DebzB - A Virtual Existence?

The emotions involved....

2008-07-29T09:57:00.002+01:00

..... in creating that perfect image.

This was my thought of the week! Is it just a case of a lucky click - the right place at the right time? Or is there something more.... careful planning to portray the emotion or just an emotional attachment to the finished product?
Let's see shall we?

"Sister Two" by Adrian Rachele

"This image was taken of my sister-in-law after our visit to AuschwitzWe went to a bar in the old Jewish quarter of Krakow, to have a drink and reflect.

I think this image best displays our feelings at the time. A feeling none of us had ever experienced before. To have been, too see, to smell such a place of despair and death.
A day I will always remember." - Adrian Rachele

"On Her Way" by Sue Wickham

"THIS WAS THE LAST PHOTO I TOOK OF OUR DAUGHTER BEFORE SHE LEFT IN THE CAR ON HER WAY TO THE CHURCH WITH HER DAD…......." - Sue Wickham

"Beautiful Creation" by lallymac

"I have an emotional attachment to this image for 2 reasons. Firstly, it was probably the first pic I took that left me feeling that I might have some talent and it just felt so special having been able to capture a moment that had real meaning for me.

Secondly, this image will serve to remind me of the place I have called home for the last 2 years and I will always think of those times with great joy.

The priviledge of observing the soft and gentle light of this dawn left me feeling peaceful all day." - lallymac

In interview with.... me

2008-07-19T16:31:00.003+01:00

A fellow artist on redbubble.com requested the answers to a few questions. Want to see how the interview transpired? Read on.....

1. What is the model and make of your most used camera and what is the preferred lens type (if an slr)?

In my folio? Canon EOS 350D with Canon 18-55mm but recent usage Canon EOS 450D with 55-250mm IS

2. If you were to invest in a new camera, what would be the camera of choice and why?

Just did a few months back - Canon EOS 450D with 2 IS lenses. but if I had the cash to splash it would be the 5D ;)

3. Do you like manipulating your photos on digital remastering software(s) ... If so please give details of same and the reason why this is preferred?

Yep - Photoshop CS2 preferred coz I don't have the money for CS3 yet! hehe

4. What type(s) of photography do you most enjoy and why (sc work, macro, b&w, portraits, etc)?

I take mostly landscapes, but haven't tried enough different "types" to comment on my favourite subject. Next project should be portraits!

5. Who and what has influenced your work to date?

I draw my influences from the things I see around me every day. I'm instantly inspired as soon as i look through the viewfinder.

6. Have you had inspiration from other RB users? If so please list them here and the piece(s) that have inspired you most and why?

Yes, but I'm not going to single just a few out.

7. Give six good reasons why you enjoy RB?

1. community - the chance to converse with like minded individuals

2. inspiration - inspiring artworks are just the click of a button away

3. aspiration - to become as talented as many of the individuals here

4. worldwide - who needs to hop on a plain to make international friendships work?!

5. opportunity - to market yourself and your artwork internationally

6. just plain fun! - need i say more?

8. Who is your favourite RB person … now dont say "ah actually there are many" … we probably know that … just your fave … and dont be affraid to mention him/her?

myself.... _collapses into a fit of laughter_no, seriously, i'm not going to single out just one.

If you wouldn't mind taking a looksie at these two though, I've spent enough time talking to them over the past months to call them my friends.

Adriana Glackin

Dana DiPasquale

9. If there was a country/region of preference (fave RB users) where would it be and why?

Where I would like my fave users to be from, or where i would like to be myself?

My fave users are literally from all over the place. Although if Icould be one place in the world right now it would be Sydney, Australia.

10. How many hours per week would you spend on RB?

I'd prefer not to count!

11. Have you sold much work on RB … how many pieces to date?

A fair bit. No idea exactly how many, but a few more wouldn't hurt.... visit my portfolio and get shopping please! (shameless I know!)

12. How long have you been using RB (membership)?

Joined Sept 07 but only started actively uploading etc when I got my new laptop at Christmas. So since Boxing Day 07.

