Week Three (167 lbs)

On Community (lets start the conversation)

     Most of us in the Arts, as we mature, start to understand the importance of community. The question often comes up, how can we build community?

     To commune, to share, and in some ways to be an artist means to live in public. By "living in public" I mean the actual showing / sharing of our images, the sharing our ideas and dreams as well as being seen in public.
     Artists in many ways are the mystic flames that attract the moths of our culture, or society. We don't give understanding or definition to life, we just express another point of view of life. Humans are curious by nature and are attracted to this viewing or experience of a different point of view. We are sometimes our own moths just as much as everyone elses...
     In return for our sharing we gain the benefits of community. These benefits can be simply understanding, support, criticism, further sharing, sometimes rejection and if we are lucky a monetary return. This is the community, we as artist often crave. To achieve this we need to be living in public and create our light! Community is out reaching and sharing, not privacy and isolation. So maybe one of the hardest things for an artist to get over is their insistent need for privacy. Without the community aspect, art nor artist would survive and theoretically without art the community may not thrive. It is a two way street. 

The artist owes it to his or her art to build and be a part of community; to share, to commune and live in the public. There is no greater legacy than an open minded community founded on art.
 

From Death Valley, December 2012

          These are the first images to reach the final proof version from my trip to Death Valley National Park in December of 2012. This was my first trip of what may become an annual event.  I will have to admit to being some what stunned by the extreme conditions as well as the beauty I found there.

                               

                                                                   'Before the Sun'

                                                     Gower Gulch from Zabriskie Point

          In the mist of all this newness, also comes the knowledge that a lot of photographers have visited here and made some very iconic images.  You almost can't avoid their tripod marks no matter where you go in and around this national park. Being who I am, it wasn't that hard to find places where Ansel Adams as well as Edward Weston both photographed from.  The hard part is the challenge of creating images that are your own vision, and not just copies of the masters that came before you.  I am hoping that I succeeded with my efforts.  I did do some images that I won't ever post, as I know they are but copies. Even though I tried not to, it is very hard to avoid, especially when you are overwhelmed by the scenery, the fantastic light, and just being there!

                                  
                                                                       'Wave Forms'
                                                             Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

                           
                                                                             'Icon'
                                                            Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

                              
                                                                  'Sea of Waves'
                                                         Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes


          I only spent 7 days there, explored 3 locals and barely scratched the surface...

The Elegant Nude - My first offerings

          This last month I took a very magical workshop with Owen O'Meara.  That weekend the Muse blessed me, and I came away with some wonderful images.  That weekend I used both my 4x5 Wista and my 8x10 Sinar, and of course film. 


          The atmosphere at a good workshop allows the artist to grow and experience life at a different level than the norm.  I will always recommend workshops as a method of evolving as an artist...

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          All of these images are full frame at this time.  I will look at them many times before I decide to crop them if I ever do...

My first 8x10 exposure

          A new learning curve, and from what I have been told this new camera will keep me challenged for quite some time.  The new camera is an 8x10 field camera.  Just learning how to transport it will be a challenge.  Never mind the developing, and later contact printing with platinum.

          I have had fun so far.  Only taken the camera out twice so far.  The first negative is what I am posting here today.  Had some chemistry problems, as well as vignetting of the actual negative from too much correction.  I do plan on re-doing this exposure in the next week or two.

          There is a strong surreal quality to photographing in a burn area.  Most definitely worth further exploration.

          I will post the two other images I have done so far, as soon as I develop them.

From the Great Plains

     These next 4 images are from the exploration on to the Great Plains of Colorado that I and two other photographers did last Sunday.  We had great weather, though sort of empty skys.  I was hoping for some clouds to accent the sky.  Oh well, it was still a wonderful day !

     These 4 images are from our first stop that day in the town of Nun, Colorado.  It is the first time I have tried to photograph grain elevators.  I started distant and then moved closer.  I have found this a good way to approach most subjects.  You become more aware of what you are photographing as you move.  That deepened awareness allows you to see more possibilities within your subject as you move in towards it.

     All four images are using a 150mm lens.

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     Three of the four images I am very pleased with, and will take to final matted images.  The first one, sort of the initial introduction is the weakest of the four images.  Then again, you need to find a starting place....

     Just don't stop there,  Continue exploring !

After Dark

     I have had a great time learning how to do night photography last weekend.   It really
is a whole different world than what I am used to working in.   Here are 6 uncropped images
that I exposed with my 4x5 field camera.

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     It is a very good experience to step outside of what you are used to doing  ( outside of your safe zone so to speak ).   I still have about 2 weeks to create the final cropped images for the workshop review.   I will not be cropping them all that much.    

         

     A bit of adventure is always good as well.

Catching Up (part 2)

     Well here are the other 3 images I took to final this last week.   I have received some wonderful feedback on the first three.

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     I am taking a workshop called "Denver after Dark" taught by Christopher James of the Colorado Photographic Arts Center,  tonight and tomorrow night.  It should be a lot of fun as well as challenging.  I should have new images up in a week from this workshop.

     You should never stop learning,  especially something new...