July 2016 – Lorelei Studios

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, then starting on the first one.”

— often attributed to Mark Twain in error

Working my book like all my life. I tend to grab something that makes a big dent first, then knock things off one small item at a time. It is the method I’ve developed for accomplishing a lot in a short period of time.

Artist Statement

I chose triangles as a unifying theme for my book. It is a subject from Freeman Patterson’s book “Photography and the Art of Seeing.” We find triangles everywhere and they are an important element of composition. From a psychological perspective, we ascribe male or masculine attributes to triangles. I favor abstract representations in my photography. For this book I chose to include a wider variety of techniques. I have included landscapes, nature and architecture as well as abstracts.

I create my photographs with a range of digital cameras from Canon and Sony. I photographed all my subjects with a Sony NEX-6 compact, mirrorless camera. To process the photos, I used Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and Nik filters. Viveza and Color Efex Pro are the filters I used most. When processing images I go for the feeling I recall when looking at the subject. This process leads to variations in the adjustments that may be unacceptable to some.

Photography reduces the stress I feel in my life. It is one of the few pursuits in my life that has no purpose other than my pure enjoyment. It gives me an outlet for emotions long divorced from conscious self. For that reason I strive to present that emotion in my images.

I ended up being happy with twenty-three of the images I took on Sunday, but narrowed that down to eighteen. So in two days, I’m almost halfway to done. I doubt that I will use all eighteen, but I would not feel bad if I did.

“What was that you were saying, asked Fred? I’ve got so much on my mind I can’t seem to get anything finished.”

“If you’re feeling overwhelmed, why don’t you go take some pictures? You know it relaxes you replied his girlfriend Kathy.”

Today I am starting my SoFoBoMo 2016 project, I’ve decided to work on a personal project of Triangles.

I tend to shoot abstract photographs when left to my own devices. But for this project I have decided to mix it up a bit and include a variety of techniques. With each image I am trying to build in a triangle as a dominant design element.

Today I visited a local park where there are playing fields, lots of trees and a stream. Of the images I shot this morning, my favorite is the one on the right. I am intrigued by the triangle created with the two sprinklers as they cross over the bench. It directs my eye up into the leaves of the trees in the background.

For landscapes I use triangles as a base for my image more often than any other way. But for this image, I like the positive message created by an upward-pointing triangle.

Of course I could not resist abstracts completely. I took several, some stairs, close ups of playground equipment, some motion-blurred trees.

Only time can tell what will make the final cut. I’ll be working on an Artist’s Statement for my book over the next couple of weeks. I’ve found that often images I like will not fit the statement and I must cut them. I also find this to be an essential aspect of developing a “body of work.” The Artist’s Statement drives my final edit. Much in the same way a magazine story will dictate the images that get selected.

SoFoBoMo 2016

If you are looking for something constructive to why not start your SoFoBoMo book?