Finding Your Eye: Journey Of Fascination ~ Apologizing

 

This weeks photo journal assignment for Kat's Finding Your Eye: Journey of Fascination starts with a question.   Have you ever apologized about any aspect of your photography? My answer is "YES." Many times I have felt the need to apologize or make excuses for my photos.

 

 

When I first started this journey into photography I didn’t know anything about photography. I had a small point and shoot camera and just took snapshots. Through blogging I was exposed to some of the most beautiful photographs. I spend hours looking at blogs, mainly the photographs. I knew this was something I wanted to do. I fell in love with photography. I was fascinated with nature, especially macro images of nature. As I started sharing more photos on my blog and taking photo prompt classes, I began to compare my photos to others. That’s when I listened to that inner voice that said I wasn’t good enough. I didn’t have the right equipment or the knowledge to be good enough.

Do you want to hear what my definition of a real photographer was? Pay attention to the word "was" in that last sentence, I no longer feel this way. A photographer is:

• someone with the top-of-the-line name brand camera and several expensive lens
• someone that always, always shoots in manual
• someone that never used auto focus
• someone that knows everything about their camera and can adjust settings without thinking
• someone that gets it right in camera
• someone that sells their images

I certainly didn’t measure up to my idea of a real photographer.

 

 

I'm going to be brave and just share several secrets with you about my photography.

 

• I own a Sony, not a Nikon or Cannon. When I bought my first dSLR camera, I was terrified that someone would ask me the brand I chose. I felt others would look down on a Sony.
• I'd rather shoot macro images with my point and shoot camera, even though I have a nice dSLR camera and two macro lens. For one thing, I don't have trouble with camera shake or the hassle of a tripod.
• I don't think I've ever shot in manual, I use the program mode, aperture, or shutter priority.
• Here's a really bad one, I use auto focus a lot! On my Sony camera, I set my focus area and then let the camera focus while I use both hands to steady the camera.
• I do not know all the bells and whistles on my camera.
• Even when I learn about my camera, I have a tendency to forget that knowledge when I'm out shooting.
• I have never sold an image and never plan to.
• I rarely get it just right in the camera. I always have to add a little contrast or color adjustment or crop.
• Yes, I said crop! I do crop my pictures, sometimes severely!

There it is, all written down in a list!  Now you see why I didn't think I measured up to my "photographer" definition.

Slowly, and I mean slowly, my confidence has been building. I now can say that I am a photographer. I now realize that I can take pictures with what I have. If I’m pleased with the images from my camera, why does it matter what name is across the front. I now realize that I can take pictures the way I want of what I want. My photos are an expression of myself not someone else. I’m now trying to focus more on the reasons I love photography. Most of time it’s not even the end results...the photo. It’s the inner joy I receive when I’m out with my camera capturing nature’s beauty. It’s the proud feeling I get when I try something new and it works. It's the pleasure I receive when I share the beauty of nature with others and I receive kind comments.

 

Building self-confidence doesn’t happen over night, I still have many moments when I feel unworthy. There are times when I find it hard to push the button and share my photos.

 
One last thing, all the images on this post were taken with a Fuji FinePix f31 point and shoot camera using the macro setting. I let the camera choose the exposure settings and focus, and then  I cropped. I will say I love these images. I'm proud of them. I am the photographer who took them.

Negative Reactions To Art

(this quilt was made by my Grandmother)

We all have different reactions to art. When looking at art we may like it, not like it, or we may be unaffected by it. In Kat's Find Your Eye: Journey of Inspiration she asked us if we've ever had a negative reaction to a piece of art.

I knew immediately a piece of art that repulsed and irritated me. While wandering around an art museum I saw a fabric wall hanging called Acid Dandy by China Marks. Marks used an industrial sewing machine to applique and embroidery on various fabrics.  She calls them “sewn drawings.“ To me, it was the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen.   I'll try to describe the piece. The blue background had daisy clouds in total contrast with a grotesque head that had red-rimmed eyes, a huge nose,  plaid teeth in his paisley mouth and his tongue was sticking out.   It was hideous looking, almost violent.

