Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Free Wallpaper Wednesday - Black and White Abstract Winterscape

Download Standard 4x3 Here
This week's free Wallpaper is a stark black and white abstract wintry forestscape. There are two versions offered, one is a standard 4x3 for monitors (800x600, 1024x768 and 1280x1024) and the other is for 16x9 widescreen monitors (1600x900).







Download Widescreen 1600x900 Here

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Winter Landscapes

A Road Divided

Beauty in Black and White
Winter landscapes can be difficult to capture properly. One of my keys to successful winterscapes is stark beauty and mood.

Stark beauty can be brought out in hard light black and white processing. Since a wintry landscape tends to be monochromatic naturally, for the most part, removing what color might remain from the image is a benefit.

Strong light and shadows adds to the natural hardness to the beauty of the scene.
Flat Light Is Not Flattering

In the image on the left, the natural color was left intact because of the nature of the natural light and color tones. Cool blues and purples in the sky contrasting with the warm yellows of the dead grasses add to the sense of death and cold in a scene where the leafless trees are stripped of any sense of life.

The color works because the scene naturally lends itself to the use of color. If there had been a sign of life, green grass, red or orange leaves in the trees color would not have worked for the intent behind the image.
Winter's Gloom

Above, in Winter's Gloom, the grass was still slightly green, therefore I choose a black and white conversion to enhance the gloom of scene.

Against the stark contrast of natural radiance in the gradient gray sky, the subdued yellows work in the scene to enhance the appearance of a land incapable of supporting life.

Winter is full of opportunity in a beauty that cannot be found during any other time of year. From Spring through Autumn, foliage provides a skin that hides the inner soul of scenes like these. Only winter can tear away the skin and expose the bones, the guts and the soul of the stark raw beauty of our world.

Only winter can expose us to the truth of what hides beneath the visible surface. What might you find in your wintry seasons?

Friday, January 25, 2013

Free Texture Friday - Forest Trees Abstract


This week's free texture is flaming light abstract pattern.

You can download the full-res version below.

This photograph was captured in Minto-Brown Park in Salem, Oregon.




Download the full res image here.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Free Wallpaper Wednesday - Stark Black and White Abstract Winterscape

Download Widescreen 1600x900 here
This week's free Wallpaper is a stark black and white abstract winterscape. There are two versions offered, one is a standard 4x3 for monitors (800x600, 1024x768 and 1280x1024) and the other is for 16x9 widescreen monitors (1600x900).
Download Standard 4x3 here

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

A Focus on Frost

Frost Formations

Frost Crusted Blackberry Leaves

Frosty Crust

First Frost


























Frost formations can be an inviting subject to photograph. One of the secrets to showing off these little ice gems is high contrast. The best way to get high contrast is through a good black and white conversion.

It is my opinion that winter is best captured in black and white because of the stark nakedness of winter's personality. Give it a try. Compare a color image with the image in black and white to see how the character of winter shines through differently in each.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Free Texture Friday - Flaming Light Abtract


This week's free texture is flaming light abstract pattern.

You can download the full-res version below.

This photograph was captured in my own backyard in Salem, Oregon.




Download the full res image here.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Welcome to Wallpaper Wednesday

As a part of of my free things program, which include a free weekly texture giveaway and a growing collection of free Lightroom Presents, I have decided to add a new weekly giveaway for photographers and fans of work alike. Welcome to the first edition of Free Wallpaper Wednesday. That's right, each Wednesday, for as long as I can sustain it, I will give away a free wallpaper for use on your computer.

Each wallpaper will be custom size to fit properly in either a 4x3 aspect ratio monitor or a 16x9 aspect ratio monitor. If the image works well in both aspect ratios, I will offer both ratios.

So here goes... 
Download Standard 4x3  Here
This week's free Wallpaper is a stark black and white panorama winterscape. There are two versions offered, one is a standard 4x3 for monitors (800x600, 1024x768 and 1280x1024) and the other is for 16x9 widescreen monitors (1600x900).


Download Widescreen 1600x900 Here

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

The Amazing Feeling of Appreciation

Blue Tempest (2010)
It has been a while since I really put myself out there and put my work on display for public consumption. Sure, I have had my images hidden in the mash of other images of my peers, but it has been a long time since I show cased my images in a featured artist setting. That is until now.
Fall Bloom (2012)

I know I am a good photographer, but I also know the world is full of good photographers and I am but a simple guppy the sea.

