abstract flowers

Experimenting with Photoshop and my Flower Photography.
Target - at least 3 Abstract images.

Flowers - Specialist Location

Being inspired by Nickola Beck, I tried to do some more outdoor photography. 

Firstly I did hours and hours long research on location (ok, I did not, I just knew perfect place for it - Didsbury Parsonage Gardens).

And luckily I was blessed with sunny day, so day light source worked perfect for me. 

So the result :

(above)

I love how depth of field worked in this one. I changed contrast and using Soft Light Tool in Photoshop made background just a little bit lighter, leaving pink flower as main object in photography. 

(above)

I really like composition in this one, but shame that its too blur. I should try to work with tripod maybe, that could help? 

(above)

Had the same trouble with this one - not sharp enough!

(above)

I think this is my new favorite image, really like how lights works on this one, depth of field as well. 

(above)

I think it would be better if all of purple flowers would be in focus!

My biggest lesson from this shoot - use tripod! So many photos has come out blur! 

Chris Enos

Chris Enos has been an artist/photographer for over 40 years. In 1976 she founded the Photographic Resource Center in Boston, Massachusetts. She now lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

 In this photography its easy to see that she is an artist as well. For me its more abstract than still life image. I like the colors and texture.

She has one style how she is working and its easy to recognize it. She is more about texture and color, than a composition. To be honest I can not say that I'm huge fan of hers, and that's why Im doing research on her, to try argument with myself WHY I don't sympathize her work. Its much more hard to talk objective about someone who you don't like that someone who you love. Its probably mostly of her style, Im fan of details, close-up's and compositions than something like this. For me it just reminds something what been taken with no any plan or idea, just like a random photography. But I would like to try something as this, I assume her photos are planned, and still does looks like perfect composition, and I love how she is playing on color and texture.

In most of here photos flowers are a bit old, and it gives more contrast in photo, like photo above where is this pure white flower and part of it its old and yellow. Old is just different beauty!

Film

A while ago (26 y approx) we had a go shooting with film. It was more exciting than I thought it would be. The hardest/weirdest part was that I could not look at the image straight after it been taken. The biggest issue with this is that I could not check if the light, depth of field and shutter speed worked well, so there is always a chance that half of the photos would come out wrong. But the fact I couldn't see the image made me think more about the composition and made me trust myself and rely more on my intuition. I am happy with the result and would like to do more of film in future, its worth whiting and more exciting than digital.

Edward Weston - Still Life Photgraphy

"one of the most innovative and influential American photographers…"

As Iv done some research for now-day photographers, I wanted to go somewhere where it all started.. and get inspiration from some very first still life photographers! 

I find that Edward Weston is still one if the best still life photographers. His working style could be explain with - less is more. His style is very simple if Im aloud to say that, but very genius. He use more close-up's and his photography is more about details. 

 As he has done loads of female photography, I can understand where he gets his inspiration from. This photography is been famous for making this pepper look like a humans body. Its amazing example for personification. This photography shows that art is everywhere, even if thats just a pepper, you can make it look like masterpiece. This photography is full of shape and its very powerful. No wonder its one the most famous still life photo's ever made. 

His critical eye paid off as he quickly gained more recognition for his work. He won prizes in national competitions, published several more photographs and wrote articles for magazines such as Photo-Era and American Photography, championing the pictorial style.

I really like this one. Im amazed how much close-up can do in photography. The form & the texture is making plain cabbage leave to something big and genius. Im looking forward to try something like this. If photography inspires me - that means everything for me.

I admire how much risk he was taking and how different he is from everyone else. He invite whole new style in photography. Simple but genius!!!

Raindrops on window

Trying to experiment with Photoshop and montages!

eyes

After having idea about something like this, first tried non-digital montage ( I used printed photo of mine, printed photo of eyes(google), glue, scissors & watercolor). I apply a bit watercolour so eyes would blend better with photo). I think it could look better if I would draw those eys as line is very noticeable.
Then I decided to have a go with digital version - Photoshop, to compare those 2 versions of montage.
I once again used the same photo of mine, then found some eyes drawing in google, cutted out using Laso Tool. So eyes would blend with my photography, I used Eraser Tool on different size and % (3-100).
Simples!
It would be better for comparing if I could use the same image of eyes, but I could not find it again. Note - save images what Im planning to use/using!
Im glad about we are having this experimental unit, it makes me be more creative and gives loads of ideas about I would not thought before.

blowball

If something dosnt go by plan, dosnt mean its failed. I was trying to get nice and colorful images for my Specialist Location but came out with this! Even when technical it might be wrong, after editing I fell in love with this image and will use for my cards.
If I would have a chance to do this again, I would change shutter speed. Dept of field is working well I think, but also its way too light so bits of blossom is unseen whats makes loose details.

