Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts
3/24/18
3/23/18
1/4/15
10/14/13
6/24/13
5/3/13
3/6/13
12/31/12
3/9/12
Rules? There Are Rules?
On creativity and innovation stifled by The Rules...
Although I learned elements of composition in photography, art and writing along with other rules such as theme, perspective, point of view, balance, development as they applied to each genre there's a point where is seems to me once the basics are learned they're simply guidelines. Yes, yes, yes, I know many photographers, artists and writers will argue with me on the fine head of a pin over that concept but they miss the point. My real message is they become restrictive to the truly creative person and unless the rules are bent, reshaped, molded and played around with nothing new is discovered.
Photography is a great example of too many people going to the workshop and learning techniques, going out and perfecting them to a fault. The result is the vast majority of photography is dull and boring and it is omnipresent and all looks alike. Let me state to prevent being misunderstood that I think there is value in learning the basics and for many hobbyists they're a necessity but to move into being a visual artist my view is you have to and must experiment. How many black and white photographs of birds in flight or sitting on the wire are there? The cliche is replicated by the millions and you would think the standard way it's been done wouldn't be seen anymore yet I see it enough that it makes me want to do it differently...just because.
Here's another cliche for you: it's a metaphor for life in general. Personally I'm quite alright with the majority of people following the rules in all sorts of things whether it's artistic or the mundane details of daily living. It gives me the opportunity to stand up to do something different and stand out when I do. Which is rather odd for a somewhat anti-social person such as myself and perhaps there is some complex psychology there I don't want to bother delving into. There are enough people without artistic talent who like to study why anti-social behavior and creative expression seem to go hand in hand. Make that three cliches in this writing.
So here are three photographs I snapped in classic black and white following rules when I originally took them. They would have been good stock photos I suppose for a collection or I could have edited them in the usual workshop way. Instead I processed them with fairly simple techniques and I won't go so far as to say they're spectacularly unique or different and quite possibly they've been done similarly before. The purpose of my divergence in their creation was to renovate and metamorphose images that originally followed rules and see if bending them would lead to innovation either now or as progress in developing my own distinctive visual art.
Although I learned elements of composition in photography, art and writing along with other rules such as theme, perspective, point of view, balance, development as they applied to each genre there's a point where is seems to me once the basics are learned they're simply guidelines. Yes, yes, yes, I know many photographers, artists and writers will argue with me on the fine head of a pin over that concept but they miss the point. My real message is they become restrictive to the truly creative person and unless the rules are bent, reshaped, molded and played around with nothing new is discovered.
Photography is a great example of too many people going to the workshop and learning techniques, going out and perfecting them to a fault. The result is the vast majority of photography is dull and boring and it is omnipresent and all looks alike. Let me state to prevent being misunderstood that I think there is value in learning the basics and for many hobbyists they're a necessity but to move into being a visual artist my view is you have to and must experiment. How many black and white photographs of birds in flight or sitting on the wire are there? The cliche is replicated by the millions and you would think the standard way it's been done wouldn't be seen anymore yet I see it enough that it makes me want to do it differently...just because.
So here are three photographs I snapped in classic black and white following rules when I originally took them. They would have been good stock photos I suppose for a collection or I could have edited them in the usual workshop way. Instead I processed them with fairly simple techniques and I won't go so far as to say they're spectacularly unique or different and quite possibly they've been done similarly before. The purpose of my divergence in their creation was to renovate and metamorphose images that originally followed rules and see if bending them would lead to innovation either now or as progress in developing my own distinctive visual art.
1/3/12
9/19/11
City of Rocks
Boulders crafted by nature 35 million years ago...
There are only six places in the world with rock formations like these boulders and one is in New Mexico. Created by a huge explosion named after what it formed, the Kneeling Nun monolith, the volcanic ash was roughcast by wind, water and time leaving these stone monuments to sit in a grassland plain. They rise up in chimera as if ancient secrets are hidden in recesses with passages that wind around to wander and wonder if they hold some answer to an unknown question.
Over centuries people have sought shelter and protection among these geologic pinnacles from weather and animals of prey. Among them were the Mimbres Indians who left behind arrowheads, pottery shards and
mortars ground into the stone formations by pestling seeds into flour. The mortars are called "Indian Wells" since water collects in them after it rains. Apaches later came to the area. During the 1500s Spanish conquistadors passing by left carved crosses in the lava and soon after Spaniard settlers arrived. In the early 19th century mining began in nearby Santa Rita.
The area is rich in flora and fauna occupied by eagles and hawks, horned owls, roadrunners and cactus wrens. Squirrels, jackrabbits, packrats, mule deer, javelinas and coyotes call the area home where many types of snakes are also found alongside a wide variety of lizards. Yucca and ocotillo, barrel and hedgehog cacti, century plants and desert willow surround the rocks among the grama grass. Within the passageways of the rocks emory and gray oaks grow. A trail goes to a desert botanical garden.
The City of Rocks has been a New Mexico State Park since 1952. Located in the Mimbres Valley near Bayard. It is in the far reaches of the Chihuahuan desert at an elevation of 5200 feet with mild winters and warm
summers. The unique geography makes for imaginative exploration of the volcanic ash formations thrusting up into the air and trailing the surrounding area. Clear night sky star gazing chances an "ah ha!" moment on ancient pathways.
There are only six places in the world with rock formations like these boulders and one is in New Mexico. Created by a huge explosion named after what it formed, the Kneeling Nun monolith, the volcanic ash was roughcast by wind, water and time leaving these stone monuments to sit in a grassland plain. They rise up in chimera as if ancient secrets are hidden in recesses with passages that wind around to wander and wonder if they hold some answer to an unknown question.
Over centuries people have sought shelter and protection among these geologic pinnacles from weather and animals of prey. Among them were the Mimbres Indians who left behind arrowheads, pottery shards and
The City of Rocks has been a New Mexico State Park since 1952. Located in the Mimbres Valley near Bayard. It is in the far reaches of the Chihuahuan desert at an elevation of 5200 feet with mild winters and warm
8/11/11
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