DIGITAL IMAGES

China town, Portland

2012-02-04T15:20:00.000-08:00

Year of the Dragon

Toy Soldiers II

2012-01-08T23:13:00.000-08:00

Toy Soldiers

2011-12-29T23:13:00.000-08:00

Attack at the Castle

Duel at Dawn

The Castle is Ablaze

Just a joke

2011-12-14T17:26:00.000-08:00

The previous post was just a joke, of course. I have been working with photographing toys, specifically Schleich action figures of knights, etc. Here are some of my creations.

Ancient Photograph Discovered

2011-11-23T21:53:00.000-08:00

The Germans not only invented the printing press, led the protestant revolution, and built the first jet propelled aircraft, they, apparently, also discovered the principles of photography. Here is a photo of an old linen cloth containing a hand tinted emulsion image of what was possibly a scene from the battle of Hohenstaufen Mountain, approximately 1076. The forces of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia engaged the forces of Lombard. It is reported that the cloth was recently discovered in the ruins of an old castle near Goppingen.

New Animal Images

2011-11-04T00:30:00.000-07:00

Peacock

Spillway

Seagull Closeup

Zebra

More For Halloween

2011-10-30T00:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween

2011-10-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

Variations

2011-10-15T01:15:00.000-07:00

Variations on two images from a rodeo.

More from North Dakota

2011-10-03T15:53:00.000-07:00

out of the shoot

Cowboys wear pink

Barrel racer

Bullrider

field of sunflowers

Lottery for the arts

2011-09-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

It is nearly October, and that means it is time for another charity event.

Roseville Arts Lottery for the Arts

I am contributing another piece for the raffle/giveaway. It is an item I had in last year's black and white show, but I have upgraded the framing, and value it at $245.

Here are some images; the original photograph, my reworked digital image, and an illustration of the matted and framed finished work. The image is 18 x 24 inches, framed 24x30.

original image

digital image

framed and matted

Roseville Arts Lottery for the Arts

Roseville Arts Lottery for the Arts

Recent Critters

2011-09-03T14:24:00.000-07:00


Old Crow


A Bear Market

Three Shots of Wild Turkey on the Rocks

Images from North Dakota, Part 1

2011-08-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

Wildlife

2011-08-10T12:20:00.000-07:00

When I go hunting, I shoot with my cameras.

I find that I have several advantages over those who hunt with guns.

1. I don't need a hunting license.

2. There is no limit.

3. There is no problem with endangered species.

4. I never hear my wife say, "What am I supposed to do with that?"

Rodeo

2011-08-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Another Digital Photo Reworked in Photoshop Elements

Two Deer

2011-07-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

Two Deer

Two Deer Too

More digital manipulations

2011-07-11T23:37:00.000-07:00

Just Beachy - New Show @ blue line gallery

2011-06-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

This Saturday is the openning of the "Just Beachy" show at the blue line gallery in Roseville. I will have 3 images in the WestPark Gallery.

Sand and Stones

Cypress Point 1968

Stroll on the Beach

Memorial Day

2011-05-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

Epilogue

2011-05-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

I know that books and speeches have epilogues, and not usually photographs, or blogs, but I must revisit my entry from April 8. After looking at my final image of that blog entry, I (as artists often are) was not satisfied. I have added a 7th image here.

More Faux Art

2011-04-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

Original image

5 hours- 2 days later

Photo Collage

2011-04-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

A collage, of course, is an artistic assemblage, usually scraps of paper pasted together to form a work. I have seen a number of artists' works using photo collages. Usually they are surreal images such as giant bugs or birds attacking some tiny people, or castles floating in the sky. I decided to give photo collage a try, but to see if I could do it very subtly. I call the result, Winter Sunset.

A + B

PhotoShopping

2011-04-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

If you visit this site often, you know I am a member of Roseville Arts! I have heard some of the artists there comment about photographers who make "fake" art by taking a snapshot and doing a couple of clicks to turn it into an "artwork."

