The power of Photoshop – spoof commercial

Maybe she’s born with it. No, I’m pretty sure it’s Photoshop.

This is a hysterical look at and critique of the dominance of Photoshop in the images we see.

Anyone know where I can get some pro-pixel intensifying fauxtanical hydro-jargon micro bead extract infused with nutritive volumizing technology before my next close-up?

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Creative photography idea from Creative Sparks photographer Lee Chestnut

Greetings from Florida! This week’s featured image from Creative Sparks is by photographer Lee Chestnut. When Lee first saw this scene it reminded him of the postcards from Florida he used to see as a child. He set up his camera on a tripod to capture the landscape and then used Photoshop Elements to process the image, muting the colors and completing the vintage postcard feel.

Lee Chestnut, Jungle Cruise, Color Photograph, 2013

Lee Chestnut, Jungle Cruise, Color Photograph, 2013

 

I really enjoy the overall feel of this image. The muted colors transform this common Florida scene into something extraordinary, something that sparks my curiosity by refreshing my vision of the everyday.

The perspective in the photograph is also very interesting. I like the way the canal leads my eye to the back of the image and the way the clouds move it back forward. There is a calm sense of motion in this quiet photograph.

Nice work Lee!

Creative Sparks is a unique photography class and creativity workshop based in Vero Beach, Florida. Students are guided to discover their creative vision with nationally recognized artist/photographer Aric Attas in a small group setting.

Photograph © Lee Chestnut. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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Interesting quote on photography by Susan Sontag

“Today everything exists to end in a photograph.” – Susan Sontag

This quote comes from Susan Sontag’s pioneering book On Photography. First published in 1977 and described by Sontag as “a progress of essays about the meaning and career of photographs” it’s amazing how true this statement has become in the age of digital photography and social media.

You can pick up a copy of Susan Sontag’s classic book On Photography from my Amazon store here. It’s an interesting read that will get you thinking about the meaning of photographs.

To learn more about Susan Sontag visit the Susan Sontag Foundation website.

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Creative Photography Ideas From Creative Sparks Photographer Bob Webster

This week’s featured photograph from Creative Sparks comes from Bob Webster. Normally Bob is trekking through the U.K. and other locations around the world making beautiful photographs of flowers, gardens and rustic country landscapes. This week Bob took advantage of an unusually foggy day at home in Vero Beach by exploring the native plants in the undeveloped areas around his home.

Bob Webster, Foggy Morning, Color Photograph, 2013

Bob Webster, Foggy Morning, Color Photograph, 2013

 

I really enjoy the contrast between complexity and simplicity in this photograph. The image is quiet yet full of movement and energy. The limited color palette adds to the stillness of the image while the strong lines of the angled grass at the bottom and more delicate lines throughout the middle contribute to the complexity.

Meditative and energizing. Nice work Bob!

Creative Sparks is a unique photography class and creativity workshop based in Vero Beach, Florida. Students are guided to discover their creative vision with nationally recognized artist/photographer Aric Attas in a small group setting.

Photograph © Bob Webster. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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Inspiring Quote From E. B. White

While not a photographer or the type of artist I usually quote from I found this quote from the American author E. B. White particularly inspiring. White is best know for his children’s books, Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little & The Trumpet of the Swan. You may also be familiar with the classic English language style guide The Elements of Style co-authored with William Strunk, Jr..

“I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.” – E.B. White

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Creative photography idea from Creative Sparks photographer Bill Lord

This week’s featured image from Creative Sparks comes from Bill Lord. Bill attended the Vero Beach Air Show over the weekend and brought in a number of very interesting photographs last night. I particularly like the simplicity of this image and the way the Bill was able to frame his photo to create such interesting space, both positive and negative. The curves and lines in the image capture the sleek, elegant vision often associated with early air travel suggesting a story with very little information.

Great work Bill!

Bill Lord, Turbo Cowling & Exhaust, Color Photograph, 2013

Bill Lord, Turbo Cowling & Exhaust, Color Photograph, 2013

 

Creative Sparks is a unique photography class and creativity workshop based in Vero Beach, Florida. Students are guided to discover their creative vision with nationally recognized artist/photographer Aric Attas in a small group setting.

