|
SIRIUS (aka: Dog Star)
from the Mid-Century Mystic series
|
|
HELLO ALL…
As the world’s stock markets plummet, and everyone is beginning to wonder if we will be bound to our homes for eternity because of the Coronavirus, perhaps the enjoyment of art is exactly what the doctor ordered. Too bad art itself is not a true cure for the world’s sicknesses and diseases, but it can sure go a long way to providing us with happiness, which has been proven to increase the body’s natural immune system. So on that note… enjoy some art today; listen to music, look though coffee table books, search the internet for your next art purchase, and just enjoy all things related to art!
Next, turn off the news and stop allowing them to put fear into every ounce of every thread of everything we do. Just turn it off!
Lastly, do we really need a 'near pandemic' (as I've heard it called) to remind us all to, you know… wash our hands and have basic hygiene. I can't be the only one that finds this to be a bit disturbing. I am somewhat kidding, of course, but it does strike me as odd how much the news feels the need to remind us so often. I know we all already know, and now that we all know what we already know, just know that I know also… already, no? Haha.
|
|
HAPPENINGS…
It's remarkable how social media can bring people together that would not have otherwise met. I’m just wrapping-up a weekend of hanging out and doing some photography with a wonderful Facebook friend from Ireland… and we had a blast! It’s truly amazing to be able to connect on a personal level with some of the people I’ve admired the works of online and have ‘known’ for years, but actually never met in-person. To connect on a work level is easy, as we are both photographers, but to connect on a friendship level is the icing on the cake!
|
|
|
|
Ed Gordon & Me — Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina 2020
|
|
Aside from this past weekend’s fun, I’ve been getting back to the process of creating more imagery this year, and it has been incredibly productive; already three-quarters of the total amount of images produced in all of last year, and it’s only March. That said, it has very little to do with the number of images created, and more to do with the amount of quality time spent in the creation process that matters most. I don’t mind what the final number is, so long as each one has a heart and soul, and I certainly feel great about what has unfolded thus far.
|
|
THE HEART OF THE MATTER…
IMAGE TITLES AND THEIR IMPORTANCE ***Long-read Warning
I have discussed this topic in the past, but not to this depth…
Recently I posted an image to Facebook—the one on the cover of this newsletter—and was asked how I came-up with the title. Since this one is titled in such a way that is not immediately obvious to the casual viewer, it dawned on me that this might be the case in many other circumstances. For those of you that know me, even the slightest bit, you will know that I put an enormous amount of effort into image titles, and this particular instance has given me a wonderful opportunity to dive-in a bit deeper.
Image titles come to me at a variety of times and in a variety of different ways. Occasionally, I will have a title in-mind before I capture the image, or even find the subject matter to fit the bill. But more often than not, the process begins when I sit down to edit the image. It is here where I am beginning to pour my soul into what will become the final product, and there are many facets that go into the story telling element of the fine art image. For some people, image titles are a complete afterthought, and this is why they may settle for something they really don't like. To complicate matters, many may claim that ‘the image should speak for itself’. Should it? Should the image really speak for itself, or should the maker take this opportunity to help guide the viewer to an outcome? For me, the latter is true. However, there are times when an image title is just as strange as the image itself, and only by reading the Artist’s Statement does everything come full-circle and make sense. This complication is one I often face. Do I go with a title that has a deep, somewhat hidden meaning, or do I simplify the title and sacrifice some of the story telling element?
The cover image of this newsletter is likely one such instance, and the very reason the question was posed to me on Facebook in the first place. The building is the Stegeman Coliseum on the campus of the University of Georgia where the Georgia Bulldogs basketball teams play (amongst volleyball, gymnastics, and other sporting events). While processing this image, I couldn’t help but think about how much it looks like a spaceship; I know, I’m always drifting off into the world of science fiction and that will never change. But it’s this very reason that made me begin to think about outer space, the planets, and the stars. Then the “Dog Star” popped into my head because of the mascot of UGA—the Bulldogs. The Dog Star is the nickname of Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. It’s perfectly fitting when looked at in this light… the ‘stars’ of UGA; the Bulldogs (or Dawgs, as they are lovingly called) play in this spaceship-building and it all just came rushing to me. Clearly this would not be immediately obvious to the casual viewer, and especially if they were not familiar with this building or its location.
As you can see, the process of image titling is the same process that happens in our brains while dreaming… we don’t truly know when a dream starts, we are just all of a sudden smack dab in the middle of one. I don’t really know when image titles come to me, but when they do, I allow the process to unfold naturally and evolve into a crazy intertwined madness that I then delicately narrow down to the final outcome.
You may then ask, ‘why are some of your images titled as #1, #2, etc.?” Great question, and I can only answer by saying they belong to a series that is (or will be) very large and the series title itself is enough. Such is the case with “Guiding Light”, three of which can be seen at the bottom of this newsletter. I encourage you to read the Artist’s Statement on my website, as it will provide you with a whole new meaning to this series of images.
|
|
|
|
Series title and image title, as typically displayed on my prints
|
|
|
I have always believed that—in my own work—I want to leave enough room for the viewer to build their own conclusions, but with a bit of guidance from me. This comes in the form of the image and how it is presented, the image title, the series title, and finally the Artist’s Statement. All of these elements are of the utmost importance and must work as a collective unit to truly tell the story.
|
|
UPCOMING…
Since I have been diving headfirst back into processing older captures, my creativity is really beginning to flow. Now is the time to hammer the throttle and get back to a workflow that I love the most—a full day in the field, followed by many days in post, followed by a few days to clear the mind. Wash, rinse, repeat!
Until next time, enjoy March and have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
Cheers!
|
|
3HREE IMAGES TO WRAP IT UP…
|
|
|
|
GUIDING LIGHT - no.4
|
|
|
|
GUIDING LIGHT - no.10
|
|
|
|
GUIDING LIGHT - no.11
|
|
SHOUT-OUT TO MY SPONSOR…
Thank you to Wine Country Camera for their continued support of my photography. I would not be able make my long exposure captures so easily without the world class filters and filter holder system from WCC.
|
|
Why '3HREE'…
From the Great Pyramids of Giza to the ellipsis in my logo, the 'power of 3' exists in all things natural, spiritual, and creative. Like a perfectly weighted fulcrum providing balance to our lives, the power of 3HREE is real!
|
|
|
|
|