Well, here is what a project like that would involve. It is a bit more than some would suppose. My first image is a photograph I took a year or so ago. I love this old stone bridge. It has been revived by the city parks department, and is one of twelve that existed in the area in the 1800s. It would make a lovely photograph, but no matter how many shots I take they never seems to have the impact that seeing it has. There is just too much going on there. The picture is too busy, and the brush clutters the picture, taking away from the main subject, the bridge.


Original Image

The first thing that had to go was that park bench that stuck out from the side of the tree.

Removed Park Bench

If you look at the second image, you will see that there is a small tree growing on the far bank that makes a line coming down from the large tree in the foreground. This line upsets the composition and takes away from the bridge. I moved the tree farther back up the bank to lessen this line. I also continued to cut back brush along both banks.

First Cut at Brush

Next I continued to cut away at the brush, but I noted that the stone wall leading up to the bridge was much lower than the bridge itself. To me the cut in the lines on either side of the foreground tree made an unsettling line in the composition. To fix that, I added another row of stone to the wall.

More Brush and add to Wall

I cleared out more clutter along both sides of the stream, and exposed a very nice little rush of water over some stones and trapped debris. I also cleaned up a rock on the near bank that had some painted out graffiti. I went back and toned down that tree that I had moved earlier. It is looking much better now.


Last Cut of Brush and Add to Atmosphere

I think it is looking much better without all those bushes and brambles along the banks, but it still doesn't have what I want. There is just too much bare dirt. So, I planted some more grass, added some texture, and pushed the color up a bit.


In the Final Image I added Some Grass and Enhanced the Color

There it is just a couple of clicks and I have a work of art. Oh, yes total time about 4 hours plus the hours spent trying to get the original shot, and waiting for the grass to grow.

AM / PM

2011-04-06T16:38:00.000-07:00

Here are two almost identical images of a lake in North Dakota; one is early morning, the other near sunset.

New Space Filled with Exploding Stars

2011-03-30T03:03:00.000-07:00

More from the Cosmos of my Mind

2011-03-16T08:56:00.000-07:00

The Vistas exhibit is now history, but I still have one of my "Space Paintings" on exhibit at the blue line gallery. Here are 3 of my most recent creations.

Vista Exhibit

2011-03-07T11:31:00.000-08:00

A photo by someone else from the opening reception for Vistas

For the Membership Show 2011

2011-02-27T10:36:00.000-08:00

GC1-V.3 by G.R.S. 2011

2011 Membership Show at the blue line gallery

2011-02-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

The Vistas exhibit continues, but the membership show is opening soon. I have one digital image selected for that show. I will have a copy of it up here soon.

VISTAS

2011-02-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

Opening February 19, at the blueline gallery in Roseville.

Coming Next Month

2011-01-24T00:35:00.000-08:00

In Late February the WestPark Gallery Exhibit will be Vistas, a show of Land, Sea. and City "scapes." I am fortunate to have three images selected for this show. Seattle is 11x14. Sacramento and West Prairie are 8 x 12. (image sizes)

Sacramento

Seattle

West Prairie

I Continue to "Paint"

2011-01-19T11:27:00.000-08:00

In space there is no up or down. Which one is the way a "painted" it? Hint, I "signed" it.

New Beginnings at the blue line

2011-01-06T14:17:00.000-08:00

Saturday, January 15, is the opening of a new exhibit at the blue line's West Park Workshop Gallery. I will have two pieces among the 80 or so in the show.

These are not great commentary upon the world situation, or the plight of man with deeper meaning, just pretty pictures. Each image is 11x16, framed and double matted to 16 x 20. They are for sale at the gallery.

New Universe

2011-01-02T12:46:00.000-08:00

Here are two versions of Blue Moon Two and two of Blue Moon. I am not sure I like my UFOs, but these are my first attempts at adding such to my universes.

Alien Universe

2010-12-12T22:54:00.000-08:00

These are low resolution images, about 1 mp.
The original images are each about 15 to 50 mp.

N-7.2

N 6

Number 5.2

Number 5.0

Another New World

2010-12-08T23:36:00.000-08:00

Creating these images is like painting with electrons. There are only minor changes between these two, but I feel it works better as a horizontal image. The rotation gives it a "right-handed" feeling, which is strange for me since I am left handed.

