The life-size sculpture, believed to represent the daughter of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, had been in the Worcester Art Museum in Massachusetts.
Manhattan Prosecutors Seize a Bronze Bust From the Third Century
What Is Fine Art Photography ?
As I stood at the edge of the tranquil beach, a sense of both calm and disappointment washed over me. Having checked the weather forecasts closely, I was once again feeling let down as instead of crisp morning light, I instead had low clouds and very little light.
All around, the beach appeared to be draped in a thick blanket of low clouds, creating an almost surreal atmosphere. The waves lazily lapped against the shore, instead of what I would have liked them to be doing and were barely disrupting the stillness. I felt like giving up on the shoot, but after surveying the scene, I figured this was the perfect setting for a journey into the realm of fine art photography, where I intended to experiment with long exposures to capture the essence of this moment.
The Decision to Embrace the Elements
Despite the subdued lighting and the gentle monotony of the waves, I felt some excitement building within me as I took and reviewed my first image. There was an inherent beauty in the subdued tones and the lack of immediate drama in the scene. I knew that I wanted to encapsulate this feeling and who know, translate it into a visual masterpiece perhaps?
Having already grabbed my filters, I started on my quest. The decision to use these filters wasn’t just technical; it was a creative choice. I wanted to extend the exposure time beyond what I would normally do, thus allowing the subtle movements of the waves to blur into an almost dreamlike state. The intention was to blur the lines between the sea and the sky, creating a seamless transition between the two elements. With this intentional blurring, I aimed to evoke a sense of timelessness, a moment frozen but also flowing.
Choosing the Exposure Time
As I set up my camera, I pondered the exposure time that would best convey the tranquility of the scene. While shorter exposures might have captured the details more crisply, I was drawn to the idea of extended exposures that could emphasize the delicate movements in the water and clouds. The length of the exposures was crucial; it had to be long enough to create the desired effect, yet not so long that the scene lost its connection to reality entirely.
I settled on two-minute exposures as the sweet spot. This duration allowed enough time for the waves to create a beautiful misty effect as they interacted with the shore, blurring their distinct edges. What I need to be 100% sure of here was getting my focus right. Using focus peaking, I was able to see exactly where the plane of focus was before then putting on my 10-stop filter.
Embracing High-Key Aesthetics
While the idea of intentionally “blowing the highlights” might sound counterintuitive, it was my deliberate choice to amplify the ethereal quality of the scene. With the thick clouds diffusing the light, there was a soft light that wrapped around the scene. By allowing the highlights to blend into this soft radiance, I aimed to create a high-key aesthetic that would enhance the dreamy atmosphere.
The challenge here was to balance the blown highlights with retaining some detail in the minimalistic rock formations that were to be the focal points of the composition. I wanted the rocks to stand as stoic witnesses to the passage of time, almost as if they were guardians of this tranquil space. After a few attempts, I was on the right track and off now on my new adventure.
The Art of Composition
With my settings dialed in, I turned my attention to the composition. I wanted to create an image that was both visually engaging and potentially emotionally evocative to the viewer. The rule of thirds felt too rigid for this scene; instead, I opted for a more fluid approach. Placing the rock formations closer to the edge of the frame allowed the viewer’s eye to wander through the negative space, getting lost in the expanse of the beach and the soft merging of sea and sky. I have said before that the rules of composition shouldn’t be rules, but more so tools, and this was a perfect opportunity to practice what I preach as such.
What I Saw Versus What the Camera Saw
As the first two-minute exposure began, time seemed to stand still as I waited to see what the result would be. I watched as the waves danced and mingled with the shoreline, before retreating once again back out to sea. The clouds could have painted soft streaks across the sky; however, I was intentionally overexposing my shots, so these wouldn’t be a factor I would have to consider.
Reviewing the images on my camera’s LCD screen was in some way a revelation. The intentional blown highlights didn’t detract from the photograph’s impact; instead, they added to the otherworldly aura of the scene. The rocks, rendered in subtle detail, anchored the composition, and with the negative space that the blown highlights had created, I felt it added to the overall scene.
Conclusion
The experiment with fine art photography was a journey of creativity and contemplation. The textbook definition of fine art photography is: “fine art photography is artistic expression through photographs, transcending reality to evoke emotions and narratives.” Even as I was hitting that shutter, I was unsure if it would work out, and even after I got home and processed the images, I was still unsure. Through intentional choices in exposure time, composition, and embracing the elements, I was able to capture the delicate balance between reality and dreaminess.
This experience reminded me that landscape photography isn’t solely about technical prowess; it’s about storytelling, emotion, and the artist’s unique perspective. It’s about pushing boundaries, embracing imperfections, and seeking beauty in the subtlest of details, from my point of view anyway.
Do you have additional thoughts on this topic? Are you a fine art photographer? I’d love to see your views on my experiment and see what is fine art photography?
The Truth Most Photographers Don’t Want to Hear
Modern cameras are absolutely ridiculous machines, capable of performing tasks and producing images that would not have been imaginable even a decade ago. And let’s be honest: most cameras are far more capable than necessary, meaning if our images are not what we want them to be, the problem is probably with us. This important video essay discusses the issue.
