art
A snapshot of photography as an art form; explore art museums and galleries devoted to photography, iconic photographers, the history of fine art photography and more.
Fight or Flight
I go on a walk every morning. Many of these walks have been spent with me looking down at my phone trying to catch up on work emails or browsing social media. I never seem to expect much out of them, except burning a few extra calories throughout my day. But this day changed it all for me. It was late March, beautiful weather with the Sun welcoming spring after the February rains. I took my camera out, excited to have finally gotten the lens I spent months raising the funds for. My lens allowed me to zoom a little further than my eyes could; I was ready to discover a new world I had overlooked all along. The first few minutes were a little disheartening as I thought to myself "what am I even supposed to capture in such a plain neighborhood? Photographers travel to extreme lengths to capture remarkable photos and all I have is a few trees, some streetlights, and birds that I hear but can't even reach." I finally caught a squirrel on sight, it almost seemed as it was posing for me with a nut in its mouth. I pointed my camera as fast as I could and took the shot! To my surprise, the squirrel did not even flinch. Not sure if it was his way of trying to camouflage and avoid my presence or if he really enjoyed the attention? Excited about the photo I captured of his cute little face, I continued my walk opening my eyes more to what was around. I stumbled across this water fountain; it was empty. As I was looking around to capture something a bit more exciting, I noticed birds gravitating towards it. There were birds chirping at each other, taking turns to bathe, arguing, loving, and all sorts of endless interactions. I took many photos of the scene, so excited to be able to observe them closely. My favorite was this photo above. It really captured the hustle and bustle of a bird's world, one that we blindly walk by every day. I hope it shows us that there is so much inspiration even within our daily routine. I hope it inspires others to put their phone down, look up, and take a deep breath. I hope it allows us to acknowledge that even the little things in life can make the biggest difference. I do wish I could travel more and go to extremes to capture epic scenes. And I do hope to inspire those who want to do the same, or even go out and explore for their own. But there is so much the world has to offer within our everyday lives, and I realize that it is ok to start with the smaller things. Sometimes jumping to greater lengths makes you forget the beauty that lies within the start of the process. I know I am going off topic and this is only a photo of two birds bathing, but it’s a photo that helped me realize that there is so much more to life than just fame and success. Sometimes the beauty lies in our failures. Sometimes it lies in the slow and steady start filled with mistakes or repetitive days of trial and error. It is these days that we should cherish as our experienced self in the future will be composed of them. Every little thing we do now will reflect on who we are in the future. There are no shortcuts to success, as success should develop through days of gratitude, accomplishments, failures, excitement and so much more. And why would anyone try to avoid the beauty that comes with the process. So, I’ll leave you to that. I hope this photo reminds you of the endless possibilities and encourages you to be the creative you are.
By Vana Kiork5 years ago in Photography
Strike A Pose
I have spent my fair share of time outdoors. Hiking through the woods, exploring mountain lakes, and looking for that perfect shot. I have found that some of my best and favorite photos have come from just being in the right place at the right time. I have been fortunate enough to be able to work outside for a job and I spent many years working with the United States Forest Service. I always had my camera and would often stop throughout my day to take photos. Sometimes it was a tree, sometimes an old sign and sometimes my favorite, wildlife. Being able to work in the forest provided ample opportunity to catch wilderness being wild, but I have come to realize that subjects of these best and favorite photos that I mentioned above, are completely aware of my presence. And sometimes, even seem to enjoy the spotlight.
By Floyd Doolittle5 years ago in Photography
Whose Soul is This Anyway?
In what I would call my glory days, that is until my life became more complicated, I used to love to walk our local parks and go to the numerous zoos around the area. The wildlife and sceneries were a joy for me. It was like walking into a fantasy world where I could escape the chaos of work and home life. This is where I would find my Zen.
By Quasata Leigh5 years ago in Photography
Zhang Daqian: One of the most internationally recognized Chinese painters of the 20th century.
An artist who got his beginning making phonies of the old bosses, Zhang Daqian would later get quite possibly the most universally perceived Chinese painters of the twentieth century. His duplicated works were not censured as criminal but instead celebrated as recognitions for China's set of experiences and customs. Artworks from the productive craftsman—the two his famous frauds and his own persuasive works—keep on standing out in both the East and the West.
By Jacob Walker5 years ago in Photography
Budget Photography: Smartphone, Patience, and Luck
A burning passion for capturing the beauty of the world around us, but lacking the funds for top cameras and lenses? This is me, and I'm sure many of you reading this are in the same boat. But you don't need the fancy gadgets or editing software at top dollar prices to get Magazine / Instagram worthy photographs. All you need is a smartphone, patience, and a little bit of luck...
By Oby5 years ago in Photography
The Majestic Polar Bear
There were tears. Not from me, but it was a near thing. Standing in the underwater tunnel with four strangers, only thin glass separating us from the pool of water overhead, we all shared a moment of awe as a polar bear swam over us with steady, powerful strokes. I'll never see or meet those people again, I don't know who they were or where they were from, but at that moment we all shared the same feeling. It's hard to explain the transcendent feeling that overtook us in that moment, but it left some of us in tears; this amazing animal had graced us with its majesty and we were in awe.
By SJ Meikle5 years ago in Photography
Backyard Creatures
For many years my trusty digital camera a Pentax Optio W 60 waterproof has never failed me. In the early morning stepping out on my second-floor floor front porch I looked down into the yard and saw what looked like a cat met with an accident. Fluffkins was sunbathing and the sight of him in the morning sunlight made me smile and this was the result.
By Rasma Raisters5 years ago in Photography
