KNEELAND SHRINE

KNEELAND SHRINE

This photograph is hanging in the C Street Hall Gallery in Eureka. It is still a photograph that I like it even though it has been around now for several years. This old International truck was located on private property, and thus fairly well concealed from the public.

SELF ACTUALIZATION?

FREEING OF THE SELF, A SELF PORTRAIT

I took a class in ancient art history years ago. One of the requirements was that we students were to write a report on a piece of ancient art. I chose to write about a Greek amphora. I really got into studying the photographs of the work, and in my writing I interpreted by reactions to the work. I wrote about what I felt the artist was trying to express. I was slammed by the instructor. I was informed that I was to write about the facts of the art, focusing on technique, style, materials and function while ignoring my emotional responses to the work.

I get what the instructor was attempting to convey to me and the rest of the class, but I found very little joy in the subsequent works we studied that semester. Nowadays, when I view art, I react with my emotions first and foremost. Often, I do indulge in attempting to understand what techniques the artist used, and with photography I almost always consider the craft behind the print. I still assert that the viewer's emotional or spiritual response is the most important aspect of the process of viewing and understanding art.

I took the above photograph this morning. I made it because a self-portrait project is due for the camera club tomorrow. I sort of resisted the project until today. Now I am pleased that I took it on. The print I just made looks very nice. This photo was inspired by my former professor, Don Anton, and is dedicated to my friend Carol Jantz. Her soul now soars with the angels.

LESSONS OF THE ARTIST'S EGO

ARCATA MARSH SKY

I am really having fun with these images from the marsh. I get opportunities there that I don't get at home. We live in the forest, and we just do not get to see much of the dawn or dusk sky. I am often surprised when I go down the hill by the brightness and colors. Perhaps you see these skies all the time, but I do not, so I immerse myself into their vastness and colors.

I am still working on my issues of the ego. I understand that I am a good photographer, and that my work is appreciated by many. But I still become mired in self-doubt and I listen to the critic within whenever my work is not chosen for a juried show. I realize that I "win some and lose some", and that it all balances out, but I still want to be valued by others as a worthy artist.

The good news is that I am aware of this, and that I just keep on placing myself in situations where I get to practice my detachment from my ego. I have no idea how long it will take, but I am cautiously optimistic that  my learning from the lessons is becoming easier with each one.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Loleta Buildings

I first photographed these structures back in the eighties with my four-by-five Korona. Not much has changed with the buildings, nor with my vision of them. I do wish I had a scanner so that I could post the photograph from way back then.

CONTINUING THE EUREKA PROJECT

A couple of classic Eureka establishments on a weekday afternoon

I took this photograph last month during the afternoon. I seldom photograph in town at that time of the day, but I was there and I had my gear and the opportunity. One of the reasons I seldom do my Eureka and Arcata project work during the day is because of the parked cars and foot traffic. Photographers like Vivian Maier did/do their best work when people are involved in the composition, but not so for me.

This photograph is one that I almost rejected when I was reviewing and downloading that day's photographs. I did follow my rule of letting the images "steep" for awhile. Now that I returned to it, I find that it works for me.

SO, OK, IT REALLY IS NOT A SECRET ANY MORE

Perhaps this is actually a vernal pond, and not a lagoon - I don't know.

I cropped this tighter and tighter this morning, and I think I have the composition that I finally want. I am not totally content with the colors, and I have not yet come to terms with a decision regarding the issue black and white or color.

I hope I don't bore the viewer with the many variation of this image. I am attempting to share my process, and what I have posted over the past few days reflect that process.

SECRET LAGOON

A Color Variation of My Little "in Plain View" Secret Lagoon

I am not yet ready to print this image in color, but this particular interpertation is getting close. I will assess this by comparing it with last year's very similar image. I think that it is going to be very challenging for me to surpass the senior image.

I do think that what this image has going for it is the values of the reflected alder trees. I love their contrasted brightness against the darker background. I think the reflections work better overall than the upper parts of the composition. I will do some work to see if I can make it clearer as to what is the actual subject of this photograph. I recall that in last year's image the subject or main focal point, became the green line that divides the image.