I personally know dozens of photographers who consistently produce absolutely stunning work. By absolutely stunning, I mean their work truly humbles me in regards to my own work and constantly inspires me to do better. So, with that said, I have not been highly motivated to try and market my work. I have been focused on fine tuning my style, my voice, my vision.

I know, this can sound pretentious and a little asinine like the way movies stereotype the snobby New York artists, but the fact of matter is that I have been on this journey of discovery for year. As a result of the journey I developed three different styles, one of which is present in the image on the right, called Fall Bloom.

This particular style was initially experimented with in 2010 with my Blue Tempest shot, above. I truly fell in love with Blue Tempest. I printed it as and 11"x17" print on metallic paper mounted on foam core and showed it at the State Fair. There was an offer made to purchase it at the fair, but the sale never came to be. So over the course of two years, it hung on my wall as I quietly fine tuned that style into what became the style shown in Fall Bloom.

A few years ago I made a good friend, April, during a program called the Artist Way. April has always been a fan of my work, as I have been of hers. In December, April was promoting the opening of a new family ran pizza parlor style restaurant named Donatello's. Being the man of culinary substance that I am, I dragged my wife down on Donatello's opening night.

April was working the bar, as a favor to the owner. We chatted for a bit and she asked me if I would be willing to be their first featured artist. I hesitated for a three seconds and before I could say the six reasons I came up with in those three seconds, my wife said "He means, yes he will do it."

I am going to do something magical right now. I am going to answer your question; "What are the six "reasons" you came up with in three seconds to not say yes immediately?" I am also going to translate those reasons for you as well. They were, in order:

  1. "The walls are really red." Translated, I was simply making an excuse to hide my fear.
  2. "I don't have enough images to fill the huge space." Translated, this was another excuse to hide that I was doubting the validity of my own work. 
  3. "I won't have time to get anything together." Translated, this was an excuse to hide I was afraid standing out from the crowd.
  4. "I can't afford to print new images." Translated, this was an excuse to make sure I didn't have to do it.
  5. I don't have anything worth showing. Translated, this was an excuse to ensure success through lack of action. What does that mean? If I don't try, I can't fail.
  6. I am not capable to doing a featured show. Translated, this was pure fear.
This is how the whole thing when down:

April: "I am glad you came to night. We are going to be displaying artwork from local artist and I would love for you to be our first featured artist."
Me: "Um, yeah... well..." (six excuses processed)
My Wife: "He means, Yes, he will do it."
April: "That is great!"

Above the Bar
I am my own worst critic. Most of us are. My second worse critic is my wife, but she is also my biggest fan and supporter. So after her almost comical  and instantaneous acceptance of the offer on my behalf we sat down to eat some yummy pizza and I said, "I don't have enough pieces to fill the space and we don't have enough money to print more." She called me on my bullshit and the rest is history. With seventeen of my existing prints and a budget of $100 I printed fifteen more images from the only locally owned and operated professional printers I work with, Photo Vision here in Salem, and I prepared to show. On December 23rd, with the help of my wife and April, my prints were hung in the pizza parlor and I made my first sale about a week later, Blue Tempest and my second sale came about a week after that, Fall Bloom.

Relativity
I am happy that I did this show. It has inspired me to show more. I am not making a fortune in any way shape or form from the sales of these images, but then that is not what this was about for me. This was about showing my work. This is about people experiencing my vision; my voice. The fact that two pieces sold is great simply because these people were moved enough by my work that they have hung my work, in their home, shop, garage, place of work or bathroom. Their appreciation of my work will continue, even after my showing is over. That is what makes me happy.



Outside the Men's Room
Now I am a big supporter of three types of businesses, those that support local artists, those that give to the community and those that are locally owned and operated. So here is my plug for a business that is all of the above. If you live in the Salem, Oregon area, come in to Donatello's at 3981 Commercial SE, next to Northern Light's Theater. While you are there, try a bite of their fantastic pizza and their amazingly fresh salad bar. It is a classic pizza parlor dining experience that resembles the days before the other fast food, diarrhea inducing, prefabbed crap that is out their today. 
Donatello's just opened in December. They are family owned and operated. They are providing an avenue for artists to show and sell their works. They support local giving events. They are a family friendly business worth the support of a community and their food is amazingly delicious and fresh to boot. Go check them out. Show your support. Eat some delicious food. Appreciate some art. Enjoy a family friendly experience.