 

To have someone take the beautiful art of embroidery and quilting and create such a piece really angered me. It was more like “how dare she?” I just kept staring at it in disbelief.

Why did it bother me? It was rather ugly, so being repulsed wasn't an uncommon reaction. But, I was irritated, even angry. What brought on that strong feeling?  To me the gross head on the quilt seemed irreverent. If it had been a painting, I would have thought it was ugly,  but I wouldn't have been angry. Her work was totally opposite of how I view embroidery work and quilts. When I think of traditional needlework I think of home, warmth, love, and family. My Grandmother and my Mother embroidered and quilted. I enjoy creating small quilts to use as wall hangings. Needlework to me is beautiful.

This assignment made me think about my reaction.  I realized that this was not a quilt as I know quilts. It is the way she expresses her art; drawing with a sewing machine on fabric. I read her web page; she loves what she does. She is very talented to able to create such an intricate design. From experience I know how hard it is to machine applique and embroidery. Now, instead of seeing something that offends me, I  appreciate the work she puts into her art.  I may never like her style of art, but I can be more accepting.  Art is a personal thing and we all create and see it differently.

(this image was taken at a local quilt show)

Art or not? Artist or not?

In the newest assignment for

Find Your Eye: Journey of Inspiration

Kat asked us some questions.

What is art? What is an artist?
I wanted to go to dictionary and get the definition, but, we’re not supposed to do that. The definition has to be our own.

My definition of art: it’s very hard for me to explain, but art makes me feel something. I can go to an art museum, and to me, it’s not all art. Some pieces or works I just look at and pass on by. To me, it’s the works that my eyes linger on and the works that create emotions that are art.

My definition of artist: those who create from their heart and as a result share a piece of themselves in their work that can be felt.

Are you creative or just an observer?
I’ve always enjoyed being creative, trying different hobbies. I’ve dabbled in a little bit of everything, crafts, ceramics, painting, home decor and cross stitching. Now, my creative outlet is scrapbooking. I’ve thought of these activities as just crafts, not art. My opinion has changed recently. Now, I realize that these can be works of art.

Is photography an art?
I see photography as an art. A photo is a creation captured through the lens of a camera. The photographer has to use light and composition to create a pleasing image. It can be a snapshot of children playing or a capture of a gorgeous sunset or a simple moment in time. When the photo evokes emotion, to me that is art.

Are you an artist?
That’s a very tough question. A question I didn’t have a quick answer for. It’s overwhelming to think that some of my photos would be considered art!! I’m just getting used to the word “photographer!” When a follower on my blog called me a photographer. I was stunned. That one word encouraged me to dig a little deeper and work harder on my images. It gave me new self-confidence. But, artist? That word intimidates me. I’d be self-conscious using it.

As I searched my images looking for photos that might be worthy to be called art, I discovered that, yes, I think these are art!  I realize that if art is the heart and soul of an artist being expressed in any medium, then, yes, I am an artist!  As I capture images I’m trying to convey the deep love I have for my family or the love I have for God’s creation and it’s glorious details. Remember, to me art is something that evokes emotion.

I think I would feel better if I said "I'm a “budding artist.”  I’m a beginning artist, just learning to open my eyes and my heart and share a little piece of myself through photographs. On occasion, I do think I get it right!

My Photo Style

There are many things that inspire us to keep taking photos. One of them is our shooting style. I didn’t know I had one until I received the latest assignment from Kat’s Find Your Eye: Journey Of Inspiration. It makes sense that how comfortable we are with our camera influences our photography.

I travel fairly light. I carry a small bag, camera, spare battery, extra memory card, cleaning tools, notebook and pen. Although I have a large photo bag and two extra lens, I rarely take them with me. I have a tripod, but to me it’s just annoying…adjust this, make legs longer, adjust that, swivel this…too much trouble. I’m disappointed in that, I’ve found that I’m too shaky to hand-hold the camera with the zoom or the macro lens. I do keep practicing at home, maybe it will get easier!

