My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
“Recently, photography has become almost as widely practiced an amusement as sex and dancing – which means that, like every mass art form, photography is not practiced by most people as an art. It is mainly a social rite, a defense against anxiety, and a tool of power.”
Susan Sontag
Interesting to note that she wrote this back in 1973.
I know the importance of highly trained awareness of the “moment” and the immediate and intuitive response of the photographer. It should be obvious to all that photographers whose images possess character and quality have attained them only by continued practice and total dedication to the medium. –
Ansel Adams
Last week I posted an image of a young artist practicing his craft at a local coffee shop. Yesterday afternoon I took this image of a young lady practicing her craft at the same coffee shop. What is interesting about this young lady is she is drawing from a book that I assume to be a textbook. While the young man was creating the character from the muse within him. So, I practiced more courage and my photography by asking the young lady if I could take a photo of her practicing her practice. She agreed.
“Nature is an art which can’t be described or explained in words. This should be felt in your heart.”
Discovered this young man pencil sketching at a local coffee shop and had to ask if I could take a few images while he drew. After he said yes I had him put his earbuds back in and continue with his craft. There is a slight blur in his hand that adds to the image for me and I thought the photo worked well when converted to black and white.
As I walked away I thanked him and realized the courage it takes for me to ask strangers if I can take their photo. Somewhere within me is a false voice telling me they will say no. The truth is I seldom am told no. There are those who will say no and probably due to some history in their lives and that’s okay. But, nowadays many people are comfortable having a camera pointed in their direction. Just look at all the selfies.
Later, after I loaded this photo onto my computer I had an awareness of the courage it takes to be an artist. But as I reflected on that thought it became obvious that it takes courage to believe in and use our artistic abilities, gifts, practice, hone them and then offer them to the world. He and I both practice our craft with courage no matter what those around us thought of us. And, this young man is a good artist! So much for my morning rambling. Have a super Awesome day!
This is an image of tall grasses, 3-5 feet tall, which are planted in a raised flowerbed. So probably a total of 7-8 feet tall. I have found myself just staring at this image for awhile because of the patterns they make silhouetted against the blue sky, puffy clouds and the starburst. It’s impact has come after pressing the shutter.What caused me to see this and then compose, frame and press the shutter? This is so simple but I just keep looking and thinking about it. It’s impact on me has come after pressing the shutter. It’s gotta be Cedric’s writings.
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
Pablo Picasso
Took the bus to the Transit Center on campus. Grabbed a mocha at the coffee shop in the Behavioral Science Building. When they called out my drink they also called out the name of some young lady who order a carmel latte. Her and I were surprised to see a heart on each of our drinks. Showing us some love.
“Knowledge is learning something every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day.”
Zen Proverb
Frost is on everything. Temperature gauge on my dashboard says 7 degrees (F). Makes for cold toes. We are expecting similar nighttime lows for the next 5 days. Stay warm!
While enjoying a walk in a different neighborhood I discovered this interesting graffiti then realized it was a small barbershop.
Austin just graduated this past December from Colorado State University with a Fine Arts degree and wants to work as a print maker. We met at one of the coffee shops I frequent where he worked as a barista during college. I was privilege to take a few images of him as he made prints at the lab on campus. Of course this one was taken after the print was made and therefore the happy grin on his face. I think he likes it.
If you’re not familiar with print making here is some info on it from Wikipedia. Printmaking normally covers only the process of creating prints that have an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting. Each print produced is not considered a “copy” but rather is considered an “original”. This is because typically each print varies to an extent due to variables intrinsic to the printmaking process, and also because the imagery of a print is typically not simply a reproduction of another work but rather is often a unique image designed from the start to be expressed in a particular printmaking technique.
Prints are created by transferring ink from a matrix or through a prepared screen to a sheet of paper or other material. Common types of matrices include: metal plates, usually copper or zinc, or polymer plates for engraving or etching; stone, aluminum, or polymer for lithography; blocks of wood for woodcuts and wood engravings; and linoleum for linocuts.
Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.
Henry Ward Beecher