Photographer Clay

Tag: create

  • Bad photography

    Bad photography

    Have you ever gone through your catalog of photographs and thought, “Wow these suck!”? That was my thoughts this morning. I was going through my catalog of photos in an effort to get my thoughts on what to write about this morning. I went through some older photographs and found some that just absolutely sucked. I don’t mean a little bit, these were horrible. The featured photograph was not one of them. Granted some of them were quite old but nonetheless they were awful.

    I’m certain that most of us have thought the same thing. I also know that my photography may not be considered suitable by the standards of others. We all have different styles and preferences when it comes to art and photography. What is important is that we are satisfied with where we are today and have the mindset to continue learning, improving, and growing as artists and photographers.

    I challenge each of us to objectively look at our past work and our current work and then make a conscious effort to improve. Join me in this challenge and together we can create the photographs and art we can be proud to show the world.

  • It’s never too late to create

    It’s never too late to create

    Autumn is a fantastic time of the year for photography. It is full of color. Unfortunately, for me, it is too short. It often seems like once the leaves begin to turn within days they are gone, especially when you have to work your regular day job. I’m fortunate that come this time next year I won’t have that problem. This time next year I will be working on creating art whenever I want and wherever I can.

    I admire those who work full-time and still dedicate lots of time to creating art. You are the artists that inspire me and keep me motivated. My goal is to get others motivated and improve their skills. While I may be retiring from full-time employment I have no intention to stop working. My work will just change and it will be in creating art, writing, and sharing my continued journey with photography. It’s never too late to start.

  • Impressed by technology

    Impressed by technology

    Last night, I was taking my dog out for his last potty visit before bedtime and I noticed the clouds of an impending storm were beginning to move in. Granted I wasn’t able to see them very well as it was dark outside. I took this photograph with my smartphone. This is a 1/5 second exposure and handheld. I’m impressed.

    I guess a bit of background also helps. My first computer was a Commodore 64 I bought in 1982-83. My first 35 mm camera was a Canon AE-1 at roughly the same time. The computer was a thing of marvel at the time as far as home computers as was the camera since it had an auto-aperture setting. All I had to do was pick the shutter speed and focus.

    As we have moved along, I have adopted new technology as quickly as I could afford to do so. A couple of years ago I built my own home workstation from parts I selected individually.

    I embrace new versions of programs and software. I’ve even been a beta tester of software as well as having written user manuals for programs. In other words, I’m a long-time nerdy geek and I still get impressed with the technology.

    How does all this relate to art and photography? I use technology to create my vision and my art. I also employ much old technology, such as film. I don’t like to have my creative choices limited by boundaries. I like to push my boundaries and see just how far I can go hoping to explore new techniques and abilities. I look forward to each new version of programs and advances in computing technology.

    To truly become an artist I believe we must constantly learn and explore and this often requires us to embrace technological advances all while keeping the old traditions alive and blending them together.

  • Reality versus vision

    Reality versus vision

    So many photographers get caught up in reality. To me, they are basically using their cameras as copy machines. Striving to make an exact copy of a scene. Sometimes it works, and many times it does not. It all depends upon the moment and the vision of the photographer, more so if you are like me, a photographic artist.

    A couple of weeks ago I photographed a session at a haunted house. The session started at 10 AM and went on most of the day. There were photographers and models/actors still around when I left at about 8 PM. The problem? It was daylight and a bright day at that. Not really the scene for gremlins, ghouls, zombies, and monsters. In order to fulfill the vision reality had to be altered.

    Take the photograph above, for example. It is fitting for the setting, at least to me. We have a possessed nun interacting with a zombie. The original, reality-based photograph, not so much.

    The original, reality, doesn’t have the same feel as the altered reality version. First of all, for me, the zombie doesn’t look real ( I know zombies aren’t real). Second, that house, isn’t what most of our imaginations envision for a zombie scene.

    Another example is the ceremony in the cathedral. The altered reality version versus the reality version.

    There certainly is a lot you can do with lighting and camera settings but again, those are altering reality in a different way.

