Photo of the Week 2019-11-04

Words from a post two weeks ago ...

"Fall is a great time to get out and work on forest scenes here in Ontario, and then it can be almost too easy when fall colours are at their peak. Pointing the camera almost anywhere when you're in or near a forest can result in some striking photos. The colours are always inspiring and it's great getting out to bask in the forest, taking in the sounds, the sights, the smells and it's healing goodness ...
... As I strive to translate what I feel into a finished image, it's taking quite a bit of work, quite a bit of time and ... I just don't have anything ready to share for this week's photo. But soon, I hope." 

This week, I think I have something ready.

Recently I had decided to get out more, specifically to work on my woodland photography. A foggy fall morning provided a great opportunity, and, after a good while of being preoccupied by just the glorious combination of sun and mist in a local wood lot, I got down to it. The original goal was to create something more purposeful, more compelling, more than just a pretty snap of the sun and mist. I wanted to work a composition that spoke differently of the woodland, one that told a story.

sign post

Working alone for the most part, I find it very helpful to study the work of other photographers. Sometimes this is simply viewing their images but with all that is available today, I'm finding YouTube to be a great resource. Often as I work through my image catalogue, downloading the latest shoot or editing a particular image, I have a YouTube video playing. It could be music, it could be a comedy skit, often it is something from another photographer.

These guys have been my latest inspiration ...

Simon Baxter   Thomas Heaton   Adam Gibbs   Gavin Hardcastle 

Thanks lads !

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-07-15

Too many sunsets ... ?

Huron Horizon

Researching infrared photography recently, I came across a photographer by the name of A. Cemal Ekin  and while perusing his blog I found the post I've linked to in the opening line above (what? wait? that was a link? yup!). 

His take on photographing subjects that may have been photographed repeatedly by yourself and/or others many, many times, mirrors my feeling on the topic. I was particularly struck by how he used the example of sunset photos to illustrate his point. Those familiar with my work know that sunsets are a favourite subject for my photographs and each time I photograph one, I strive to capture what I see and feel and each time it's different.

To me, a sunset is not a sunset, is not a sunset. In other words, I find each one unique. Working to capture that uniqueness is the challenge and my goal. As Cemal writes (or as I interpret what writes), it is "reseeing” with a new eye", reseeing each sunset as a unique scene.

I'm sure some viewers might fail to appreciate the uniqueness and "see" just another sunset. In Cemal's words "That’s fine; somebody has not seen it yet".

Here's another of my other compositions from the sunset kayak outing.

Cemal has many informative and intriguing posts on is blog as well as some great photography on his website 'Kept Light Photography'. I'll be visiting regularly to be further inspired.

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2016-04-18

Photographically Speaking ... it was a busy weekend.

The Latow Photographers Guild held their annual seminar April 17 & 18 in Burlington. This year it was:

“PHOTOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING” — A DAY OF INSPIRATION AND INSTRUCTION WITH DAVID DUCHEMIN

I have been following David somewhat regularly for several years, since around the time he released his first book, Within The Frame. Though I have heard him online, this was the first time I have seen him speak live and had the opportunity to talk to him in person.

Photographically Speaking - David duChemin

The weekend consisted of a full day seminar on Saturday with 3 mini-seminars on Sunday for a full weekend of discussion around Light, Line and Moment (yes, I got the message David). I took in the complete package and despite chairs that were designed to torture your butt and back, I stayed glued to my seat the whole time.

David is an enthusiastic speaker focused on the creative process of making photographic images and eschews the preoccupation with gear so prevalent in photographic discussions today. I'll refrain from trying to provide a synopsis of his photographic beliefs and approach, do yourself a favour and look him up online or just click this link and start there.

For the final session of the weekend, David talked about "The Visual Imagination". This was the 'abstract - impressionistic' session of the bunch. I have so many quotes written down to remind me of all the good discussion and suggestions from the weekend, but one from the final session will stick with me for a while ... concerning abstract / impressionistic art ...

"It's not meant to be got. It's meant to be felt."

                                                  - David duChemin -

From my own body of work, here (again) is an image from Venice, one that I spent considerable time post processing, working on a technique ... for me it just has the right feel.

portal through time

DJE

 

Photo of the Week 2015-09-21

This week's post features the work of photographer, artist and friend Connie D.

Just about a month ago I received an email from a friend asking if she could use one of my images. Connie is not only wonderfully creative with her camera, she also paints and creates beautiful fibre based works of art. I was flattered that she wanted to create one her fibre pieces based on the image and told her to go right ahead. Since then I've been eager to see her rendition and she was kind enough to send me this photo of the completed work (with permission to use it in this blog post).

I think she's done an absolutely wonderful job capturing the essence of the original scene and conveying texture through her selection of materials. You can see more of Connie's fibre art work here.

Below is my original image for reference.

It's an exciting experience to see another artist's interpretation of your work in a completely different  medium ... all part of my Photographic Journey.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2015-09-14

I've spent a lot of time in reflection over the past few months and photography has played an important role through that time ... in some ways, it has also taken a back seat.

As I have worked through the loss of my mother and the legal and financial matters of her estate, photography has provided much needed distraction, though the work I have been generating is mostly from just going through the motions. I've found it difficult to find recent images that I want to present in this blog.

While I sat and contemplated this on the deck at the cottage recently, I felt that someone was watching me, encouraging me to "get back enjoying it", and then I looked up ...

 ... and saw inspiration in the clouds. What do you see?

DJE