Another World

2010-12-04T19:54:00.000-08:00

Another New World

2010-12-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

This is my third attempt at a new world. I think I am getting better at computer drawing. To see my first attempt, go to the blog entry for November 26.

A Computer Created Image

2010-11-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

Just one image this week. It was totally created on my computer. I think I like using the computer in this way. I used two different programs to make the image, as each had special features I wanted to incorporate into the final image.
This was my original attempt. Newer postings show much better work. I leave this as an example, and benchmark as to how far I can advance this technique.

Art Exhibit

2010-11-22T18:07:00.000-08:00

So the juror selected none of my photos. 56 were selected from 300 entries. I guessed wrong again. I'll check out the exhibit when it goes up in January.

On to the next project.

Last night was another full moon. Unfortunately it was cloudy and raining here. But this AM I was up before moonset and got this shot. This is just with my little Nikon digital camera; it isn't even an SLR.

This is a low res copy of one of my morning shots. I am amazed that I can see craters. But I don't see the man.

Well, if you rotate it a little and work on the contrast and color, I do see this dude in the Foster Grant sunglasses.

Art Show Selection

2010-11-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

My five entries were......

Now just waiting to see what was selected, if any.

Recent Work

2010-11-07T23:34:00.000-08:00

This is a bit of a mixed bag. I have been spending almost as much time reworking images on my computer as I have been taking pictures. The first picture below is actually two images combined. I should say I spliced two vertical images together to make a horizontal image. Next is one of my faux paintings using the same image. Then I have two images that I greatly reworked in PhotoShop Elements.

October

2010-10-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

As you probably know, October is breast cancer awareness month. Our family has been struck by this disease this past year. Here is a photo that I took 18 months ago, and now have "photoshopped" to do my part for the awareness. I hope you will all take a moment out and give your blessings to our daughter-in-law for a complete recovery.

2010-10-10T05:27:00.000-07:00

So a few weeks ago, I attended a rodeo. It was my first time attempting to photograph rodeo action. It is as hard as it looks, but not as hard as being in a rodeo. Well, these are some of my first efforts, and I will admit that I have a ways to go when it comes to action shots. These are all hand-held telephoto images (not the best way to get high quality images.)

More for the Black and White Show

2010-09-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here are two more images that I plan to submit for the black and white show.

Both of these images are in color, although I did remove a lot of blue from Gull. The other is pretty much as I shot it. I call it, Follow the Leader.

Black and White Show

2010-09-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of images I hope to have in the Black and White Show at the blue line gallery, opening October 16.

Up coming Exhibits

2010-09-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

It is just a month (or less) until the Lottery for the Arts at the blue line gallery. You can check it out at Roseville Arts.org or at their own blog. I have donated one piece for the lottery, which I featured in an earlier blog. I might add that the images in my blogs are of a lower resolution than they are in print. I am fortunate to be in the show following the Lottery, the Black and White show. It opens on October 16, and I will have more here in the future on what I am hanging for that show. In the meantime, here is an internet look at the postcard.

911

2010-09-06T10:17:00.001-07:00

We are approaching another anniversary of September 11, 2001, or as it is now known, 911. I see it as a day worse than December 7, 1941, which was 10 months before my birth, but a day I have learned so much about in school. December 7th was a day that united nearly all Americans in a common cause. We don't seem to do that as well anymore. I call this image Bird in a Cage.

Another Lottery for the Arts

2010-08-21T15:32:00.001-07:00

We are coming up upon another Lottery for the Arts at Roseville Arts blue line gallery. You can read all about it and order your tickets at http://www.rosevillearts.org/events/lottery.html

I have an entry, donated for the support of the group, as all the art in the lottery is. Here is an image of my contribution. It is a black and white graphic from a photograph. I am donating this peace as I will be hanging more in a black and white exhibit at the blue line in October.

2010-08-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more majestic than the bald eagle, or more common than a begging sea gull. It seems that they are everywhere and only less common than the pigeon and the crow.

