Category: Fine Art Print

Experimental Impressionism

Fine Art Print, photography

I have decided to start on some new directions in my photography for the coming year. To be more precise, perhaps, I am experimenting with different image processing techniques using Photoshop as my primary editing tool.

Today’s image is an attempt at some photographic impressionism, using some of the blur tools in Photoshop. The subject is a narrow laneway in a town somewhere in southern France (likley Arles). The sun was still high enough in the sky to brightly illuminate the buildings in the alleyway, so I wanted to retain some of this brightness, while introducing some mystery and darkness to the outer edges of the image. The vertical blur reflects the direction of the sunlight from above. The archway leading into the alley provides a strong frame around the brighter centre.

I have been following other photographers in WordPress, Flickr and Instagram, and I sometimes find inspiration from their style and techniques. When appropriate, I am quite willing to acknowledge the source of my inspiration. For this particular image, I was influenced by the work of Olga Karlovac.

french laneway cw
French alleyway

Thursday’s Special – Traces of the Past Y3-10

Fine Art Print, photography

This is my second “Traces of the Past” post in response to Paula’s Lost in Translation challenge for this week.

This week’s special is a photo challenge in colour (my previous submission for Traces of the Past was in black and white). I have been experimenting with combining colour and monochrome in a single image, so I thought that this would be a good opportunity to post an image and request some feedback.

Holy Island (also known as Lindisfarne) is an historic site, located in Northumbria on the north-east coast of England. It’s historic significance dates back to Anglo-Saxon and Medieval times, and there are two prominent ruins on the island – Lindisfarne Castle and Lindisfarne Priory.

My image of Lindisfarne Castle – viewed from a bay near the priory ruins – uses colour to depict the present, and monochrome to depict the past. The colour portion is rectangular, and provides a window into the present from the past. There is also the juxtaposition of an old boat in the foreground with some newer boats in the harbour. Please let me know what you think about the presentation.

We are planning to return to Holy Island next summer to participate in an archaeological dig near the priory. More opportunities for some historical images and a chance to get my hands dirty while searching for more traces of the past …

LiT-images of the past image 2 cw
Lindisfarne Castle, Northumbria, England

Double Exposures

Fine Art Print, photography

The following three images are examples of double exposures where I have combined two photos to create one image. They are all taken at various locations in England.

Marble Arch in the centre of London is a popular place for families to gather. Pigeons are always found everywhere in London. Combine a child with pigeons and you get some great action shots.

Lindisfarne Priory was our final stop when we walked the St. Cuthbert’s Way in the north-east of England. St. Cuthbert was responsible for spreading Christianity throughout the region in the 7th Century.  St. Cuthbert lived for several years on Holy Island, before he retired to his hermitage on Inner Farne Island. In this image, a modern sculpture of St. Cuthbert is blended with the remains of the priory, which was built several centuries after his death.

Grasmere is a beautiful spot in the Lake District, at any time of the year. The daffodils are out in full bloom in the spring, making for a colourful collage.

chasing pigeons at marble arch cw
chasing pigeons at Marble Arch
st cuthbert at lindisfarne priory cw
St. Cuthbert at Lindisfarne Priory
grasmere church in spring cw
Grasmere church at springtime

 

Vintage Vehicles – Series 1

Fine Art Print, photography

I have recently revisited a photoshop technique that I have experimented with in the past. Without going too much into the technicalities, these images have been produced using the Stylize / Find Edges filter, which creates an outline which can then be filled in with textures and colours.

This past autumn I visited the Erin Fall Fair north of Toronto. They have many vintage tractors on display – all in working condition. I used two images from this collection to apply this technique. There is a tractor pull at the fair too, but I missed that.

The old Dodge truck is on display in the Distillery District near downtown Toronto. It is definitely not in working condition!

Ford tractor monochrome cw
Monochrome Ford tractor
Ford 900 tractor cw
Ford 900 tractor
distillery district dodge cw
Distillery District Dodge

Artistic Prints

Fine Art Print, photography

These three photographic images were processed using different techniques.

Lanyon Quoit in Cornwall was photographed on a foggy winter morning. I tried to maintain the foggy atmosphere, while adding a hint of frost on the ground.

St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tree of Life were processed with various artistic filters in Photoshop.

lanyon quoit cornwall 12x16
Lanyon Quoit, Cornwall
st pauls cathedral 16x16
St. Paul’s Cathedral, London
tree of life 12x16
the Tree of Life