I’m a morning person, which is a good thing since I love the soft morning light. I prefer outside light, but I do have a north facing window that gets fairly good light. As I look at images from others and even some of my own, I realize how important light is to a lovely photo.

I love being outside, so it's no surprise that my best photography is of nature. Many of my pictures are taken on our property and in the neighboring woods. But, also love to go to parks and gardens.

I love to just carry my camera. I rarely leave home without it any more. But, I’m equally excited about photo excursions. I find I get excited when I’m making a special trip just to take photos or when I’m out looking for a shot to fulfill a photo prompt. I give thanks to Kat for this!! She is the one that pushed me out of my comfort zone and into seeking new and wonderful places to take pictures.

I haven’t really settled on a style regarding what I like to photograph. I enjoy documenting everyday moments, family events such as birthdays, Christmas and outings with our grandchildren. I enjoy grabbing my camera and just going for a walk and I enjoy photographing with intention. Photo prompts and link-up groups are fun and keeps me looking for new things and fresh ideas. They also give me a chance to see other photographer's images. I enjoy trying to recreate the ones I really like. The image above is an example of being inspired by another’s work. I contacted her and she graciously explained how she achieved the shot. Then I gave it a try! Trying to recreate an image I like is a great learning tool.

I began my journey with a point and shoot and I still use it. It’s small and easy to tuck in my purse and takes pretty good macro shots. When I bought my first dSLR camera I started in auto and then began to learn manual. I find that with my grandchildren it’s always on auto. I don’t want to miss a moment just because I’m adjusting the camera settings. In my nature photography I go both ways right now. Most of the time I let the camera do the work. I use the auto+ and program mode a lot, because they give me more options. I also like to use the scene selection for landscape, sunset and macro. I am working on manual and practice using it on my excursions. If I had to pick between manual and auto right now, I would probably chose auto. At this point, the camera knows a whole lot more than I do!!

I’m usually alone when I’m taking pictures. Not necessarily by choice, I don’t know anyone nearby that has the same interest. If I’m with someone who doesn’t understand my photography, I feel uncomfortable and even embarrassed. I feel like others think I’m silly or weird! I also feel rushed since I hate to have someone waiting on me. Being with others with a like passion is fun. My sister and I have taken several photo days when we have a chance to be together.

All of these things combined are “my style”. When I’m being me and doing things in a way I enjoy, I’m the most comfortable and take photos that I love. As I learn more and grow my style may change. Who knows what may appeal to me further down the road of my journey.

Solving Problems

Even the simplest solution to a problem in photography is exciting to me. I’m so new to photography that I’ve just barely scratched the surface learning about my first dSLR. I've only had my new camera since June, so I have a long way to go. I know a little about using aperture now and shutter speed, but that’s about it! I'm beginning to shoot more and more in manual, which excites me!!

One of the major problems I have is taking photos inside. At a quilt show I attended I wanted photos of some antique quilts in a very small room with no windows, very horrible incandescent lighting, and no flash allowed. When I took the pictures I felt rather frustrated and disappointed knowing that the pictures would be yellow with the low light.  Adjusting for low light is something about my camera I haven't learned yet, so I had to figure out how to correct this problem through post editing. I came home, started playing with how to change the color temperature and to adjust shadows, highlights, and fill light in Picasa. Sounds very simple, but to me it was a huge discovery! I really know very little about editing and have usually shied away from it. I'm one of those that really wants the picture to be right out of the camera, although I know this doesn't always work. I can't control every situation and lighting problem through the camera functions.

Adjusting the color temperature took out the amber color and I adjusted the fill light just a little. The photo is now more like the actual quilt.

The second quilt presented an additional problem, it was in a glass case. Finding a good position without the glare of overhead lights in the glass was a little challenging. I only adjusted the color temperature on this one.