Photograph © Bill Lord. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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Architectural photography for Vero Home, Life & Design magazine

It’s finally here! The October/November issue of Vero Home, Life & Design magazine has been delivered from the printer to our studio and is being distributed around town and beyond as I type!

This is a very special issue focusing on food and fashion. I was fortunate enough to work with some of the best chefs in Vero Beach and I’m grateful for their generosity and creativity. Be prepared to get hungry.

Outdoor kitchen cover photo for Vero Home, Life & Design Magazine by Aric Attas.

Outdoor kitchen cover for Vero Home, Life & Design Magazine. Architectural photography by Aric Attas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get your personal copy in Vero Beach at the following locations:
Vero Beach Book Center
Corey’s Pharmacy
Village Beach Market
Both 7-11’s on A1A

Subscriptions and additional online content are available on our website http://www.verohomelifeanddesign.com

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How To Be Creative by Off Book & PBS Digital Studios

Want to be more creative? Check out this is fascinating video that examines the creative process by questioning some of the myths surrounding it. What is the creative process? Is there such a thing as originality? Can the creative process be broken down into meaningful steps? Is collaboration useful for encouraging creativity?

Off Book is a PBS web series that explores cutting-edge art, internet culture, and the people that create it.

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Inspiring photograph by Creative Sparks photographer Laurie Young

We had another amazing Creative Sparks session last night. Lots of great photos and insights from the group. I always enjoy our Thursday evenings and want to thank everyone who was been there over the past few months for participating and bringing such great work.

This week’s featured image is from Laurie Young. Laurie went to Boston as part of her summer vacation and brought back lots of interesting photographs including this one taken of the Irish Famine Memorial.

Laurie Young, Irish Famine Memorial, Boston, MA, Color Photograph, 2013

Laurie Young, Irish Famine Memorial, Boston, MA, Color Photograph, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really like the strong diagonal lines of the buildings leading down to the figure in the sculpture. Even without the context of the entire memorial we clearly see the emaciation in the woman’s hand as she raises it to block the sun from her eyes. The light is in perfect place making the sculpture feel alive.

Thanks Laurie!

Creative Sparks is a unique photography class and creativity workshop based in Vero Beach, Florida. Students are guided to discover their creative vision with nationally recognized artist/photographer Aric Attas in a small group setting.

Photograph © Laurie Young. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

 

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Inspiring quote on creativity by Paul Caponigro

Here’s a beautiful quote on photography & creativity from Paul Caponigro.

“At the root of creativity is an impulse to understand, to make sense of random and often unrelated details. For me, photography provides an intersection of time, space, light, and emotional stance. One needs to be still enough, observant enough, and aware enough to recognize the life of the materials, to be able to ‘hear through the eyes’.” – Paul Caponigro

Paul Caponigro, Running White Deer, 1967

Paul Caponigro, Running White Deer, 1967

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is an interesting description of Paul Caponigro’s photography from the summary of his book Paul Caponigro: An Aperture Monograph 1972 on Amazon.com:

“Paul Caponigro is a poet among photographers. His work has a rhythmic quality that evokes movement yet stillness. His photographs lead into realms of unknown beauty. He tries to go beyond the surface into the essence of his subject: the flowers exhale fragrance, a sunlit sunflower is a heliograph in every sense of the word, snow is myth, stones and rocks radiate their nature with tactile sensations. As an accomplished photographer and musician, Caponigro understands the use of technique to achieve artistic integrity. He strives for technical perfection, but he is not limited by technique. As a poet uses words, as a musician uses notes, he translates the world and his feeling about it into his visual language. This monograph tells more about Paul Caponigro than words can. It gives us the privilege of visiting undiscovered worlds through the sensual events of this world. It makes us know what it is to be stone or wood through the intuitions of light. Through his work that rare thing happens: what the heart feels is revealed in a radiance of outward form.”

To read an interesting conversation with Paul Caponigro and John Paul Caponigro about photography, creativity & spirituality visit: http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/lib/artists/caponigro.php

Check out these amazing photography books by Paul Caponigro available from my Amazon bookstore.

                                        

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