We dont need to go that far..

... to see what a beauty is around us!

Reflection

One photography - editing - 3 different photography's

Ori Gersht - Fine Art Photographer

Iv been trying to get more inspiration for my Specialist Location. This time I wanted to find something more unusual and more original. And fell in love with this (below).
This photography is been taken by Israeli photographer Ori Gersht. 

This photography inspired me straight away. I find it as very strong and powerful. Even if there is complete chaos, its still seems very well organized chaos. Like every single small piece has his perfect place and all together gives this completed harmony. Have no idea how I will do it, but definitely would like to try something like this.

Gersht engages the themes of life, death, violence, and beauty. 

This photography surprises me how artistic it is. For me photography is more art than anything else. And so far this is one my favorite ones. I love how calm it seems, even with splashing water everywhere seems having complete harmony again. Bacground color and texture, and grapes, what straight away reminds of old paintings from late 19th century gives this really calm part and then that unpredictable water gives a bit energy and life for this photo.

In his still life series Gersht investigated the relationships between photography, technology and optical perception, at a pivotal moment in the history of photography where digital technology both threatens a crisis and promises a breakthrough. Research into the early history of the medium of photography is brought together with theoretical discourse, creating, still image and films that (literally) explode the genre of still life, the beautiful and destructive results captured using cutting-edge technology. 

Another master piece for me on left.  I love how he  has made his very own very style and which is very easy recognizable. Would be interesting to know how many different shoots he makes to get something perfect as this. In every single photo of his is this perfect balance between complete chaos and complete harmony. 

A peaceful image is transformed into bloodshed, and a dialogue is established between stillness and motion, peace and violence.

Im definitely impressed with his work and from now on his is one of my favorite photographer.

Pure art.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ori_Gersht

http://nogagallery.com/Artists/ori-gersht/About.html

Research For Specialist Location - Flower Photography - Greeting Cards - NICKOLA BECK

As for my ''Specialist Location'' Im doing Flower Photography Greeting cards, Iv been doing loads of research for my inspiration and ideas. As I really enjoy taking photos of flowers, but some how they all end up miserable and black&white, I will try to do some positive happy ones as well. So doing research I found this - Nickola Beck and her work seems perfect for that type of cards.
I really like how many different styles and types she work, still leaving a ''hers fingerprints'' on each single photography. There is loads of inspiration from here photos and I will try to do at least one in her style. As she is doing not only flower photography but exactly Greeting Cards as well, that goes well together with my project. Going trough her Flower Photography seems likes she is completely in love with them. Each photo seems full of love, pureness and beauty. She got this strength to give powerful beauty each single blossom she shoots.

About Nickola Beck:
''I studied Graphic Design and Photography at Derby University, photography played a very large part on our course and has been an integral part of my all my designs. I worked as a freelance graphic designer & propmaker for many years, designing everything from logo's to making large props for TV and theatre. I went on to establish my own wedding stationery design business which included a couple of celebrity weddings along the way! Since then I changed direction to work as a flower photographer, creating beautiful wall art has lead me to designing my own range of cards and stationery in a completely different way and something I hope to develop over the next few years.

I regard myself as an impressionistic flower photographer, I absolutely love gardening particularly tropical planting and I’m a bit of a plant-a-holic! I am fascinated by abstract shots of intense light, colour, design and texture that are unveiled when enlarging botanical images and I love the jewel like quality and out-of-focus effects created by natural sunlight through leaves and water droplets. When out photographing, my main aim is to try to capture the mood, light and weather of the day and how the plant sits in its surroundings, even if it’s blowing a gail and the image isn’t completely in focus, I feel it all adds to the feeling of the final image.