A Self Review

2010-08-07T22:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it is good to just go back and see what you are doing as an artist. Recently I have been going back through the thousands of images that I have on my computer, and looking at old Cd's of images no longer on a computer. I would love to go back and view some of my even older 35mm slides, but my projector is in need of a bulb, and (guess what) I cannot find one, not even on the Internet. But, that is a digression.

While I think of myself as a landscape photographer, I find that more and more I am shooting other images. I seem to have a real fascination with birds. Perhaps I just miss the feeling of flying that I had in my Air Force days. Animals of all sorts are big in my collection. When you shoot a landscape there are just so many shots you can take and then you must wait hours for the light to change. With animals, the image is always changing. You really can not shoot fast enough to catch all the action. You can only hope you get that one great shot.

Sometimes when I am shooting landscape I go from the Macro view of the world, to the Micro view. There is as much imagery in the small as there is in the large.

And, lastly, I am shooting more of the interaction between man and the environment. What we do to the world we live in and to our fellow man.

Here are some recent seascapes.

Three shots same subject

2010-07-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

Here is a photograph I recently shot of a lighthouse on the Oregon coast. The first shot is a moderate wide angle, like you would normally take with a "point and shoot" camera.

In the second photo I have zoomed in with my digital Nikon, using just the optical zoom. I don't use the digital zoom as that will degrade the image quality. The image has a little atmospheric haze and I can not find any filters that fit this camera, so I will have to remove the haze in the computer.

The final photo is my "adjusted" image using Photoshop Elements.

At the Zoo

2010-07-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

We have been away on some family business, but did find time to snap a few photos (about 1800) some I will display here. We visited the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. It was recently in the news for being sued for not providing sufficient enclosures for the elephants. Here are some zoo shots.

FoR ThE BiRdS

2010-06-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

2010-05-30T18:10:00.000-07:00

The Sun moves slowest
Across the mid-day sky
It lags and drags
As hours pass by

But speeds along
When we need it most
Dips behind the shadows
Of the nightly ghost

It returns again
Marks each day anew
Chases the dark
And warms the dew

Another day is here
It shouts out strong
Here comes the Sun
With its golden song

More Poetry

2010-05-23T16:54:00.001-07:00

Winds blow
Clouds roll by
Seasons change
Man leaves his mark
Then moves on

A little poetry

2010-05-10T01:39:00.000-07:00

An Old image reworked

2010-04-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

My follower might recognize the image from some time ago.
I keep going back to it because I believe it has so much potential, and lends itself to so many variations.

Original image; note the clutter in background, broken windshield, and overall summer color.

Early variation and image "repair" windshield, background, etc.

Big color change to autumn colors.

A softer color image here.

Black and white image and with an antique tint

With monochromatic tint

My attempt to make an "old" tinted photo.

My current favorite, a strong image with a soft background.

More Tree Shapes

2010-04-18T12:23:00.001-07:00

From a recent trip.

Easter

2010-04-02T23:46:00.000-07:00

Something about this picture makes me think of Easter.

Three more for the Road

2010-03-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

I think that this will be the last of my road photos for a while, but I wanted to include some older images that I feel have a common theme. All are from a trip through Washington State, but that is not what I mean by theme.

In all three photos, man made objects intrude upon nature, but it is the man made objects that show us the undulations and variations in the natural terrain and give these photos their interest.

In case you think that that road is some Photoshop gimmick, a Google map showing it should load in the space below. The road in the photographs is the white line to the east, or right of US 97. It is called Mary Hill Loops Road. On the map it looks like someone was trying to spell zoom.

View Larger Map

Another Road Show

2010-03-22T13:44:00.000-07:00

Do Not Cross the Double Yellow Line

Quick Stop

Abridgment

Private Road

Park Road

2010-03-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some more "road" photos. I probably have more than 100, in my 23,00+ image files.

The Long Road Home

North Dakota Traffic Jam

Forest Trail

West Prairie

Slower Traffic Keep Right

2010-03-05T22:40:00.000-08:00

After another review of my photo library, I found another group of pictures that all seem to fit in one category. I recently went out with the idea of adding to this group. Here are some road photos from the past and the not so distant past.

