Won Me

Canvas artwork has become really popular over the last few years, for the most part due to the digital photo revolution. These days people can take snap photos with their cameras, then go to a printshop specialising in canvas and get their holiday / family photographs printed on stretched canvas. Or their favourite sportsperson, actor, pop star etc. As a matter of fact, any photo that can be photographed can be printed on canvas in minutes and be art on your house walls.

Digital cameras and photo editing software such as Photoshop have suddenly made it doable to practically develop your own art on canvas - not only contributing some creative thinking and fun to the task of adorning your surroundings with canvas artwork, but saving you some money in the process.

These days there are a lot of websites that give you the option to upload your photo, select your size of canvas, and then buy it. Normally these artworks are put on canvas outstretched using stretcher bars.

If you have a canvas printshop not far from you, you can literally walk in with your photo, and walk out 20 minutes later with a canvas artwork of one of your photo - it’s that simple.

Any examples of such art? Try these : science fiction canvas art. If you’re stuck for inspiration, you can always go to a website selling royalty free photos - then take your bought photo(s) to a printshop or canvas printing website and get them printed onto canvas.

I once heard a lady say to a photographer that she would have bought his work if it had been a painting. She liked the image, but for whatever reason didn’t consider the medium suitable for her “it’s just a photo”.

I am sure that some share her thoughts, whilst others would be quite happy either way, but a growing number of people do recognise photography as an Art form. And collect it.

“There are three fundamental components of what we call art. First, is the artist; second, is the medium; and third is the artwork. All three, clearly are interrelated.” Tad Beckman

Defining photographic art

It is true many people do regard photography as merely a reproductive medium, and the photographer as simply the technician. And if this were just about your holiday snaps then it would be a valid point.

So let’s start with my definition of photographic art. I say my definition because there is no stock answer it means different things to different people.

For me it’s about creating a beautiful image that is an interpretation of the scene that I saw in my mind captured on film, rather than just a recording of what is already there.

It’s about the photographer being the choreographer of the various components; the composition is critical, as is the lighting, weather conditions and the colours at play.

It’s not just about pressing the shutter release, although timing is everything. Patience comes into play too, as you wait for all the components to be perfect all at the same time.

Some things you can control, but the weather well that constantly throws out surprises that can add that hint of drama to a picture or send you home disappointed.

It’s these uncertainties that add the challenge, and this results in creativity as you respond to the situation. Other photographers will have their own criteria, but we all are producing very personal pieces of work that we feel passionate about and that are a representation of our interpretation of the world.

A photograph - more than just a sheet of paper with an image on it?

Oh yes! Typically a photographer will capture an image that pleases their eye. They will create something that is close to their heart, and therefore give a little of themselves in the image.

Effectively they are allowing you to see how they perceive the world to be, one moment at a time. Add into the fact that many photographers print their own work (once they have an order!), and sign it then you could say you are buying a piece of history - or designer art!

In other words you are not buying a mass produced print, and naturally the price reflects this. You are buying into the reputation of that photographer and you will expect to pay more. When someone is starting out and building reputation then you are investing in the potential of that person.

You won’t pay as much, but you’ll be backing your own instinct and demonstrating your belief in that person’s talent. Contemporary photography is affordable art.

Subject matter - does it matter?

Personally I don’t believe it does, and I mean this in the sense that people will be drawn to your work because they have seen something of yours and liked your style, and typically that means they like your choice of subject matter too.

My preference is for landscapes and increasingly flowers, whilst other photographers prefer sport, people or a more abstract approach to name but a few.

I think the key to preserving artistic integrity is to shoot for your own personal satisfaction, although naturally as your reputation builds you will develop an understanding of what collectors want, but for me I always have to love the image myself to want to share it with the world. Anything less and it stays in the drawer!

I still experiment, and search for new subject matter, but my photographic style is what it is. It just keeps evolving.

A new language

Understanding the language of the image is something quite individual to the viewer, it does not explain itself in the same way to each person. It is subjective. And although some may view photography as easy, believing that there own point and shoot cameras can produce similar results to a master photographer are confusing the issue.

After all most of us have made paintings at some time in our lives, and may still own paint brushes, but wouldn’t necessarily look at a painting by a master and not consider it to be art would we?

It is the heart and hand of the author behind the brush, camera or pen that executes the creative vision not the tools used.

About the author: Sue Kennedy, LRPS & LBIPP
Sue Kennedy is an UK based photographer specialising in outdoor photography and works on commission for companies & individuals as well as shooting for picture libraries. To purchase from Sue’s current print and card selection visit her Website http://www.blueeyesphoto.com

Copyright © 2004 Sue Kennedy
Blue Eyes Photography Ltd

Digital photography lighting may utilize the same light as film cameras, but these cameras have very different ways of reading, interpreting, and dealing with it.

Digital photography lighting presents many challenges, not the least being that some CCD sensors still lack the broad exposure latitude of color films.

This means that some digital photos taken in strong light conditions, may have empty shadows and blown out highlights.

However, this is exactly where these cameras have the upper hand! They offer you the opportunity to test your understanding of digital photography lighting conditions, and to learn from previous mistakes!

Most digital cameras have preset digital photography lighting modes, or “scenes”, which have been carefully set up to deal with a wide variety of lighting situations.

To give an example: a camera such as the popular Olympus SP500 Ultra Zoom has 21 preset scenes. If a more challenging digital photography lighting situation arise, you can easily choose any one of these to get the perfect shot.

The ‘night & portrait’ scene is for shooting both your main subject, and an illuminated background in the night. This setting uses a slower than normal shutter speed.

Then there is the “museum” setting which is optimized for shooting without a flash (or sound!) in a museum, or art gallery - or when your kid is sleeping… This is where the versatility of digital photography lighting clearly shows itself.

With digital photography lighting, most cameras have various options for white balancing. This is the process of determining what will be the baseline white in your image, relative to which other colors are rendered.

Digital cameras boast options such as daylight, cloudy, shade, and tungsten. Most cameras also have an automatic setting for white balancing.

Many of these cameras also display a histogram to help judge exposure (under or overexposure) in different digital photography lighting situations.

What about lighting equipment? You don’t necessarily need expensive lighting equipment. For example, if you’re taking informal portraits of your family and friends, you can easily start with something such as the Screwfix double 500W site light set including a telescopic tripod.

To help you master both the technical and creative aspects related to digital photography lighting, Michael Freeman has written ‘Digital Photography Expert: Light & Lighting: The Definitive Guide For Serious Digital Photographers’.

He includes 350 photographs to demonstrate the most important techniques. He explains the full spectrum of light, how the camera measures it, as well as how to get color accuracy in your digital images.

If you want to fully explore how to use post-processing in Photoshop to achieve a variety of digital photography lighting results, you may want to study ‘Creative Photoshop Lighting Techniques, Revised and Updated’, by Barry Huggins.

Huggins explains techniques such as how to bring sunshine into cloudy day pictures, and to create underwater effects. You can also find out about light sources, and different types of light, such as candlelight and neon.

The message of these authors are clear: practice, practice, practice makes for perfect digital photography lighting!

For more information visit Best-Digital-Photography.com

Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.