 I am very lucky to live near some beautiful parks, woodlands and nature reserves in and around Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and watch them change throughout the year. A large proportion of my images are photographed at these parks and often found in the most unusual and unsuspecting places!''

As she is saying that loads of her photgraphy is been taken just in nearest parks, this gives me an idea to do something the same (before i was just thinking of taking photos in studio)

As I couldnt get any more images in decent size out from google you got this amazing chance to have a look at hers work at 

http://www.nickolabeck.co.uk

My plan of action:

*) Borrow portable Beauty Umbrella

*) Find a nearest park

*) Produce at least one decent photography for my ''Specialist Location''

Hopefully I will be able to do this following Friday (as long as weather is sunny) and will post my results later.

Recourses: http://www.nickolabeck.co.uk/, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nickola-Beck-Flower-Photography-Design/215648771820839

Vintage Emma

After moving Emma to Vintage Wallpapper photography (magic wond; select-inverse; eraser tool, smudge tool) I did:
*) Using Spot Healing Brush Tool I made skin look more photogenic
*) Using Smudge Tool on 3-5% I blur'ed face skin
*) Using Soft Light Brush I made eyes look brighter
*) Using Brush on 2-5% on Darken Color (chose blue color) made eyes more blue and with 5-20% Darken Color Tool (with different reds) made hair brighter and gave them more ''life''
*) Changed Contrast
*) Changed Exposure

For future I should need to do more research how about Vintage Photography, as I think its too much color and its way too bright for Vintage style photography.
But Im pleased that Im getting better in Photoshop and not so scared of it anymore.
Will try to make this photo for Vintage style looking and update result later.

Aaron and Brick wall (Photoshop)

Going trough my photos found this one with Aaron (from High Key lesson). Wanted to add some character for this photography otherwise it reminded me passport type ones. I used Magic Wand tool again, then Select - Inverse I moved Aaaron to Brick wall photography. Then I used Eraser tool with minimal % to delete line between Aaron and Brick photography. I used it on minimal brush size, the hardest part was hair.
Then I used Spot Heeling Brush Tool for face skin part, then I used Smudge tool on 3% to make skin look more healthy and photogenic. I used brush tool with Soft Light option to make eyes look brighter and just for fun added some Blue-ish color for eyes (used Brush Tool with color option on 2-5%). And done!

Vintage Rose

Trying to improve my skills again.

Unfortunately I can not find my original photography with roses (lesson for myself - save not only jpg format but photoshap format with named layers). Im want to improve my skills with Photoshop, so trying all kind of different tactics and ways of using masks etc. After I opened original photography with roses and using Magic Wand Tool selected background area, after used Select - Inverse I moved (using Move Tool) to Vintage background photo. Then this time not wanting to blur 2 photos together (that what I used with Baby Photography (love changes everything), I learned and used Eraser Tool on minimal % and minimal size brush. Then I added some lighter parts for Roses (using Brush Tool on 5 % - soft light) wanting to look them main object in photography. `

Still Life & Flowers - Irving Penn (research)

Irving Penn (June 16, 1917 – October 7, 2009) was an American photographer most known for his fashion photography, portraits, and still lifes. 

Personally I love this photo. I love how harsh it is. It makes me think that this women is brutal and reminds me of old films full of guns.

It shows how much story can close-up tell. 

While perhaps best known for his fashion photography, Irving Penn's repertoire also includes portraits of creative greats; ethnographic photographs from around the world; Modernist still lifes of food, bones, bottles, metal, found objects, etc.; and stunning scenes from photographic travel essays.

Opposite previous one I find this photo very pure and clean, love the form. This blossom seems very strong and feminine. The way blossom is ''posed'' makes this photography very powerful. 

I find something mysterious about this photography. These three  cigarette butts seems telling a story, and for me they even seem like small cigarette family. 

"A good photograph is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart, and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it; it is in one word, effective."

Irving Penn photographed his first cover for Vogue magazine in 1943 and continued to work at the magazine throughout his career, shooting covers, portraits, still lifes, fashion, and photographic essays. 

Photography on left is Irving's first photo for Vogue. For me its more like a painting than photography. 

'' Photographing a cake can be art'' 

Resourses used:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Penn 

Google.com for photography's