Category Archives: Articles

04/9/15 ~ Susan

Design, Photography & Artistic Vision

 

Design by Peacock

Design & Photography

One of my new photographs, “Feather Envy“, was recently selected for the Juried Signature Art Exhibition with the Charleston Artist Guild Gallery.  The title alludes to stark realities and instincts inherently present in nature and the animal world, such as the struggle to survive.  Peacocks, for example, are incredibly beautiful creatures, yet that beauty comes at a price. Last year, I observed several peacocks throughout the breeding season. By the end of the season, one of the peacocks was still sporting its striking array of colorful feathers, while the others were so battle-worn, they had nothing left but quills to display. Peacocks and other birds battle each other over territory, mates, food, and status, sometimes to the death. This year I watched a great blue heron nest with two babies in it and witnessed one of the babies almost peck the other to death. The poor chick was hanging out of the nest, its back bleeding and raw while the other continued to peck at it with no remorse.

“Feather Envy” also reveals the intricate patterns, designs, and colors on the back of a peacock and on its feathers as well as in nature. A love of design frequently reveals itself in my photography, and there are many elements of design embodied in nature. “Design by Peacock“, an older photograph featured in this post, displays an alternate aspect of design and color present on the peacock.

Speaking of design, I enjoy helping clients to select artwork by reviewing color and design elements in their spaces and working with them to select photographs. I just completed a Consultation for a client who wanted coastal photographs for a recently redecorated bedroom. We worked with all of the elements in the room, including an existing print; the paint color on the walls; the duvet and pillow colors; and the size and shape of the available space, to select the right pieces for that space. I’ve been doing this for a couple of years now, and I offer this service free of charge. I want to ensure that people select the right artwork for their spaces, and that they are happy with the work they’ve selected. So, if you would like me to do a Consultation for you, just contact me to set up a time to talk, skype, or meet. I’ve even done this remotely, whereby clients text or email photos of their spaces, and we work from there.

Two more newsworthy items I’d like to mention are: first, I am working on finishing my online portfolio which people have frequently inquired about. It would probably have been finished by now if I hadn’t been out enjoying the Spring bounty of photographic opportunities!

Second, I am a “swamp dweller” at this time of year. For quite some time, I’ve been observing the wildlife and birds around the Audubon Swamp, an amazing natural habitat close to where I live. I released many photographs in previous years from that swamp, chronicling almost every bird in it, and I will be releasing many more this year!

Artistic Vision

What is artistic vision? My interpretation is that it represents the unique creation; artistic endeavor; idea; view; or vision represented in an individual’s artwork–that artistic vision which came out of their own history, thoughts, location, attitudes, emotions, mood, etc. at the time they created the artwork.

It is important to respect the artistic vision of artists and creators or we will all be doing the same thing, and that will not only be demotivating for artists striving for originality in their work, it will be uninteresting for those who view the artwork.

In this world of easy access to everything with the internet, people forget to respect each others’ unique visions and hard work. It is too easy to stake claim to others’ visions and works by claiming them on Facebook and other social media outlets; backdating postings; information; writing; original ideas; and artwork–thereby making it your own. An example of this is the practice of creating facsimile or derivative artwork that was viewed from another artist.

The message I’d like to convey here is that artists should strive to dig deeper into the creative resources that lie within themselves; and that appreciators/buyers of art should support artists that forge original ideas and artwork that came from the creator’s own artistic vision!

06/7/13 ~ Susan

Friend or Foe?

Alligator and two turtles at Magnolia Plantation

Friend or Foe

A bunch of spectators, including myself, watched in awe at a peculiar companionship between an alligator and two turtles.  At times, the turtles stepped onto the back of the alligator to sun themselves, unaware of the potential danger lurking there.

Turtles are, in fact, part of the alligator diet, yet they exhibit a strange camaraderie when the alligator is not in the mood for a meal. Springtime is the perfect time for them to share a sunny spot on the shoreline, taking pleasure in their mutual habitat.

Perhaps what is so striking about this strange amity is the dichotomous relationship being witnessed between a friend and a foe—a relationship present in all of nature—the ability to exist in harmony in conflict with singular ambitions.

05/10/13 ~ Susan

Smoky Mountain Wildflowers

Fiery Columbine

I recently visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park between North Carolina and Tennessee for the first time, catching the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in all its glory.  In the lower elevations, starting at Oconaluftee River Trail, many varieties of wildflowers dotted the terrain including Crested Iris, Thyme-leaved Bluets, Foamflower, and Blue Phlox, while elk meandered across the pathways and trotted out to a stream to have a long cool drink with their comrades.