13. How many times has your work been favourited during this period?

I have no baldy notion. Plain and simple. Enough to make me feel I must be doing something right, but not enough to make me think I've nothing to work towards.

14. What was your most memorable RB moment?

Making the featured page pretty early on in my membership. Was well chuffed at that one!

15. Has anyone ever offended you or been rude to you on RB? ... discuss if you like!!!

Yes. Those of you who know me will know who, why and when :) Those who don't will get an idea if you read my "Vision, Opinion and Oppression" journal.

16. How many viewings of you art have you had to date? ... if you dont know go find out and come back !!!

I have had more than my counter tells me, because I regularly rotate my images, and when making an image "private" after it's been viewed, those views are deducted. I'm not one for notching up the milestones - I'm here to showcase what could be my "best" artworks to date, and so the rotation of images thing is important to me, meaning keeping an accurate count of views is impossible.

17. Name ONE piece of art that … in your opinion … is the best for you from your own gallery ?

"Pollen" has been popular since I first uploaded it, and went down particularly well in my college interview portfolio.

18. Name ONE piece of art that … in your opinion … is best for you from someone elses gallery?

Again, I'm not willing to pick just one, coz I like so many images! Check out my favourites to see just a few!

19. Have you bought any art from other users on RB … if so list them and type (card, poster, laminated print, etc)?

Yep, see relevant journals (if they are still up!!)

A Sepia Moment....

2008-07-16T18:12:00.006+01:00

Well, much to my dismay, I've been a little snowed under with "real world" things lately and my virtual existence has been pretty much a non-event. But, FEAR NOT! I am back!

What's been tickling my artsy eye this week?

Sepia toning.

Don't you just love how it gives a traditional feel to modern views? Hmmmmm, I do!

Here are a few well worth a look.....

"Will nobody love me?" by Adriana Glackin

Really like this for more reasons than I can even list (Don't want to go all "War and Peace" on you!) but just look at the smaller details, just for a second, and you'll see what I'm talking about. Such fantastic post-processing. The shadows, the layers of text, the varying sepia tones. The image just screams "LOVE ME!" And I do.

"Darkened Hope" by Karri Klawiter

A new image with an olde worlde twist. Again, just look at the beautiful layering with an aged "letter", the glow emanating from the centre of that beautiful flower. This image, for me, encourages thoughts of possibility stemming from past endeavours.

"Small in Sepia" by Debbie Black

My own image, but I love it none the less! A macro shot of those cutesy little flowers that serve to "fluff out" a bouquet. I happened to be playing around with macro AND camera settings at the time, and this is straight off the camera. Turned out pretty well - don't ya think?

Remember to click on the links to visit the artist's pages and show your appreciation!

The Gift of Art

2008-07-06T20:14:00.005+01:00

As I've mentioned before, my charitable act of choice is "The Gift of Art".
Want to see the fantastic new promo tool for the cause?
Click here....
(For best results please view in "High Quality" mode on the youtube website)

Landscaping

2008-07-02T23:09:00.004+01:00

So, here goes my first themed photography feature.... Landscapes.

Some beautifully executed landscape images are floating around redbubble right now but here are just a few to tickle those artistic tastebuds!

First up?

"We Break and We Bend and We Turn Ourselves Inside Out" by Dana DiPasquale

Such a chilling, atmospheric image. I have to say it's one of my all time favourites! The muted colours and treatments used to give the image it's overall effect are simply stunning.

Nice work Dana!

Note - This image is on sale as part of The Gift of Art charity fundraiser here. Help vital cancer research by purchasing in a variety of options, from an inexpensive greeting card, to poster sized print right through to a beautifully unique framed print.

Next?

"End of the Trail" by Tom Vaughan

It may well be the "end of the trail" but just look at what we find when we get there! The ever-so-slightly sepia toning used here makes for a timeless yet striking image. Don't you think?