Friday, January 11, 2013

Free Texture Friday - Fall Leaf Abstract


This week's free texture is fall leaf abstract pattern.

You can download the full-res version below.

This photograph was captured at in my own backyard in Salem, Oregon.




Download the full res image here.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Getting the most out of winter


 

Spinning Umbrella
Winter in the Northwest can bring so many unique opportunities that aren't as readily available during other seasons.

Leaves have fallen away, exposing the forests for their natural beauty. Overcast skies create the best possible natural softbox for diffusing light. Finally, rain creates natural textures, reflections and patterns.
Rising Waters






It is easy to complain about the weather, but if one embraces the beauty that all weather brings it becomes easy to appreciate and even look forward to the rain, the sun, the snow, the wind and even the gray skies.

The key to shooting winter is to prepare yourself and your gear.

Sunken Dock

Rain on Blue
Preparing Yourself:

  • Dress in layers
  • Wear a raincoat
  • Protect your feet
  • Wear a hat
  • Bring an umbrella

Skyward
Prepare Your Equipment:
  • Use a raincoat - You don't have to buy a $30 camera rain covering. I use recycles plastic grocery bags and dollar store hair ties. Poke a small hole in the bottom of the bag, push the lens through and seal it with the hair tie. You now have a raincoat for your camera that cost you maybe $0.11. 
  • Keep your lens cap on until you shoot.
  • Keep your lens point away from rain whenever possible.
  • Use a plastic garbage bag to for your camera bag or backpack.

Stark Winter

Harsh Winter
With a little preparation and even less money you can still go out when the weather less than ideal or savory.

No excuses. Now GOYAS.
Wet path


Reflection




Friday, January 4, 2013

Free Texture Friday - Brick Rotation Abstract


This week's free texture is brick rotation abstract pattern.

You can download the full-res version below.

This photograph was captured at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.




Download the full res image here.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Resolutions and the New Year

The Best of 2012 and 2013 Resolutions

Before I get to the best of 2012, I want to share what my resolutions are for 2013. Resolutions are important for planning your growth. The minute we stop growing we start dying. This is very true in creatives. As we stop growing our creative talents our work becomes stale and even boring; our art begins to die.

So without further hesitation here are my three resolutions for 2013:
  • Experiment More: Joseph Chilton once said; To live a creative life we must lose our fear of being wrong. My  first resolution this year is to experiment more. This means trying new things in the camera as well as in post processing. This means learning new things and adapting them to make them my own.
  • Continue to Give: Giving is an important aspect of being. I will resume my mentoring program. I will continue to give to the Photo Club I belong to and I will give to a monthly lunch-hour photo club at work.
  • Be Less Critical: I am my own worst critic, but aren't we all. I am to a point that I don't pursue things when they are handed to me. Recently I was asked by a friend and fellow artist to be a featured artist at new local pizza restaurant, here in Salem, called Donatello's. In a matter of five seconds I came up with five reasons to say no. 1. I am not good enough. 2. I don't have enough pieces to fill the space. 3. I don't have the money to do it right. 4. It's a pizza joint. Who goes to a pizza joint to buy art? 5. I am not happy with my work. I started my response with, "Yeah, I don't..." and my wife cut me off and said, "His answer is yes he would love to." See my inner critic gave me five reasons to not, and my wife, who is one of my biggest fans and harshest critics just said yes. So I will be less critical so I don't sabotage future opportunities.


Okay so now onto the fun stuff. The best of 2012 from my camera to your screen. Enjoy.
 
Best Abstract Landscape

Best Minimalist Landscape

Best Pet Portrait

Best Black and White

Best Reflection

Best Abstract Portrait

Best Concept Piece

Best Fine Art

Best Perspective

Best Black and White Still Life

Best Sunset

Best Urban Abstract


Best Still Life Abstract

Best Conceptual

Best of 2012


Best of Fall

Best Color Still Life