2010-02-26T20:30:00.000-08:00

The other day I was driving down a busy street in town, and saw a beautiful tree in full bloom with white blossoms. I didn't have my camera with me (a frightful oversight for a photographer of any caliber.) The next day I grabbed my Nikon and headed back to capture the beauty before all the blossoms faded. It was a cloudy day, and I feared it might rain and knock them all down. But, before I ever got to the tree, I had a very fortunate, serendipitous event. Right there on that busy street, I came across a flock (are they called a flock?) of wild turkeys. I took over 200 photos. Below are six low res images.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A GOOD SPOT FOR LUNCH

WILD TURKEY

A YOUNG BIRD

A FLYING TURKEY (ALMOST)

LADY BIRD

TURKEY TROT

2010-02-20T00:45:00.000-08:00

It has been some time since I did a demo on this blog. Below is an example of my using layers in Photo Shop Elements.

The first picture is my wife’s High School Senior Year Book Portrait. I decided to use it to learn how to tint a black and white photo.

The second picture is my first layer. In it I remove the dark circles under the eyes and clean up some of the flaws from the scanned image.

Next, I go to RGB mode, and make five more layers for the face, hair, checks, lips and eyes. I work on one layer at a time, with only the layer I am working on and the background image visible. I use strong, flat color, much more intense than in the final image.

My eighth and final layer is a gradient shade of blue to add some color to the sweater.

The last image in the column on the left is showing all the layers at 100% strength.

Next, with all layers visible, I adjust each layer to get the color effect I want. Most are between 10 and 30 per cent. The final effect is shown below. Remember that this started with a scan of a black and white year book photo.

.

2010-02-13T11:30:00.000-08:00

It seems to me that some months I spend more time on my computer, working with images than I spend taking pictures.

You will remember the two images below from recent Blog entries. You do check out my blog regularly don't you? The lion directly below is from an African diorama at Cabela's, Reno. The bronze lion is from near the deYoung museum in Golden Gate Park. Below that is my latest Photo Shop Elements collage.

From DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

2010-02-07T18:54:00.000-08:00

Here is an example of a photograph I took that just didn't have the right look for me. I used PhotoShop elements to "doctor" it up the way we once used dodging, and a lot of touch up.

First the original.

Then the "fix."

The problems with the original were the rock in the foreground had a big slash of gray paint on it, detracting from the look, the bridge was partially in shadow and partially in sun giving it an uneven light, the background was very distracting, and a large number of branches cluttered the scene. So how did I do?

2010-01-31T07:00:00.000-08:00

My last few posts have been images of sculpture, one of my favorite subjects. These photos are not really sculpture, well not sculpture on a heroic scale, but they are all "man" made images. Most would easily fit on a coffee table.

Pony Express Rider about a foot high

Children's toy knights

Ceramic frog in Mexico

Mouse with leaf at Portland Zoo Miner in Virgina City, NV

I call this one Three Amigos. It is three unfinished clay masks on the ground in Mexico

One of my Grand daughter's favorite toys

2010-01-23T22:59:00.000-08:00

Not all of my “sculptural” photos are of traditional statuary, although much of it is. Here is an example of taxidermy. I photographed the lion below at a display in a Cabela’s store in Nevada.

The first picture is my original shot.

In the second picture I have slightly blurred some of the image while keeping the eyes, nose and mouth in focus, to give the photo a more natural, action feel.

The third picture is a digitally “enhanced” version, using Photo Shop. It is viewed best if you click on it and look at the enlarged image.

2010-01-16T10:48:00.000-08:00

Here it is the middle of January, 2010, and I have not posted any new images in a month. I have been busy. Just recently I decided to organize my images (that's what you do in January, you get organized.)

My current computer (where I store and work on my images) is about 5 years old. I have two main files where I store most of my images, "My Pictures" and "Shared Pictures." Between just these two files I have 27,710 images (and growing.) The size of these two files is 74.8 GBs. I need to get to work and clean this up. No wonder my computer is slowing down.

