Favorite Photographs of 2014

At the end of every year I endeavor to choose some of my favorite photographs.  They end up on this list for varying reasons and it is never very easy to narrow it down, not because I think they are so wonderful but because they are significant for one reason or another to me.  Detaching the emotion and reasoning behind the photographs makes it a but less fun. I think the oddest part of this year is that I don't have even one portrait in this mix, there wasn't even one in the running.  That has to be a first for me.  In the album, they are posted by date so you can see the progression through the year.  Living in Florida has it's pluses, especially the glorious sunsets.

For now though, I will put them in an order that has to do with my preferences.

Simplicity, color, evocative, using the elements and principles of art more specifically in their framing and the processing and appealing more fully to my artistic side are these: 

The Line is Drawn

This photograph was one of my first paintings once my supplies were back in my hands.  The painting, in oils is 15 x 36 inches.

The only photograph I converted to black and white; it is really something I only use when it adheres to the thought process and enhances the photograph and its content.

Keep it Simple

Besides the beach my "Monet Pond" was a constant source of inspiration for my photography and my art.  In the dead of Winter and the first photograph of the year remains a fascinating reminder of Winter in Florida and a cold reminder so opposite of others taken throughout the other seasons of the year.

In the Still of Winter

The sunsets on the beach have been the other source of inspiration, their color, the beauty.  Framing them so they become an inspiration to others is the most challenging.

On the Edge of a Dream

 The bayou at Eden's State Park was the inspiration here, a beautiful day of blue skies and a blue bayou.

Blue Bayou

 While at Eden's State Park it was a floral inspiration, the roses and the azaleas were beautiful!

Love's Embrace

 The sands of the beach were just as inspiring as the water and sunsets and pier.

Who Will Come and Dream With Me?

 When all the elements of the beach come together to create something wonderful you just have to make it happen!

Walking Toward the Dream

And the sunsets.  Have I mentioned the inspirational sunsets?  They are never-ending and I have many in this first cut as well as the second cut album I will share with you.  The textures, the colors, within the frame the embracing the evocative nature of that hour is nothing short of spectacular.

Texture, color, space, light, shapes and forms, values or tones, lines, balance, movement, emphasis, composition, each of the following makes me sigh when I think of one or more of these.

Sunset of Clarity

Lavender Sunset

That Inner Glow

Touching Lives

Beyond Every Dream

The next one is special because it helped inspire a visit from my youngest sister this year.  YAY!!

Purple Sands 

Drawing inspiration and awe from nature this Fall as I watched the stingray jump repeatedly out of the waters of the Gulf almost made me forget to snap the shutter it was so fascinating, especially at sunset. It made me realize that reaching beyond what is reasonably expected can bring something special your way.

Reaching Beyond Expectation

 Sometimes we feel alone but we really aren't.

You Are Not Alone

A year of photography would just never be complete without some flowers.

And the Rain Will Fall

Purple Orchids-My Birthday Bouquet

  And the Monet Pond. *sigh*  This year I hope to bring my easel and art supplies, at least more than colored pencils!

The Water Lily

Monet Pond Colored Pencil Sketch

Monet Pond Colored Pencil Sketch

Eden State Park in the Spring when the roses and azaleas are in bloom is a wonderful exploration all its own.

The Garden of Eden

 This was taken at Mexico Beach, FL and the still, alien-like, surreal feel of this is what was so appealing to me.  Feeling cold, almost frozen yet it seems like those little tufts of weeds could get up and walk away.

When Hope Seems Lost

Those are the choices which made the first cut.  The full resolution photographs can be found on my website in an album 2014 Best, the first cut here.  The second cut can be found in the album 2014 Best, the second cut here.
I hope you enjoyed the trek through last year's photograph and art adventures, this year will bring more and hopefully some gallery shows to boot!

Are rules really that important? Composition #art #photography #blog

Are rules really that important?

A good composition will be comprised of any number of the elements of art (line, shape, value, texture, and color) and may contain elements of the principles of art (movement and variation, balance, emphasis, space.)  Keep in mind, if your composition fails so does your work. 

I’m certain most of you have heard of the rules of composition for photography, it is all over the web.  Digital Photography School has an article here, and here are a few others, smashandpeas here, photography mad here and one for landscapes by DPS here, Light Stalking also has many good articles on the rules of photography composition as well here.  Knowing these “rules” as photographers like to call them isn’t quite enough though; go back to the common thread I have tried to weave through this series of blog posts.

Excitement contained...almost!

How does it make you feel?

Does it accomplish the goal you have set out to create in your work?  Does it convey and impact you or your viewer the way you want it to? What ambiance does it have? Does it create a means to trigger you to think?  Is it thought-provoking?  Does it motivate you to respond or move to action?  Are you trying to make a statement?

Please do not misunderstand what I am trying to convey here.  This is not a freedom to use this as an excuse for poor composition.  A good photograph or drawing will draw out in someone the essence of what you want to convey to them.  To artistically move beyond the rules you must first understand that they exist and they exist in good measure because those rules create pleasant viewing for the vast majority of people.  And remember the vast majority of people are your audience and have photographs they have hanging on their walls, even if they are hanging them too high for good viewing (which might be good to remember!)  What I want you to consider is how your use of the elements and principles of art create an evocative and desirable photograph.

Sailing Blue

A low horizon might be there to give a sense of wide open spaces or to bring about a scale of wonder or loneliness quite possibly to showcase an amazing sunset or sky that opens up to a feeling of peace or of beauty or wonder, contemplation or relaxation.  The mood you set in your photograph is largely based on the order or in the way you compose your work.   Size, scale, simplicity or clutter can all convey something in particular; this is what we as photographers or artists must be conscious of in our work and use it to bring what is inside of us to the outside viewing world.

Gliding in the Morning Light

Framing is everything!  I would encourage you to do this in camera and not post-processing.  This requires that you go out with purpose and an understanding in your own heart and mind’s eye of what you want to accomplish and what you want your work to evoke.  As you first start in photography and art there is a great learning curve.  You master your skills by practicing, we go out and shoot a lot; we learn the technical aspects of our craft and we keep on learning or as an artist who’s sketching never ends, no matter how long you have been an artist sketching is vital to being good.  The next time you go out to shoot photographs consider your composition in camera.  Cropping may work, but learn to crop when you take your photograph; it gives you more options in the end and simplifies your post processing.  If you are unsure, take it in several different ways.  If you have a prime lens, move your feet to get a good composition; if you have a zoom, use it to your advantage.  Don’t be a lazy photographer, be the best one you can be.

Tranquility

Threading the Needle

 Above all let your mind understand the technicalities, let your eyes see, let your heart feel, look inside yourself and you will be well on your way to perfecting your craft and your vision.  Composition is largely an intuitive act, how you put your frame together is what tells the tale and sells your idea, you determine how to direct your viewer.  Your work soon becomes the collision of dreams or ideas and reality!

Additional photographs can be seen on flickr here and G+ here.