Finally, I'm going to add a splash of pink to the proceedings.... (and that's not just my blushes about the shameless self promotion that's about to begin!)

"Sunrise Line-up" by Debbie Black

A photograph taken early one winter morning (January if I recall correctly!) as I rushed off to work - late as usual! As i made my way down the hill at the back of the house I simply couldn't let this sunrise escape the lens. The pastel stripes behind the silhouetted line of trees quite simply took my breath away. Completely untouched image.

Featured Artist - Adriana Glackin (Australia)

2008-06-30T20:20:00.006+01:00

The Red Shoes by Adriana Glackin

"I love these shoes! I fell in love with them the minute I saw them in the shoe store window, and knew I just had to find an occasion in order to justify buying them. Luckily, I managed to find not one but three occasions! You’re either a shoe person or you’re not – and me, I’m a shoe person, so the shoe purchase always comes before the outfit. The rest of the outfit becomes quite secondary. I knew I just had to photograph them, and here they are emerging from the blackness, revealing their magical qualities that allow you to forget your cares and dance until the small hours of the morning. I would be lost without these magical, twinkling, dancing shoes and wonder what others do who don’t own such a pair?" - Adriana Glackin

Featured Artist: Dana DiPasquale (USA)

2008-06-20T23:39:00.008+01:00

Waiting to Say Goodbye – Dana DiPasquale

“This photograph has a very special meaning to me. I was visiting with my aunt and uncle, the family gathered, waiting to attend funeral services for a beloved uncle that has passed away. The night before we did out best to enjoy each other’s company and joke around like we usually do, but mostly we were just trying to get through the night so we could say our goodbyes in the morning. I saw these antique children’s chairs that my aunt had and decided to spend some time taking photos of them to get my mind off of things. I brought the chair out to the garage so that the smooth, rich wood would be in stark contrast to the rough, stained concrete floor. A running theme throughout my photography is viewing objects from new perspectives, so as I stood on a ladder that I found and tried taking photographs without falling, my uncle walked by and laughed at me. “You’re taking a picture of a chair?” he said. I told him “You just wait – this will be a masterpiece!” but I am pretty sure he didn’t believe me. The photograph turned out exactly the way I had envisoned, a sense of being in a room but high above it like an omnipotent source, alone, expecting someone to be there who isn’t, a bit of a faded memory. This fine art piece hangs on my own wall, and I smile when I see it for it is a reminder of the family I love.” - Dana DiPasquale

My Charitable Act of Choice......

2008-06-19T21:54:00.003+01:00

The Gift of Art
A fundraising initiative has recently been undertaken by the group A Photographer's Craft. The photographers from all the corners of the globe are linked via the on-line art community redbubble.

Between the months of May and August 2008, all proceeds from the sale of cards, matted prints, laminated prints, mounted prints, canvases, framed prints and posters made via the artists' online gallery found at The Gift of Art will be donated to the National Cancer Institute.

It is the hope of the artists to bring to light the need to support such a significant international health concern that touches so many lives on a daily basis. Supporting this initiative by purchasing art from The Gift of Art, you are also showing your support in contributing to cancer research, celebrating those who have survived their struggle with cancer and honouring those who are no longer with us.

To show your support, please visit The Gift of Art

So full of good intentions!

2008-06-19T00:50:00.005+01:00

There I was, creating my blog, dreaming of all the wonderful things I would write about each and every day.... now here I am, resigned to the fact that I have, once again, failed.

It all seemed so simple at the time - log on everyday and bring some well thought out snippet of creative enlightenment to the virtual world... now here I am making apologies so soon!

Now I know what you're thinking.... "get to the point!"
So today I'll have to reply, "There is none".

And so it began.....

2008-06-16T22:44:00.006+01:00

..... with a huge idea. The kind of idea that never quite seems possible..... until you try!
And I'm not talking about world domination, not yet at least.

So, here I am offering the world my view.

I'm a photographer, so please forgive me if I get excited about things like new art I've seen, photography I wish I'd produced and fantastic artists I'm quite simply in awe of!