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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

real-life still life: a quiet corner




I guess I'm just
looking for
a little
peace and calm.


Who'd a thought
I'd find it
in
my kitchen cupboard?

***

After several attempts
at capturing
a still life photograph
amongst my everyday
surroundings...
I
'discovered'
this scene.

Kinda feels
a bit
Vermeer-esque,
with its
interior shadowy
moody
everyday
unstaged
wabi-sabi
feel.

BTW
as much time as we spent
in art school
studying
the paintings
of
Johannes Vermeer
...
it was never enough
for me.

I hadn't really
thought of
Vermeer
in years
...
until I
captured
these bowls
in my
cupboard.
original photo SOOC
With a little bit of work
- or should I say
'play' -
I watched
something
almost magical
emerge
from humble
beginnings.

With
eye and heart,
camera and computer
...

I saw something.

***

Notes:
CAMERA
My camera
has an ISO capability of
up to
25,600,
but I still
crouch safely
near the bottom
of the scale,
ever cautious of
film grain.
ISO 3200 
is perilously high for me.

LIGHTROOM
I played in the Develop module
before trying out
several presets.
I finally settled on
Kim's
kk_darkday preset,
wanting to draw attention
to the amazing 
shadowplay.

I'm also following along in Kim's
31 Days of Lightroom class,
applying her lessons
to my workflow
process.

PHOTOSHOP
There was enough
dark to make one of
Kim's 'magic' textures work;
and a soft light touch
of texture gave it
a 'painterly' feel.

***
I promised Lillian I would
post these
'unposed' still life shots of her
with her new favorite pillow...
...my camera bag.

***

Linking up with






Wednesday, August 13, 2014

unstaged


An 'unstaged' still life
for
Be Still 52
Week 12



 Not what I had
originally planned,
but
more in keeping
with the theme
I think.

So...
I came home Sunday
after an enjoyable photoshoot
at the antique mall,
where I figured
I'd find plenty of
subject matter
suitable for an
'unstaged' still life
(a term
which I thought to be
delightfully
contradictory!)

I did manage to
gather several
possibilities.

Then,
as I sat at the kitchen table
and chatted
with my daughter Erin
about this and that,
Lillian stepped in
and
changed my plans
altogether.
She patiently
obliged
as we
gleefully snapped
one photo after another
with our cellphone cameras. 
So much for my plans
to upload, choose
and edit
the antique mall shots.

***
Monday morning
I woke up
with a new
idea
and
a simple plan.
original photo SOOC

Notes:
CAMERA
A chance to play with
and
striving for
optimum light,
fast shutter speed,
lower ISO,
without a tripod.
And 'tack sharp' detail
of course.

LIGHTROOM
lens correction
straighten and crop
basic edits:
Then I auditioned several of Kim's presets
before settling on
kk_walnut preset
+
my own split tone adjustment

PHOTOSHOP
I auditioned a few different textures
and several blend modes
before deciding on
Kim's new
kk_quiet

 ***

Linking up with




Friday, August 1, 2014

zen seeing part 2


a couple weeks ago,
I thought I'd
revisit it.


It was pure delight
creating these images
...
from conception
thru composing,
studying,
drawing,
photographing,
to post-processing.


Photography, like drawing, can be a
Right Brain activity;
but it starts with
seeing
really seeing -  


Check out Kim Manley Ort's post on
photography, drawing, and seeing.
Thank you Kim for
your amazing
blog!


"drawing...the intensifier of firsthand seeing,
as a catalyst of awareness
that makes us independent of our serfdom
to technology."
Frederick Frank
Zen Seeing, Zen Drawing


These few
still quiet hours
with my camera
my pencil and paper
and my computer
- or paintbrush or pliers or needle & thread -
...
this is my idea of
a perfect
Be Still Day
(even if it is only a few hours).

Lillian seems to enjoy it too.
She reminds me to be curious...
...and try new things.



Notes:

LIGHTROOM
Recipe:
Scott Kelby's
B&W conversion
then
boost Clarity and Vibrance
plus my own
Subtle Sepia Split Tone

PHOTOSHOP
textured with two layers of
kk_pinitonly4
Soft Light 28%
Vivid Light 15%

***

"I created beauty to declare the existence of My holy Being....to proclaim My Presence in the world. Most people rush past these proclamations without giving them a second thought...Even before you knew Me personally, you responded to My creation with wonder. This is a gift, and it carries responsibility with it. Declare My glorious Being to the world."

excerpt from
July 30 reading
from
Jesus Calling
by
Sarah Young


***
Linking up with
(Week 11)