I intend to come back to this image again to share what progress I make with its interpretation.

SUBJECT TO INTERPRETATION

NEAR FRESHWATER LAGOON

This image is one possible interpretation of yesterday's photograph. I think that I will work on it next in color, but I just had to look at it in tinted black and white. If you look back to my entry of four days ago, you can see that this photograph is of the same subject. I took this one from a slightly different location, but they are very close.

The reason I went back to this particular scene is that I want to be sure that I have fully done the scene justice. In the past, I thought that I mostly get the composition right the first time. I still beleive that, but I think I must see if there is a barrier that I need to overcome. The only way that I can think of to do so is try, and try again.

Part of the process of "trying again" is in the post production work. I feel that my skills in developing digital negatives is at the level that my old darkroom skills were when I was working on a regular basis. I think that in some aspects of photography that my "darkroom" skills surpass those of the "wet" darkroom days.

It is my intent to share one more version of this photograph in the next few days. Meanwhile I am going back up there today before the rains come back for an extended stay tomorrow.

FRESHWATER LAGOON ALDER TREES

PICTURE PERFECT?

I took this photograph yesterday at the pond just past Freshwater Lagoon.  I think it works very well as a color shot of the reflected alder trees. I just do not think that it cuts it as a piece of art.

I do believe that great looking color photographs have their place. I am willing to bet that most people like something like this photograph over some of my more "moody" works. This is the type of photograph that may be found in certain publications, but it honestly does not convey the emotion that I felt there.

I do not wish to take any thing away from those photographers that take wonderful, and picture-perfect landscapes. I doubt that I can equal what they do. Many of their images bring the viewer (me) to their viewpoint. The problem for me is that they do not bring me into the image. I want to feel compelled to go inside the image - to have it speak to my soul. I want to feel goose-pimples, and lose my desire to ask the artist "how did you do this, and what camera did you use".

Somewhere in this argument there is a trail that leads to the question of soul. I ask "is there something of the artist in the image, or is it just a good rendering of a scene?" I hope this little ramble does not detract from this image. I like it, but it really does not move me. What does it do for you?

STONE LAGOON BARN

STONE LAGOON BARN

I felt compelled to go north today to get some shots of the last of the budding out alder trees. They should leaf out and turn green within the next few days. I used the 17mm tilt-shift lens for this shot, and I think it was the perfect choice.

I will post some of the alder shots in the next couple of days.

FINAL ANSWER?

The One I Finally Decided To Print

 

 

If you compare this image with my first one from yesterday's posting you will see only minor differences. I chose to brighten up the shore line yellow/green in the center of the composition. I feel that the brightness really draws my eye into the center, and then my eye is drawn upward into the trees. I like how it works here. I am looking at the prints of the two versions, and I am very pleased with how this one came out on paper.

I found out last week that my work was acceptable to the screening committee at the Humboldt Arts Council. That means that my application to exhibit my work in the downstairs "member's" gallery was confirmed. I will install a small exhibit of works for sale on April 2nd, and in time for the April Arts Alive. It is a small space, but is in a great location.

A REWORKED PHOTOGRAPH

DANCING SPIRIT TREES SERIES

 

 

I took this image a year ago in February. I printed and exhibited it last year in a couple of galleries. The difference is that I was showing it as a black and white print. This particular rendition, is actually a color image and not a toned black and white. I chose to interpret it in this manner so that I actually could have some subtle shades of green and yellow. The print looks even nicer!

DANCING SPIRIT TREES SERIES

This is my black and white version of the same photograph. Upon looking at it here I realize why I did work it in black and white. The print I have of this is all right, but it does not sing to me in the manner that I think it can. I think I will reprint it on the Canson paper that I am now using, and I suspect that the image will have a greater sense of life.

One small point I will make is that both of the above photographs are cropped from a slightly larger image. They were cropped almost a year apart, yet the crop is nearly identical. I suppose some things don't evolve at the same rate as others.