a framed Cezanne print that hung in the dining room when I was growing up. It was a simple table setting called Apples and Oranges done in muted yet attractive colors. Under the table was a shadowy figure and I was always curious what that person was doing there. I found an air of mystery that tended to haunt me after playing back the image in my mind.
Apples and Oranges available as a print here.
Another was from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It was an almost life size painting of a bedoin prince in white robes. He was adorned with jewels. The lighting? Exquisite! The rendering by the artist of the metal and details like the hair on his knuckles was stellar. I thought it was possible that I was just amazed by this art because of it’s size. Not true. Upon revisiting this art several times I am continually amazed by this piece.
Moorish Chief at the Philadelphia Museum of Art by Austrian Eduard Charlemont
Oil on panel 59 1/8 x 38 1/2 inches (150.2 x 97.8 cm)
Photographs that captured your attention and keep coming back to visit in your mind. They usually have touched a cord inside of you for one reason or another. I believe that Paul Cezanne has given us twelve words and a thought process that will help us to create better, more memorable images. Start with the emotion and find a way to tell the story more deeply and people will find your images more memorable.
How to get the emotion into your image? I suppose it depends on the emotion you are trying to elicit in the viewer. Happy, sad, love, jubilant, sad, placid, agitated, angry, frustrated (don’t ask flight attendants at the end of a four day run for emotional words)
A quick trip to Wikipedia say about emotion: …Emotion is a subjective, conscious experience characterized primarily by psychophysiological expressions, biological reactions, and mental states. Emotion is often the driving force behind motivation, positive or negative.An alternative definition of emotion is a “positive or negative experience that is associated with a particular pattern of physiological activity.”
I find that images that have shadows have more depth and tend to strike a cord more deeply than those that are brightly lit. Bright colors elicit energetic thoughts. Bright colors with wonderful shadows are even more powerful. Shadows with a soft edge transition tend to be more pleasing than high contrast shadows which tend to jar the viewer. Somber, muted, warm tone colors convey quiet.
The idea here is to begin to think of the emotion first then figure the best way to convey it. Now, how will I create a Tango image that shows all the power and grace of the movement??? Time to start thinking… thanks to Paul.
“A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art.” Paul Cezanne
by successfulbob | fine art photography, photography - art quote, photography education
Providing these quotes to you every Sunday is actually becoming a gift to myself. As I search for quotes that I feel would be of interest I run across many more that give me food for thought. Even more thinking through my reactions and sharing the ideas with you makes me give pause and understand my own thinking on this process of creating art from photography.
I thank you. And, without further ado here’s this Sunday’s art quote.
“Creativity takes courage.” Henri Matisse
Three short words. Maximum impact from Matisse.
I can’t tell you how many times I have walked away from a piece of art because I ‘THOUGHT’ it may not be received well and I might get ridiculed or told that something isn’t the norm. Most of the fear is generated from within and has absolutely no basis in fact. It is important to override the self-doubt of the inner voice that holds you back. And after you have broken through the inner doubt be ready to counter any beginning negativity you ‘MAY’ hear from other. Think about the ridicule and grief the Impressionist Painters were subject to when they first began to unveil this new way of showing the world to itself. Now there entire museums around the world dedicated to the display of this art.
“Why talk about this Bob?” you might ask. “I’m a photographer not a painter.” I say, if we take this career seriously and are beyond just pushing the camera button on P or A or S and taking what our camera gives us we are creating images of artistic intent. What subject and how do they pose or are they framed in the viewfinder. What lens, angle of view. Light and shadow – take what’s there or craft it by adding or subtracting? this doesn’t even begin to think about how the set is staged. What extras do you add or take away? How about post processing? Some? A little? A lot? Adding multiple images?
I ran into a budding photographer on the trail the other day and he said he didn’t want to “cheat” by adding filters or making multiple exposures to record the scene or do extra work in post. Reminds me of myself when I first started. I said the exact same thing until I learned that the camera does not see as the eye does and in order to show the scene as the eye sees it there must be adjustments made. And for sure the camera doesn’t see the way my mind sees. All the additions and adjustments, multiple exposures and post production bring forth what my minds eye sees. And, less and less do I worry about what others may think. I may have finally found the courage that Matisse has spoken of….
