Manipulating the Sky

Earlier I showed already a snapshot of a remarkable cloud. Now you can see the use of it when combined with one of the other shots I made in Sicily. It was a lot of fun and the results were great.
There is of course a limit in how big you can go in printing. They are printed on A3 paper (29,7 x 42 cm) and framed in black which gives a 40 x 50 cm frame.
So within the technical limitations the old adagio is proven: it's not the camera but the man behind who makes the picture. Certainly so when 50% of the result is made by the post-production of the shot (read Photoshop).

Manipulate This... Canadian Digital Art Exhibition

'Manipulate This' is an exhibition featuring the work of ten Stratford area artists, which expresses their vision of hybrid art. It explores the digital arts from the perspective of traditionally artistic backgrounds such as that of painting, sculpture, photography, drawing and printmaking.

A snippet from an exhibition announcement.
Arts writer Christine Walde comments on artists influenced by the new media arts:
“Artists have always employed the technologies of their time, and as the knowledge and usage of computers and digital technology increases, it is only natural that artists should incorporate this technology into their work, pushing the boundaries of their artistic practice. As a result, a new generation of artists are emerging, exploring technology at the root of its power. As the future pulls us forward, many artists feel they are compelled to follow in modernism’s footprints, propelled by the technology that carries them. In many ways, digital technology and new media is the new clay. But what’s most interesting, however, is when the technology falls away to reveal the art itself and the viewer is empowered.”

Glad to read that I'm not alone in this search...

Catching clouds

Finally I'm able to catch those moments when you see something and you wished you had your camera with you. Like when you are driving and sees one of these marvelous skies.
That became possible because I needed a new mobile phone. Already a long time ago I made a list of what my next GSM should be able to do (compatible to my Mac for addresses and calendar, a more than 3 megapixel camera...) And finally they made what I always wanted and even more... video shooting in MP4! The Nokia N93, as this multimedia marvel is called, is now my permanent companion and works as a sketchbook, just quicker. It makes a very spontaneous photography possible and it's a lot of fun. Mainly because of it's point and shoot capacity with the big display. I am curious what his influence will be on my future creative work...

More about the Nokia Nseries

Mandala making

While playing around with the leaves of a Japanese tree and with the help of a birds drinking water this mandala came out.
The grass was manipulated into a circle and with the right color temperature of the unstable evening sun the one megapixel of the video camera could shoot it. Thanks to his movable display and my long arms it could be taken flat.
With some Photoshop manipulation for the color of the grass these nature elements transformed into an attractive mandala.
Since the petals are floating on water it was at least for me a meditation. Maybe something comes across when you focus on it...

More on mandala's

Discoloration in nature

Few years ago a small Japanese tree was planted for his seasonal change of color. Since it was so beautiful it inspired me to create something with the fallen leaves.
Creation always works with the inspiration, the coincidences and the openness for all possibilities that the subject itself offers. But sorting, classification and looking for some structure in it can help too, as well as ‘playing’ with it.
So this came out... among others. Enhancing the beauty of the colors with a black background and giving a material contrast with the rain.