by successfulbob | photography, photography - art quote, photography education
While I wouldn’t trade my time in the darkroom for anything I do appreciate that my darkroom has come into the light via my computer.
Today’s quote from John Sexton about the magic of trying to pull a print and the frustration & fun that lies therein is something that I now experience in working to create my fine art photo pieces in the computer. The difference is I have many more tools available at my beck and call… and the ability to repeat a print much easier. In the past I remember trying to pull a print like one I had already made and with the vagaries of dodging and burning and shifting chemistry making it near impossible to duplicate the exact tones.
Is this a good thing? It’s definitely different but I believe so. The idea is to get the image that is pre-visualized onto a media to share with others. We now have the tools to touch every single tone in an image giving us the ability to really make a print sing! I saw a quote from Ansel Adams in his auto-biography that he wished he could be around in 20 years (published in 1984) to see what others could get from his negatives via electronic means. It wouldn’t be the electronics but the operator that would be making the difference. He said that the images wouldn’t be like his but that people might very well get more from his negatives than he could in the darkroom.
I enjoy the challenge of sharing my imagery… no matter the way it is eventually created. The result is what counts, not the way in which it is achieved.
“For me the printing process is part of the magic of photography. It’s that magic that can be exciting, disappointing, rewarding and frustrating all in the same few moments in the darkroom.” John Sexton
by successfulbob | Lumix GX7, Lumix Lounge, musician photography, photography
“Standin’ on a Corner in Winslow Arizona, Such a fine sight to see…” Sorry, getting lost in the moment.
Staying at a beautiful property being restored to it’s former glory, La Posada Resort in Winslow, AZ. Very inspiring.
As I rest and listen to the grandfather clock chiming the time off in the distance I thought I would explore my vision of a stylized black and white in a square crop format. The the Lumix GX7 allows me to set everything in camera and see the finished image as it is captured. A square crop. The Black & white with my dialed-in style immediately, all very cool. NOTE: If you want this to be what actually see when you open up your images in your software make sure you shoot in jpeg! If you shot in RAW – as you download the images into your viewing software you will get a glimpse of your image as the camera settings said it should be but then that disappears and all the information that was presented to the camera will appear. Good-bye square crop, good-bye BW style etc… If you wish to be able to access the RAW info you can capture both at the same time. (another nice feature)
Front Porch at La Posada, Winslow, AZ facing the Railroad Tracks
Khent Anantakai classical guitarist plays at the Resort nightly. (wonderful self-taught artist)
Khent Anantakai Guitarist
Illustrative Photo Coffee & Grand Marnier
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 | Lumix GX7, Lumix Lounge, musician photography, photography
Guitarist JJ Sansavarino likes to bring guests along to his gigs at Sound Bites Grill in Sedona, Arizona and last Friday night it was New York singer Vivian Sessoms. She has a silky voice and you can tell she’s been at it a while as proven when I went to take a peek at her bio from her web site.
“Born and raised in Harlem, Vivian, whose mother was a session/jingle-singer, and whose father was a flautist/percussionist (who’s played with the likes of James Brown), learned the wonder of music at a young age. Surrounded by nightclubs, churches and regular jam sessions at her family’s home, she was already singing by the time she could talk. “Growing up, there was always music to express the way I was feeling. I was so immersed in it, that I kind of viewed music as a kind of backdrop to my life,” she recalls.”
Original photo was captured with the Panasonic Lumix GX7. The density range available on this camera’s chip is really helpful for working in harsh LED stage lighting conditions and still being able to pull detail out of the shadows. The fact that it is a very low profile size allows me to capture the action without disturbing the guests during the performance. Very cool!
The image was imported into Photoshop where Vivian was extracted from the photo and put on her own layer. Then a drop shadow was added to give the image some depth. Then a Inner Glow was added to give her some separation using Layer FX. Multiple textures and blend modes were used to add the artistic treatment to the image.
Here’s the finished art photograph for the ‘Wall of Fame’…
Vivian Sessoms – New York singer at Sound Bites Grill in Sedona, Arizona
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.