I was pleased that I was able to salvage photos of the quilts using post editing. There are others photos in my archives that could use a little editing now that I know how. I have been exploring post editing a little more and will use it more often. I'll also be reading and researching more about my camera's functions to correct poor lighting situations.

Another problem I'm need to solve also involves light. When my grandchildren are here, we're always outside in mid-day light or under the shade trees in the dappled light. I'm working on that. I have tried using the fill-flash and that seems to work better, but I need to work on this some more. I just need to spend more time learning about my camera and experimenting with editing!!

　

A little about the quilts, in case you‘re interested. The first one is a Friendship Quilt which includes major families of Washington, Arkansas and their descendants. Circa 1960 by Mrs. Mildred Butler

The fabric in the second quilt is from civil war uniforms and jackets. The quilt was created before 1901 by Sarah Turner Dawson Bragaw.

This post is linked to Find Your Eye: Journey Of Inspiration with Kat Eye View Of The World

My Clematis and it's Beautiful Stages

My little clematis vine has really outdone itself this summer. Although it's looking a little bit peaked from the summer heat, it is still blooming away. Clematis plants are within the buttercup family. The wild Clematis species native to China made their way into Japanese gardens by the 17th century. Japanese garden selections were the first exotic Clematises to reach European gardens, in the 18th century. Their garden hybrids have been popular among gardeners since 1862. These are the most amazing flowers. They go through so many stages and each one is beautiful.  Most flowers have a bud, they bloom, the petals fall off, and their done. Not so with Clematis! 

The bud, of course, is first.

I really got excited when I saw the heart-shaped bokeh in the background. It's my first heart-shaped bokeh, even if it is a leaf.

 

My Clematis is a double-blue variety.

Which is sometimes true and sometimes it is more purple.

The outer petals open first.

and then the inner set of small petals open.

 When the outer petals fall off you see only the inner ones.

In this photo the inner petals have started to fall off showing the stamen. I read that Clematis is sometimes called vase vine. I wonder if it got that nickname from the above stage. Doesn't the center look like a lovely vase of flowers?

The base is even beautiful with it's touches of color!

And lastly you get this fuzzy little thing. From what I read on the Internet, this contains the seed. It's amazing that you can see all these stages at the same time on the vine...from bud to seed pod!!

The Clematis reminds me of the stages of our life ~ baby, child, teenager, young adult, middle-age adult, and older seniors. Every phase in our life is beautiful, since we are created in God's image. But, we make the choice whether we're content and enjoy each stage. We can embrace it or we can become bitter and be miserable. I refuse to be bitter as I age. I embrace each new day, just because I've been blessed with it. It's not always easy, life is not easy. We have heartaches and body aches that sometimes seem overwhelming. I'm getting closer to the big "60" and this last year I've begun to feel my age more. It's harder to get out of the bed in the morning. I have joints and muscles that ache. I have trouble getting down on the ground to take the close-up pictures of nature that I so enjoy. Well, really, I  get down pretty good, it's the getting up part that's hard. I may have to call for help or crawl to the nearest object to get up, but I'll keep on getting down on the ground and I'll keep on taking those photos!!  I'm going to have my bad days. I know that. But, I will strive to be thankful for those days as well. In the scripture verse below, it says we are to rejoice in THIS day. Nowhere does it say we only rejoice in the good days!!  We rejoice EVERY day!

This is the day which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

 Psalm 188:24

Finding Your Eye - Intuitive Photojournaling

These three small mushrooms made me smile when I saw them leaning into one another and joining their strength to push up the dirt and moss that covered them. Mushrooms are so delicate. You can push one over with the tip of your toe and yet they are able to push the ground upward as they grow.