Fearing the car ride up the mountains would be like so many other white-knuckle trips I’d taken to lofty peaks in the past, I mulled over whether to trek to the other side or play it safe in the low-lying area around the waterfalls. The well thought-out decision to make the journey did not go unrewarded, as surprises greeted us around every twist and turn—clusters of red and yellow Columbine, as in the featured photograph “Fiery Columbine“, and Bleeding Heart sprouted from craggy cliffs; Bishop’s Cap lined up along the slope in perfect unison; White Trillium peeked through bunches of Fire Pink; and whole cliff sides sprayed in purple looked like wildflower waterfalls.

A fellow seeker of flora and fauna that day boasted about the unique ecosystem of the park, a part of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, referring to its extraordinarily diverse population of plant and animal life.  According to the National Park Service, “over 17,000 species have been documented in the park, and scientists believe an additional 30,000 – 80,000 species may live in the area.” Considering this, a one-day visit only whetted my eagerness to see more of this spectacle, and I’m already daydreaming of a Summer or Fall sojourn to take in a little bit more.

04/22/13 ~ Susan

Search or Serendipity?

Lil’ Blue Heron Fishin’

Someone remarked recently that great photographs cannot be found by searching or hunting for them. When I thought about this comment, I’m not sure I always agree. There are many times when planning a photography adventure for the sole purpose of photographing particular settings turns out extremely well.

Planning a trip doesn’t necessarily mean that the resulting photographs will be mundane; on the contrary, time and money can be saved with planning by ensuring that aspects such as weather and lighting will be advantageous for the photography. In addition, routes can be mapped to save time and gas that might otherwise be wasted looking for specific or intriguing locations. That having been said, there is another side to that argument alluding to the possible intended spirit of the remark.

The reverse argument favors the idea of serendipity—finding that amazing photograph when you least expect it, unplanned, uncharted, and completely spontaneous. I’ve taken many surprising photographs resulting from chance encounters. More often than not, however, I find the unexpected during a planned trip. One such photograph titled, “Stained Glass Tree“, was taken on a visit to a popular waterfall. Although the waterfall was stunning, the real beauty that day was a scrubby looking maple glistening at the edge of a cliff overlooking the waterfall, sunlight illuminating its multicolored leaves while patches of blue sky peaked between every crevasse.

The photograph featured in this post, “Lil’ Blue Heron Fishin’“, is an unplanned siting of a little blue heron catching a fish with bright green duckweed as his backdrop. Its difficult to plan shots of wildlife and birds because they’re unpredictable, so you have to be ready at a moment’s notice.

I’m not sure there is one right approach since there are many different factors. However, whether you plan your photography adventure or not, remain open to all of your surroundings, not just your intended destination. You’ll end up being surprised at the hidden gems you discover along the way.

02/15/13 ~ Susan

What is Fine Art Photography?

When photographic images are referred to as “fine art”, it raises questions—perhaps because it gives an impression that fine art images are somehow superior, more artistic, even gallery-worthy. Still, there is a history and an established meaning of “fine art images” in the world of photography.

Advocates such as S.D. Jouhar, founder and Chairman of the Photographic Fine Art Association in 1961, strove to establish a new classification of photography created as art, defining “fine art” as “creating images that evoke emotion by a photographic process in which one’s mind and imagination are freely but competently exercised (Jouhar).”

Along those lines, fine art photography was distinguished from commercial photography.   Jouhar strove to classify photography as an art rather than a craft, one of the prevailing perceptions at the time. The new definition also encompassed the “technical” perspective from which the photograph was created, emphasizing “fine perception” and “technical execution”.

Clearly, characterizing photography as fine art was intended to promote it in a new and positive way that would benefit all photographers. Even so, common misperceptions exist about the use of this term, suggesting it may be a means to elevate a photographer’s status.

Investigating present day photographers for the meaning of “fine art photography”, Alain Briton provides a note-worthy analysis of the term in his essay, “Fine Art Photography Top 16” (Briot, 2010), excerpted below:

  1. “Become an expert in light
  2. Compose your images carefully
  3. Study colors and contrast
  4. Create images that represent what you felt, not just what you saw
  5. Focus on quality not quantity
  6. Master both art and technique
  7. Master all the aspects of fine art photography (composition, conversion, optimization, printing, curating, and exhibiting)
  8. Optimize your photographs using layers in Photoshop
  9. Make the final print your goal
  10. Mat and present your work in a professional manner
  11. Focus your work and effort on projects
  12. Share your work with others and build an audience
  13. Do not try to recreate the wheel
  14. Create a personal style
  15. Do not expect success overnight
  16. Do not overestimate talent” 

References:

Briot, A. (2010, June 5). Fine Art Photography Top 16. Retrieved February 15, 2013, from Nature Photographers – Online Magazine: www.naturephotographers.net

Jouhar, D. S. (n.d.). Dr. S.D. Jouhar (1901-1963) – A Retrospective. Retrieved February 15, 2013, from www.sdjouhar.com

02/15/13 ~ Susan

New Topics on Photography!