    The mere act of taking a photograph we alter reality. We alter reality by the choices we make in setting up the shot. We alter reality by the lens and aperture we choose. We alter reality by freezing a fraction of a second into the reproduction of a subject or scene. We alter reality by the media we use to capture that moment. For me, I don’t always let the reality of the scene limit my vision of how the emotion of the scene or subject felt to me. My goal as an artist is to bring you into the moment of time and the place I was at the moment I photographed it, just as a painter would do with their paintings. For me, it’s art not a Xerox copy.

  • Light at the end of the tunnel

    Light at the end of the tunnel

    I know you’ve probably heard the saying, “I can see the light at the end of the tunnel”. Well, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it’s getting closer. The tunnel I speak of is the tunnel of working for others. I have just over 80 days left before I am committing to a new journey. That is just 50 working days. My new journey is that I am going to dedicate much more time to creating my art and writing this blog. Many of the things I have planned will take me to new places with both my photography and my writing. The light at the end of my tunnel is a second retirement.

    I don’t believe you are ever too old to follow your dreams or achieve your goals. It is all a mindset and my mindset as a photographic artist is to create. My artwork may not always be to everyone’s liking but they are all to my liking.

    One of the best things I have is a live-in critic and muse, my wife of 43 years. She is always able to give me her thoughts and ideas and many times she helps make them come together. Shopping for props, and assisting with lighting. She helps me come up with ideas and concepts. So not only can I see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is getting close to the end but I am going into this new journey with a helper.

    Keep working towards getting to the light at the end of your own tunnel. Stay focused on your art and creativity. Achieve your artistic goals and dreams. Don’t let others discourage you and if you get discouraged on your own find a helper, even if it is an acquaintance with similar dreams and goals.

  • Create don’t just photograph

    My vision is to create rather than just take a photograph. I even create multiple versions of the same photograph to fit my vision.

    I created the dark version to go with another photograph I took in the same area.

    I was thinking along this line because Halloween is approaching.

    Use vision and imagination to create rather than just photograph a scene.

  • I take a camera everywhere I go

    I take a camera everywhere I go

    I was on my way to a meeting yesterday to tour a potential location for winter photography. The meeting was 1 1/2 hours away so we stopped at a wine bar not far from the location to have a glass and a snack. Originally I was going to do some photography by “wandering around” however when we got into the area it began to rain. Not wanting to get wet since I hadn’t prepared for the rain we elected to go inside. As I was sitting at our table the view of the bar and the building outside caught my eye. The building was built in 1909 during a time when the area was used as commercial stockyards.

    When the meeting time started to get close we headed off for the location of the building we were going to tour. Along the way, we saw lots of other photographic opportunities but didn’t have time to stop since we were heading to our meeting.

    As I mentioned in the title of this blog, I carry a camera with me everywhere I go. It may be one of my digital SLR cameras or it may simply be my smartphone. I didn’t always believe the smartphone could serve as a “real” camera but I have since changed my mind. Current smartphone cameras have come a long way. In addition, I have learned how to properly use the smartphone camera just as I learned how to use my “real cameras”.

    Take the time to learn how to use your equipment even if it is the camera on your smartphone. As I said both today and yesterday, there is a photograph everywhere you go.

  • Spreading creativity

    Spreading creativity

    I read an article recently about how a famous musician has turned to photography and people raving over his photographs. He literally became a successful photographer. But, is it because his pictures are so extraordinary, or was it because he was already famous? I’ve looked at his photographs and they are good, but I don’t believe they are better than many of the people I know who are virtually unknown.

    As for me, I’m not worried about it. I believe I shall be like the dandelion. Hanging out, even if alone without fame or famous friends, and spreading my photography and art like cypselas of the dandelion. Once my artwork is ready for release I share it with the world.

    My goal is to create art and share it.

  • Why I love Photoshop

    One of the biggest reasons I love Photoshop and Lightroom is the ability to make my vision come to life. I’m not going to show the originals but let me just say they don’t have nearly the impact as the developed versions.

    The original photographs were taken with the intent to develop further in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Exposures, composition, and focus were set intentionally for further development.

    It is difficult to make a horror/haunted house theme look the way you want when it is in the middle of a bright sunny day. Work to set your lighting correctly, add additional lighting effects and then develop the final image.

    This is one of the types of photography sessions I just love. Make visions come to life. Create the environment. Let your imagination run wild.