Life is not always filled with beauty, smiles and happiness. As I blog, I try to share the beautiful moments. You will not see much sadness here. But, today, I just need to write a few words about how I feel. Life can, and will bring us tragedy, pain and a deep darkness to our hearts. It’s how we deal with these times that show our strength. We are a Christian family that knows the power of God’s grace and love. Our family has dealt with tragedy this past week We are heartbroken. We feel empty. We feel dark inside. As I observed my family, I saw strength and I saw trust in God that is amazing and awesome. We’ve held each other, we’ve shed tears, we’ve shared stories and we’ve laughed. We drew strength from one another and from God.

We are delicate people, life is delicate and it changes in an instant. We must trust in God and lean on each other for support as we push up from the darkness toward his light.

　"The Lord is my strength and my song"

Psalm 18:14

Submission to Find Your Eye with Kat Eye View Of The World

Find Your Eye ~ Recognizing Inspiration

Everyday I walk around our land with my camera in my hand. Because, even though I've walked there a thousand times, I know I can always find something new to capture. Today, I stopped and looked around. There in the grass were mushrooms, dozens of mushrooms, every size and various colors. You have to realize that I love to photograph mushrooms. I love their colors and their delicate details. Seeing so many together stirred feelings inside of me, feelings of delight at finding the beauty of God's creation, feelings of anticipation of what beautiful details I might discover.

Just seeing the mushrooms brought a feeling of excitement...a little skip of the heart...a quick intake of breath. I dropped to me knees on the wet grass and began snapping pictures. Lots of pictures! There usually comes a point where I tell myself, "OK, you have to stop!" Why? Because, I want to get inside and see what I've captured!

I get just as excited when I upload and review the images as when I'm taking them. I look forward to the "yes, I got what I wanted" or the  "oh wow" when I see something on the screen that I didn't see through the lens.

What do I want to do with these images? Well, of course, I want to share them on my blog or with my photo buddies. I love too share what I've seen and the beauty of God's creation. I know not everyone has time to get out and crawl around on the ground or even has an interest in photography.

This is why I do what I do! Why photography is such a passion to me. The finding, the reviewing, and the sharing brings me joy!

My submission to Find Your Eye ~ Recognizing Inspiration

Find Your Eye - New Light Photo Shoot

I went out early yesterday morning to enjoy this beautiful, cooler weather that has arrived in Arkansas. I dug out my hammock that has been put up during the hot summer and laid down watching the leaves of the trees play in the wind. I began to think about photography and the next assignment for Find Your Eye at Kat Eye View Of The World. We were to look at the photos we’ve taken and determine what light we normally shoot in. Then, we were to try using a new light. I'd looked at my photos and realized that I take mostly nature shots in the shade or diffused light. I just hadn't decided on which new light I would shoot. An idea hit me, why not take shots using the early morning sunlight.

This was the perfect time to shoot with new light. I got up from my comfortable posistion and took over 100 photos of my hammock in the light. I really enjoyed it. The light was beautiful even on an ordinary hammock.

Some of my shots were similar to my nature photography, they were close up, focused on a small part of the hammock.

Light can be beautiful in many ways, like the bokeh created by the sun on the chain.

I did step back and include more in my shots and I liked those, too.

From the beginning, I was getting some shots that I liked, So, I didn’t get discouraged or frustrated. I really only quit when the sun got too high. I enjoyed this new experience and I’m looking forward to specifically searching out the light more often.

"In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary."

~ Aaron Rose ~

If some of these assignments sound interesting, you might consider taking a class. Kat is now registering for new classes.

Just click on the button above!

Find Your Eye ~ Looking To Other Artist

Visiting an art exhibit was new to me. I don’t have an excuse, I just rarely view art!  That is definitely something I will change in the future!! As part of an assignment for Find Your Eye with Kat Sloma, we were to visit an art exhibit and study the art. We were to take notes and then reflect on what we liked or disliked and also, note which works of art inspired us. We were to look for elements that we could bring to our own photography.

