I met this fellow last week. He is actually a fireman. And he was friendly enough to let me take his picture. I explained that it would end up in a wild edit and showed him some examples on the spot with my phone. He was cool with that. And here we are. Check out more like this at my Pinterest, Flickr, iPhoneArt, Instagram, or 500px collections.
What do you think? Ever met someone randomly and asked if you could take their picture? How’d that go? Let us hear from you in the comments.
The Instagram-based group, MobileArtistry, includes me in their gallery today as a featured artist. I created this montage as an example of my style for the feature and did the following writeup on my technique. My huge thanks to them for the highlight.
Up With The Sun – click to see more like this at Pinterest
Ever since seeing a book of Jerry Uelsmann’s photomontages in college, I’ve been fascinated with the art form and have since become motivated to become a professional graphic artist, designing for over 16 years now. Manipulating reality for artistic effect in Photoshop has always been my favorite part of designing, so when I discovered iPhoneography, and especially the app Photoforge2, which is very similar to Photoshop, I was hooked. It was seeing the evocative iPhoneography of Sion Fullana that inspired me to give it a go, and Sion was even good enough to share his guidance with me on what apps to get started with.
Repost of “Up With The Sun” at MobileArtistry
How The Magic Happens
I basically take photos all the time with my iPhone 4 of whatever I find interesting. When the urge to create strikes, I’ll mix ‘em up and see what happens. It’s really as simple as that. Sometimes I know exactly where I’m headed, and other times I’m just along for the ride, letting magic from the universe do the driving.
For this montage, I combined two photos I took on a Saturday in late summer: one of a wig mannequin at a beauty supply shop, and another of a rising cloud at a winery out in the country. Both were shot originally in with Hipstamatic, using the John S. lens. Wig girl was shot with Rock BW-11 film, and the cloud was shot with Blanko film. You can see the originals at my Flickr stream.
Originals for this montage – click to view at Flickr
I brought wig girl into Dynamic Light and gave her the Solarize treatment. I also used Noir to get the right mix of monochrome highlights in the cloud scene. Next, I brought both images together in Photoforge2, each on its own layer. I set wig girl’s blending mode to Overlay, then selectively hid and revealed bits of each layer via masking. Finally, I did some minor cloning cleanup in Filterstorm, then added the copyright & signature with Phonto. I named this after a U2 song lyric in “Gone,” an expansive rising track that seemed appropriate for this composition.
What’s amazing to me is how, as I’ve become adept with a few apps, I can pull techniques from each of them almost like selecting colors on a palette. It’s like having a box of tools to achieve an artistic vision… that fits in your pocket and makes phone calls, too.
Thanks very much to MobileArtistry for featuring me – it’s an honor to be included with such beautiful, creative art. Definitely check out their great gallery for consistently innovative creations.
I saw this guy hanging out one morning from the inside of a glass door (hanging out, ha!) and snapped a few quick images using a Photojojo macro lens and Hipstamatic app via iPhone. With a slightly different angle, I then featured this fellow in a montage: Mr. Waspy McFlowerstein.
What do you think? Ever experimented with macro photography? What do you think of wasps? What would you name this guy? Let us hear from you in the comments!
As the camera resolution and image quality increases with each iPhone release, we hear the word tossed around more and more: IPhoneography - the use of the iPhone as a professional artistic medium. There has been much skepticism communicated around this medium due to the commonly accepted idea that 'anyone can take a picture with their phone.' However, photographer, artist and writer…
Okay, this is it for the moth photo posts (for a while, anyway). I usually do a Single Image Sundays post right about now, but I’m supersizing it for you with a bonus slide show of select photos I’ve taken & shared in support of National Moth Week, which ends today. Here ’tis:
This project motivated me to expand on the moth photography I was already doing, and I’m happy to report the results have been totally worthwhile. I’ve also enjoyed viewing a ton of interesting moth photos from around the country and have discovered the world of nature photography over at Project Noah (find me there as rsmithing).
Just in case the slide show up top doesn’t render, here’s my favorite image with a link to the whole set on Flickr:
“Catch Me If You Can”
What do you think? Have you ever participated in a group photo project, or nature documentation? Ever experimented with macro photography? Let us hear from you in the comments!
It just so happened that my phone was ready for a quick snapshot when I got up to the bar last night. This bartender’s ace-up-the-sleeve tattoo, literally up a sleeve (though not the typical sleeve tattoo), makes an appropriate background for a highball glass alight with a candle. Shot with an iPhone4, processed using Noir and Dynamic Light. Check out my iPhoneography board for similar stuff. Cheers.
What do you think? Ever seen a cool tattoo at an appropriate moment for a photo opportunity? Do you take photos more often with your phone or with a camera? Let us hear from you in the comments!
There’s a lot to appreciate about old cameras. I think they’re an art form unto themselves, having to achieve a goal (photography) in a certain way (conveniently, effectively), with a certain set of rules (workable by human hands). The more I explore photography, the more I’m drawn to these classic designs as a way of connecting with history.
Collecting Classic Cameras = Cool
I left the above comment on Down The Road, a blog by Jim Grey in Indiana. He did an excellent post earlier this year on why he collects vintage cameras, and I re-read it again today. Since that time, I’ve taken the above photo, and have become even more obsessed with photographic shooting techniques, cameras, iPhoneography, photo apps, artists… the list goes on. I say even more obsessed, because I was already far gone in the first place. Here’s what Jim says in return:
These classic designs are absolutely a link to history. Imagining what the world was like at the time one of my old cameras was new is part of what makes me collect!
I like the idea that mechanics, functionality and design all come together in these devices from the past, each of which were the height of technology at some point, and that we can still appreciate them today. And even now, as I’ve pretty much ditched my point-and-shoot camera for my iPhone, the trend continues. I view these vestiges with respect and fascination.
What do you think? Ever owned or operated a vintage camera? Do you collect any vintage gear such as these, vintage suitcases, or any other type of antique? Let us hear from you in the comments!
I put this montage together over the weekend. I shot the elements separately with Hipstamatic, adjusted lighting in Noir, then assembled everything in Photoforge2. Inspired by the work of the great Jerry Uelsmann.
What do you think? Are you into montages and/or collages, and what is your opinion on the difference? Have you ever heard of Jerry Uelsmann, or been influenced by another artist? Let us hear from you in the comments!
Skull ring in macro view plus a shot of a flower I planted in my yard with a helpful model all work together in this composition. It’s really one of my favorite things in the world when vastly separate images meld for enhanced artistic impact through some editing. I’ve gotten into montages lately, and I’m pleased with how this one turned out. Check out the source images below, also over at Flickr.
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