So You Consider Yourself Artistic?...

"The more I think about It, the more I realize there is nothing more artistic than to love others."

- Vincent Van Gogh

Recently, I had someone ask me if I saw myself as an artist; my first reaction was, "Uh, No, I just take photos!" My questioner gave me this puzzled expression and said, "Really, Hmmm"?


Now, I considered my grandmother an artist, she designed jewelry, crocheted, knitted and painted amazing landscapes; there wasn't much "creatively" she couldn't or wouldn't try, even when she went partially blind. I resigned myself to the fact that I acquired none of her artistic ability.


But lately, I've been thinking about that conversation and appreciating that there IS an element of "artist" when taking and editing photographs. When shooting photos, having a creative eye for details, like lighting, shadows, location, props, all come into play before and during a session. In the editing room, the skill to effect colors, hue, lighting and even remove and add elements to the photo all lend themselves to creating a "work of art."


This week, I've been playing around with a "run of the mill" photograph I took during a camping trip. Here are some of the artistic liberties I took with it...

The original photograph with no editing

A quick color adjustment with a dark vignette around the edges

Here I added an "evening sun" element with a yellow tint to give it a "Mossy Coastal" feel.

Keeping the "mossy" colors, I added back in a few warmer reds and browns; then I used an "Night/Fate" element to give the photo a more eerie affect.

Building on the eerie affect, I added some darker tones to bring in the "Spooky."

Taking the "spooky" look as far as I wanted it to go, I lighted the dark edges and added a warm cream element.

Here, I continued "warming up" the photo by adding a burnt Cinnamon element.

I take pleasure in editing and adding those little extras that I didn't quite catch with the camera!...

I enjoy the process of creating something different from what my camera lens captured!...

Do I see myself clearly as an artist...maybe not yet!

Robin

I hope you had a fun 4th of July! Mine was spent with family and friends barbecuing and anticipating our city's Fireworks Display.

Last week, I was researching Fireworks Photography and came across the "Bulb Mode". Truthfully, I didn't even know my camera had a bulb mode, but we'll keep that to ourselves.

The Bulb Mode keeps the shutter open as long as the shutter release button is pushed down. This feature allows the photographer to "catch" the entire rocket burst.

(This photo reminds me of a Palm tree with a falling coconut)

On my "Sony" camera the bulb mode also requires that the viewfinder be covered so I set up the tripod, directed the camera with a trajectory of where the fireworks were bursting and held down the shutter button. No adjusting no focusing, I was flying blind and it was kind of liberating!

(I call this photo the Dandelion...can you see it?)


After a few minutes, and as I was getting comfortable with this new mode, a small fire broke out on the hillside where the fireworks were being shot from....Show Over! :(

I really enjoyed trying this newly found feature on my camera and I hope I can use it again soon!