I’m expanding this photoblog to feature articles on photography-related topics in addition to continuing with its original focus—to display featured photographs blended with creative writing.

Customers approach me to discuss all aspects of photography, so adding those discussion topics for blog postings seems like the perfect way to share them!

10/10/11 ~ Susan

The Boneyard

Botany Bay Boneyard

The Boneyard

The Boneyard seems like a befitting theme as Halloween approaches, yet the boneyard captured in this picture doesn’t quite match the one that comes to mind—the image of a graveyard, scattered with headstones tended by splintered black trees, stabbing their craggy limbs into the steel gray sky. This graveyard belongs to Mother Nature, a graveyard of trees slowly being reclaimed by the sea, trees that are now just remnants of what they once were. This place possesses a haunting beauty, a dichotomy of life and death that transcends elements of nature into the supernatural.

Despite the outward forces of destruction, life is teeming in and around the boneyard at Botany Bay Plantation: surf continues to batter the shoreline, pelicans fly in symmetrical formations overhead, and the sun shines so bright you can scarcely steal a glance at the Carolina blue sky. The sculptural tree relics of the boneyard contrast starkly against the life-giving blues of the sky and still, this place of turbulence is much more than a ghostly apparition. A diverse wildlife population flourishes nearby, including endangered species such as Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Wilson’s Plovers, and Least Terns. After spotting one of the rare Painted Buntings that inhabit this coastal area, I am reminded once again that life goes on.

08/18/11 ~ Susan

Little Armored One

"Little Armored One"

Little Armored One

Encounter with a Baby Armadillo

After chasing several varieties of dragonflies on the Edisto Nature Trail a couple of months ago, I heard something rustling in the dead leaves to the left of the walkway, where I spotted a small patch of gray peaking through the mélange of brown. What could this naked, hairless patch of gray be connected to? A snake? Some type of reptile?

The rustling continued until, up popped two ears, alert and erect, followed by a pointy snout. The little body emerged, scaled and practically hairless, followed by a long, segmented tail. It then became clear that this little critter was a baby armadillo, somewhat resembling Piglet from Winnie the Pooh. It brought to mind a family trip to Florida many years ago when I saw my first armadillo, only that earlier siting was a full grown one, sizable in comparison to this little baby and fully encased in a shell of “armor”.

The critter continued foraging through the dead leaves, waddling along, while intermittently poking his head down into the leaves. He was so small, I could nearly fit his entire body in the palm of my hand, but of course I did not, fearing the mother’s retribution to me and to her baby. So I left him there, alone, to find his own way, his mother nowhere in sight. Afterwards, my discovery left me wanting to learn more about this little creature that I stumbled upon in the forest, so I did my own digging…

It is no wonder that the armadillo is such a prehistoric looking creature, as its most recent ancestor existed 60 million years ago; however, it was much larger than the present day armadillo, which typically weighs between 8 and 17 pounds. According to Audubon, the nine-banded armadillo is the only species of armadillo living in the United States, although there are 20 different species of the mammal in Latin America. The name armadillo is of Spanish origin and means “little armored one” due to the hard shells on its head, back, legs, and tail, which do not harden until the animal is fully grown. Armadillos make their homes in shady areas such as forests and brushland. They mainly eat a wide range of insects and larvae, including earthworms, spiders, snails, cockroaches, ants, wasps, flies, beetles, and such, searching for their prey by burrowing and digging into ground litter. They often become road kill victims on the highway due to their natural instinct of jumping upwards when faced by a predator, which doesn’t help them much when approached by a moving vehicle.

Although the armadillo is associated with negative connotations, being the only other mammal to carry leprosy other than humans and often being implicated as a nuisance to homeowners and golf-course operators alike due to its burrowing behavior, I prefer to think of this creature in a more whimsical way. Rudyard Kipling said it best in, “The Beginning of the Armadillo”, a story about how a hedgehog, who couldn’t swim, and a turtle, who couldn’t curl up, became an armadillo, who could do both. The Mother Jaguar in the story remarks at the end, “But it isn’t a hedgehog, and it isn’t a tortoise. It’s a little bit of both, and I don’t know its proper name.”