In working my old files and trying to place images in categories, I found that one of my favorite subjects is statuary. I take pictures of statues, big and small. I don't try to capture the artist's work, I try to create an image. Here are some of my images of larger pieces from various trips.

Monterey, CA

Boomtown, NV

Urbana, IL
Ok, this is the full work, it is from my college, and is titled Alma Mater.
The inscription reads, "To Thy Happy Children of the Future Those of the Past Send Greetings."

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

2009-12-06T14:25:00.000-08:00

I have been using Photoshop Elements for a couple of years now, and learned some techniques through trial and error and with a few on-line tutorials. Below in this blog are some example of my work using Photoshop. The first is an unretouched image of a stand of oaks. I like the images of oaks with their strong lines and dark colors. They contrast well with the blues of the sky. In this first modification I decided to try various layers to see if I could develop a stronger image. I am happy with the example I've included here. I originally titled it Armageddon, but decided that was too strong, so now list it as "untitled digital image."

Below is a photograph of an oak tree in a park. This isn't the exact photo I modified, but is very close, and shot about two days before the one I used. Notice the fence in the background, and the rocks around the base.

In this photograph I have removed the rock and fence. It was shot at a little lower angle than the one above, but the fence and rocks still showed. I initially chose this one because of the overcast conditions, and lack of shadow.

Here is a heavily modified image taken from the photograph above.

HERE IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF AN OLD FORD BEFORE I RETOUCHED IT.

HERE I HAVE SIMPLIFIED THE BACKGROUND AND "REPAIRED" THE WINDSHIELD.

HERE I HAVE STARTED ADJUSTING THE COLOR AND "SMOOTHING" THE EDGES.

IN THIS FINAL VERSION I'VE GONE CRAZY WITH AUTUMN COLOR. I DECIDED THAT THE OLD CAR WOULD MAKE A GREAT FALL SCENE.

I have had prints made of the final images in each of these examples, and hope to have them in exhibits in 2010.

2009-11-29T09:43:00.001-08:00

I recently attended an Auto Show. Here are some shots I took. # OK, I am still thinking of abstract imagery in photography.

2009-11-07T18:45:00.001-08:00

It is time to get back to some real photography. Here are some images that I feel are strong, with some abstract qualities.

2009-11-01T11:24:00.000-08:00

Again, this isn't my normal photo post. I look at Halloween as a time to be creative. This year my theme was "Pirates." Here are some pictures and video clips showing my efforts. We had quite a band of ruffians.

2009-10-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

This isn't my normal digital photography. In fact some of these images are over 10 years old. This is just my holiday spirit showing a little.

Below is an image I made after I saw some of those hidden 3D pictures. Just unfocus to see the spiders and pumkings jump around.

2009-09-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

Recently the Roseville Arts teamed up with the North Roseville R.E.C. Center and Shane Grammer to do a Mural for the Center. It was a youth participation project, and I think it turned out great.

2009-09-22T07:07:00.000-07:00

I am still exploring the various capabilities of my digital Nikon camera. In sports mode it can shoot up to 30 images at up to 13 images per second. I tried the mode out on Cannon Beach to get better seagull shots. I feel that linking a few together in a movie produced an interesting effect.

2009-08-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I just put up some shots without a theme.
Here are five that I like but for no particular reason.

2009-08-09T08:35:00.000-07:00

Lottery for the Arts

In September the Roseville Arts is holding a fund raising lottery for the Arts. It will be a limited event with many pieces of art up for the taking. I am fortunate enough to have a piece in the lottery exhibit and prizes. More information can be found at the Roseville Arts web page http://www.rosevillearts.org/

A low res copy of the image I will have in the Lottery

Photo of the framed and matted piece for the exhibit.

OUTLINE OF HOW THE LOTTERY WORKS:

1. Purchase a lottery ticket LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS--$175 admits 2 guests to the event and guarantees its holder to take home an art piece of valued at least $175. Tickets available online; at the Blue Line Gallery; or by phone: 916-783-4117.

