Wherever you are on your personal curve of artistic growth, it’s always worth pushing yourself beyond your norm. It’s all too easy to settle for something undemanding, and that leads dangerously quickly to boredom and creative block. Going beyond what is comfortable may require taking a road less travelled, but the journey itself may teach you a thing or two along the way, and, more often than not, the destination may please you more than the point of departure.
I like the seaside. I like deck chairs. I like their stripes. I like the way they billow in the breeze. I like the way the light shines through them. I’ve photographed them so often that I could easily produce a portfolio containing dozens of deckchair pictures. Yet I am still constantly and happily exploring the process of photography, especially the almost infinite range of possibilities afforded by digital technology. What I’ve learned about post-production feeds back into my eye for a picture. I now know more about what's possible with my pocket-sized point-and-shoot than when I first got it last year.
I arrived at today’s picture in four steps. The first two used the camera and a technique I have explained here before (Change Your Viewpoint). The last two were played out in Photoshop. And why did I do this? I did it simply to satisfy my own need to make pictures for pleasure, which is primarily why I use a camera these days, and secondly because I've heeded those very special people who have encouraged me over the years to share my work, instead of keeping it to myself.
Recently Michael Nobbs has been exploring how artists respond to criticism. I urge all of you not to censor your own work, declaring it not good enough to share with others. I used to do that, when I was a perfectionist. What a waste of time and talent that was. Now I know better. True, none of my work will ever be perfect, but I’m just happy to do the best I can, within the time and resources available to me, then leave it there. I have so very much more fun that way. Life really is far too short to be so pointy-pencil picky. Publish your art, for your own sake. It's never been so easy. Go on, it’ll do you a power of good.
(Above) Step 1: Taken at eye level: too ordinary.
(Above) Step 2: Improved viewpoint gives more sense of seaside. Would it work better in monochrome?
(Above) Step 3: No: too bland. The "flat" lighting lacks punch.
I love how you "teach" as you explain; I'm an eager student. And I couldn't agree more with you; the changed point of view adds depth and setting. Job well done. I'm surprised to see that it's warm enough over there for beach days...hooray for you!
Posted by: Donna | June 09, 2009 at 01:41 AM
I just realized that the top picture has a black and white background with colored stripes on the chairs. While I liked the all colour version, there was something about it that bothered me, and it wasn't until I scrolled up to the top version again and realized that I really liked the black and white background. I think the all colour version was too busy and the chairs were not the focal point. When you took out the background noise, the chairs really popped. I really like it.
Posted by: Donna | June 09, 2009 at 01:51 AM
Very pleasing picture you've made, Peter. I like seeing the steps from original to finished product. Very very nice.
Posted by: Susan | June 10, 2009 at 02:46 AM
Thank you Donna & Susan.
Whenever I get positive comments like yours, it pushes me past that blocked feeling I get every now and then, when dark ideas about closing down this blog surface.
Actually the teaching of technique here makes me focus on those things I usually take for granted about the process of my picture making. That keeps me interested enough to keep on practicing my photography. It's good to remember past, frustrating times when I couldn't make the images I wanted to, because I didn't know how.
Posted by: Peter Bryenton | June 10, 2009 at 11:14 AM
So would the too ordinary picture have benefited from being monochromatic?
Posted by: shara | June 28, 2009 at 01:34 AM
I enjoy your discussion of the thought process in creating the pictures as well as the philosophy behind it all. Must make time to come back more often. I must be slowing down because I had to look again to see the extra step in creating 4 from 2 !
When we worked together on creating other sorts of pictures, I regret that there was never enough time to discuss the 'why's' and 'why not's'
Posted by: Howerd | July 18, 2009 at 04:59 PM