Coming to you from Mitchell Kanashkevich, this insightful video essay discusses the idea that modern cameras have surpassed the needs of the majority of photographers. This sort of message should not be discouraging; rather, it is a great reminder that we do not have to spend money every time we want to improve as photographers, and really, considering how expensive a new camera or lens can be, that is a really important thing to keep near the front of our minds. And besides wasting money on gear we do not need, that sort of approach can lead to a vicious cycle, and that sort of back and forth rarely leads to much satisfaction, at least not in the long-term. Often, a bit of education or creative exploration is a much better solution. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Kanashkevich.
Back in the day, Sept. 4, 2004: ‘Labor’ sculpture is dedicated on Omaha’s riverfront
Nineteen years ago today, a riverfront bronze sculpture, which features four men and one woman toiling at their work and which commemorates union labor’s contribution to Omaha, was dedicated.
Lewes art group discusses making Canalfront Park sculpture permanent
The Lewes Public Art Committee discussed the possibility of making the “Paviljoen” sculpture a permanent fixture in Canalfront Park or another location. At PAC’s Aug. 23 meeting, Chair Heidi Lowe said people have already offered donations to help…
What Is It Really Like as Full-Time Landscape Photographer? |
For many, it has always been a dream in the back of our heads to someday be able to escape the rat race and follow our passion in photography and turn it into a career!
Even though the very idea can be both scary and exciting, the dream can at times be all consuming. In this very open and honest video from UK landscape photographer Paul Thomson, he shares some valuable insights into exactly what it can be like when you follow those dreams and pursue landscape photography as a full-time career!
Paul’s approach has been a well-thought-out one, and he shares the highs, lows, and everything in-between that he has experienced in his two years as a professional landscape photographer !
If you have ever considered, are currently considering, or have already taken the plunge, then this video gives you a look into the real-world experience that can lie ahead!
It’s certainly not an easy road lined with roses, and you need to constantly think on your feet, diversify, and ensure that you create multiple revenue streams. However, the benefits that it has brought to Paul from a mental health point of view can outweigh even the downs that come with trying to make a living through landscape photography versus the alternative of the 9-5 rat race.
American jailed for two years for selling $1m of fake native art
A United States businessman who sold $1 million (£794,470) worth of native Alaskan art that he had in fact ordered from the Philippines has been jailed for two years.
Cristobal “Cris” Magno Rodrigo, 59, from Washington state, received the longest sentence ever handed down by the courts for violating the 1935 Indian Arts and Crafts Act, which was intended to tackle fraud and misrepresentation.
According to the US attorney’s office in Alaska, Magno operated two companies in Alaska from April 2016 to December 2021.
Alaska Stone Arts sold carvings and Rail Creek wooden totem poles.
Marketed as native-made, they were in reality produced in the Philippines by a company set up by Magno’s wife.
Magno, who had worked in stores selling native art for two decades prior to the conspiracy, taught Philippine workers how to recreate the items.
To complete the illusion of authenticity, Magno hired native Alaskans to work at his stores in Ketchikan who sold the items as their own work.
He has also been ordered to donate $60,000 to the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and write a letter of apology to be published in the Ketchikan Daily Newspaper.
Prosecutors said Magno had raked in $1 million from the scam.
‘Cultural affront’
“The actions the defendant took to purposefully deceive customers and forge artwork is a cultural affront to Alaska native artisans who pride themselves on producing these historical works of art, and negatively affects those who make a living practising the craft,” said Lane Tucker, Alaska’s US attorney.
“Mr Rodrigo’s monumental sentence is a testament to the federal government’s dedication to prosecuting Indian Arts and Crafts Act violations, and the US attorney’s office will continue to work with law enforcement partners to protect Alaska native cultural heritage and unwitting customers and hold perpetrators accountable who carry out this type of fraud.”
Native art is seen as a key part of Alaska’s tourism industry, which is worth $4.5 billion a year to the state’s economy and there has been growing concern at the activities of fraudulent dealers.
The impact of the illegal trade is large, said Jacob Adams, a lawyer who has represented native Alaskan artists in civil cases.
“Allowing non-genuine products like that to be out there in the market, and essentially take over a lot of areas, it makes the environment that much more difficult for indigenous craftspeople to live off of their culture, and that causes many follow-on effects,” he told the Anchorage Daily News.
“If people are unable to make use of their culture, to live off their culture … then it disincentivises upcoming generations to pick up those crafts.”
Centering trans youth: Boston photographer’s ‘Are you OK?’ project to stop in Northampton next month
Centering trans youth: Boston photographer’s ‘Are you OK?’ project to stop in Northampton next month
New G20 park in Delhi features sculptures of member states’ national animals
A group of artists from the Lalit Kala Akademi started making the sculptures at Garhi village in April, and the installations were ready by July
Taiwanese artist finally coming to see her exquisite sculpture at Phantom Creek Winery
These winged women have impact.
Standing seven metres tall, wings unfolded and about to take flight, the two white sculptures dazzle visitors as th.