I will say, this was a fun assignment. I had the best time getting out and exploring the exhibits I went to. First, I visited the Arkansas Art Center. The highlight of that trip was an exhibit that featured Norman Rockwell paintings and Kevin Rivoli photographs side by side. Rockwell is know for his capture of daily life and Rivoli used his camera to capture “Rockwell type moments”. You really should drop by and see his photography here. Both artists documented life in small town America. They showed a passion for ordinary things and moments involving home, school, work, or church. I love the emotions they captured. They inspired me to be more aware of the everyday moments that tell a story.

I was so intrigued with this exhibit that the rest of the museum was kind of a blur. So a few days later, I went back and walked through the other exhibits. I must admit, art is a mystery to me.  I wasn’t brought up around art and rarely have I made an effort to see any. Most of the time, I just don’t get it! I mean really, a monkey with fruit on his head. That was a painting I definitely didn’t like. I also didn’t care for some of the portraits, they seemed so unreal, cold and lifeless. I guess the saying “to each his own” goes a long way in the art world.

There was this one painting by Al Allen called “Morning Musing” that I stood in front of for a long time both times I visited. It was polymer and oil on canvas. It was very simple, very clean lines, and strong light. I was surprised it grabbed my attention! It was a painting of a window with three long sections of eight panes each. As you look through the window you could see the drapes behind the window. Wonderful texture, light, and shadows. But, what was so stunning to me was the shaft of morning light that fell across the window. It was gorgeous! Since I’ve been learning about photography, I’ve read about light and seen photos with light, but for the first time I really saw how light could impact art. There was something magical about this shaft of light, something emotional, something that touched my heart. I wanted to open the drapes and let the light in! I found several other great pieces of art that also captured light beautifully, Dale Chihuly’s glass and Robert Cottingham’s graphite on vellum drawings. Cottingham sketched ordinary objects, but the forms and shapes were brought out by the light and shadows.

　

There was another exhibit of watercolors and drawings by 19^th century French Neo-Impressionist Paul Signac.  I liked the lines and muted colors in his watercolor port scenes. In reading the background material about his works he said he received the bulk of his training from his relationship with other artists and most importantly, from looking at art. He surrounded himself with art and artists. Sounds like our assignment, going out and surrounding ourselves with the artwork of others.

Since I love to take photos with details of nature, I was drawn to this fascinating group of 14 tiny canvases. These were on display at  the Historical Arkansas Museum.

 It was an unusual display with 14 action figures painting on canvases that were about 1” x 3”.

The tiny details were amazing. I'm glad they allowed photos, because it's hard to describe.

　

As I looked back at my notes  describing the art I liked, several words were repeated.  I want to become more aware of these elements that I was attracted to in the artwork and use them in my photos.

Light

As I mentioned above, light captured my attention.

Lines

I was drawn to strong vertical, horizontal lines, curves and swirls

Details

I was attracted to the amazing details in the charcoal, pencil, and pen and ink drawings

Beautiful colors
It didn’t seem to matter whether they were subtle colors or strong colors.

Black and white and monochromatic

This attraction surprised me. I rarely convert pictures to black and white and seldom are my photos monochromatic. Maybe this is an area that I should look into and pursue. I tried black and white with this photo I took at the Historical Museum. This young woman dressed in pre-Civil Ward clothing was showing me a Murphy bed.

This was an amazing learning experience that I will definitely do again.

I would like to tell you a little about Kat Sloma's blog The KatEye View Of The World. I have learned more from her wonderful blog than anywhere else. She is an excellent teacher, blogger, and photographer.  Why should you visit her blog?
1. Her blog is absolutely wonderful!!!  Her photos are amazing and her thoughts are always inspiring!
2. Find Your Eye E-courses, Photo Courses with Heart and Soul. This is my second class and I have learned so much!  So much, that I will continue with her next class. I can see an improvement in my photography from the assignments and photo journals. She is registering now for a September class Find Your Eye: Starting the Journey.

 

3. Come Exploring With a Camera

I don't recommend blogs and classes very often. But I highly recommend Kat's.  If you love photography and want to learn how to improve, she has a lot to offer!!