I know I pushed some buttons in your other thread, but I hope you will allow me to say that these are really masterfully done. Yes, a lot of Photoshop, but very nicely accomplished and it does look like you're having fun.
Prettym1k3 wrote:
The art of this is beautiful, but I feel like this is borderlining not being photography anymore. There's a lot of post that went into this (at least, my definitely of "a lot"), and I'd moreso considering this digital art than photography, even though photography was the basis of all of this.
Either way, as usual, beautiful daughter, and I really love this concept, Lisa.
You are implying there is a distinction between art and photography. All of the great photographers of the past such as Ansel Adams, Helmut Newton, and Cartier-Bresson used every possible darkroom technique available to elevate the images from what they saw to what their perception of what they saw. For example, if you have seen Ansel Adams "Moonrise Over New Mexico" image as rendered on the 4x5 contact sheet and compared it to the final print, you would immediately see that Lisa's before/after image is no different conceptually. She has rendered the unprocessed image to reflect her perception.
Lisa's two images are, IMHO, straight forward photography of a created situation and then interpreted by post processing to suit her image goals. She is merely lucky that the tool she uses is photoshop and does not have to muck about in the darkroom as was done in the last century.
IMHO, these images are artistic indeed (as is much of her work she has posted on FM)... however I think it inappropriate to ascribe "borderline art" to them. They fall well within the spectrum of well done and artistic photography.
Cool shots, or HOT shots! I am listening to a song by Loreena McKennitt called Mummers Dance as these pics come up. You tube it, it kind of goes with the theme. Fun, fun, fun!
This might be a small detail, but I love the fact that you used more than one match to obtain the flare, then post processed it down to a single match. Your attention to detail is something I appreciate.
Steady....I shot these in an area of the mountains we live in that burned to the ground last summer. It was actually really scary - I had just given birth to Gabriel when the fire broke out thanks to a lightning strike (he was 3 days old) and we thought we were going to be evacuated. Luckily, the evacuations stopped at the neighborhood right up the street from us, and no houses were lost, but a HUGE portion of forest was burned. I'd never really thought of using a burned up forest as a backdrop for photos, but it was very fun to try something different.
Here's a view of the fire in our mountains from town - it was scary! Note - I did not take this photo, just grabbed it off of Google Images. We actually live in a neighborhood in said burned mountains. It's beautiful up here but can be scary during monsoon season with all of the lightning and dry forest.
Lisa, your pictures have always been a breath of fresh air over the last couple years. I'm glad that you are trying to broaden your portfolio and perhaps even your style a bit. One thing that I hope you will do, but fear you're already headed in opposite direction, is use your imagination and your obvious skills, to promote beautiful and wholesome themes. It seems, IMHO, that the last few pictures you've presented are on the dark side,ie....daughter with gun, and then her looking like a witch in this photo. I'm bummed...I don't want to lose you to the dark side...ha
Phrysphotos wrote:
Lisa, your pictures have always been a breath of fresh air over the last couple years. I'm glad that you are trying to broaden your portfolio and perhaps even your style a bit. One thing that I hope you will do, but fear you're already headed in opposite direction, is use your imagination and your obvious skills, to promote beautiful and wholesome themes. It seems, IMHO, that the last few pictures you've presented are on the dark side,ie....daughter with gun, and then her looking like a witch in this photo. I'm bummed...I don't want to lose you to the dark side...ha ...Show more →
I don't think it's a change in philosophy, values, or a shift to "the dark side". I think it's just a new exciting art form. I think it is among the best that Lisa has done. If at anytime one feels that we have lost Lisa to "the dark side", take a glance at Lisa's avatar. That's the real Lisa. :-)
Phrysphotos wrote:
Lisa, your pictures have always been a breath of fresh air over the last couple years. I'm glad that you are trying to broaden your portfolio and perhaps even your style a bit. One thing that I hope you will do, but fear you're already headed in opposite direction, is use your imagination and your obvious skills, to promote beautiful and wholesome themes. It seems, IMHO, that the last few pictures you've presented are on the dark side,ie....daughter with gun, and then her looking like a witch in this photo. I'm bummed...I don't want to lose you to the dark side...ha ...Show more →
They are pretty - as your images usually are - but to critique this as the conceptual work it is it seems meek. 'Firestarter', to me at least, demotes stronger imagery than this. More intensity, and emotionally darker, yet no less beautiful.
On reflection I think it might be model choice for the concept. Her expressions are a bit bland.
Oh geez, I get criticized left and right for being 'boring' and never doing anything different, but when I DO try something different I'm being lost to the dark side? Calm down - I will still continue to shoot in my usual style also, but I am opening up more time to explore different ideas and concepts. Life isn't all butterflies and rainbows. We had fun doing this and ultimately, that's all that matters. FWIW, the 'model' is my 15 year old daughter. She is not a professional model but I personally think she does a darn good job in front of the camera.
Phrysphotos wrote:
Lisa, your pictures have always been a breath of fresh air over the last couple years. I'm glad that you are trying to broaden your portfolio and perhaps even your style a bit. One thing that I hope you will do, but fear you're already headed in opposite direction, is use your imagination and your obvious skills, to promote beautiful and wholesome themes. It seems, IMHO, that the last few pictures you've presented are on the dark side,ie....daughter with gun, and then her looking like a witch in this photo. I'm bummed...I don't want to lose you to the dark side...ha ...Show more →
really? you 'fear that [Lisa] is heading in the opposite direction' aka 'the dark side'? like, you actually fear that someone is changing their inner-being and morals because they post images that have a dark aspect to them? and you want them to use 'their powers for good' and when they dont this frightens you? wow.
Fits great!
Steady....I shot these in an area of the mountains we live in that burned to the ground last summer. It was actually really scary - I had just given birth to Gabriel when the fire broke out thanks to a lightning strike (he was 3 days old) and we thought we were going to be evacuated. Luckily, the evacuations stopped at the neighborhood right up the street from us, and no houses were lost, but a HUGE portion of forest was burned. I'd never really thought of using a burned up forest as a backdrop for photos, but it was very fun to try something different. 