2. Select favorite art pieces Online (Now available). Original pieces will be exhibited in the gallery September 1 - 10 during regular gallery hours

3. During the exhibit, visitors will be asked to vote for their favorite piece. There will be a prize given to the artist who wins the “People’s Choice” award.

4. Ticket holders and their guest will attend the fun filled event on September 11, 6:30pm—at which time lottery tickets will be drawn. When ticket is announced, the “winner” will chose from available art pieces

The Lottery for the Arts party will take place Friday, September 11, beginning at 6:30pm. During this event, only the ticket holder and their guest will be admitted to enjoy hors d’oeuvres, wine, and sweets, while the lottery tickets are being drawn. As the “winner” is announced, they will call out the number of the art piece they wish to take home in hopes that it has not already been selected! We highly recommend that ticket holders review the exhibit in advance (either online or in person during the exhibit) to choose their favorite pieces. They should have several alternate selections should their favorite piece be taken before their ticket is drawn. Adding to the excitement will be a raffle for “first choice” pick and other prizes to be available during the event.

2009-07-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

FOR THE BIRDS

Looking at my digital multiple image of the flag and eagle, reminded me that I do take a lot of bird pictures. Here is a group taken at Cannon Beach, Oregon earlier this year.

I think they were doing the Hokie Pokie.

You put your left leg in, You put your left leg out.

You put your left leg in, and you shake it all about.

You do the hokie pokie and you turn yourself around.

That what it's all about.

2009-06-10T09:15:00.001-07:00

Flag Day, June 14

Independence Day, July 4

2009-04-09T11:16:00.001-07:00

Abstract Photography (Part 3)

If you have not been a frequent vistior to this blog, you might want to scroll down and start with third entry.

To continue with my current theme of abstract photography, I have been creating a number of images on my computer through various means. This activity has led me to consider, in a wider perspective, what actually constitutes abstract photograph. Photography could be defined as the process of producing an image upon a surface through the actions of light. In artistic terms, abstract could be defined as nonrepresentational, without reference to any object or thing. Abstract Photography then would be the process of producing a nonrepresentational image, without reference to any object or thing, upon a surface. Well, we have to start somewhere.

Abstract photography could be created in a number of ways. Not all abstract photography need be created with a camera, but much of it could be. I will name a few that come to mind. The first method that comes to my mind is what I have most often done and that is to photograph objects in unfamiliar ways—from an odd perspective, up close, or at strange angles. The abstract photograph could be of unusual occurrences such as oil or gas floating on water, a strange cloud formation, or reflections on a shiny surface. Another way would be to distort the object through camera manipulations such as moving the camera while taking the picture, throwing the image out of focus, or multiple exposures. Of course, another way would be to manipulate the images in the darkroom, or on the computer.

The abstract images I have displayed on this blog in my last two entries are images I created with the camera. This entry will be my first with images manipulated with the computer.

OK, that's where I am so far. I will continue my study of abstract photography.

2009-04-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

Abstractions - Part Two

After discussion with my youngest child, who's artistic evaluations I greatly respect, I agree the imagery in my first selected group is not abstract (except possibly the final piece.) So here are some more of my photographs of nothing. Again these are largely unmanipulated or "doctored," but have been enhanced for contrast, levels and color intensity . By the way, if you are inclined to swipe photos off the internet, they can make some very interesting desktop backgrounds.

2009-03-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

THREE for SPRING
The California Poppy

2009-01-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

Saturday, January 17, taking down my one-man show at the Sierra Roasting Co. But, I have a piece in the Roseville Arts 38th Annual Membership Show starting Saturday, January 17, at the Blue Line Gallery on Vernon Street in Roseville, CA. Although some of the members didn't seem to catch the spirit of the theme, it excited me. "The Long and the Short of it" with the requirement that no entry exceed 18 inches in outside horizontal dimension. Length can be up to 8 Feet. Below is the notice for the show, and below that are my possible entries, Winter on the Farm (vert), Skyscraper, and (my entry) The Long Fall.

See you at the Gallery
Check it out at http://www.rosevillearts.org/