Utterly subjective, I know

I continue to explore the idea of white.  My neo-baroque postings explored the Caravaggio-like light, or rather shade, of the colourful image against a dark background.  Such images can be mysterious and hold a lot of power.

I find the white background totally different.  It feels modern and abstract, in a way.

It is a totally different photographic experience for me.  Such mental stretching is probably a good thing.

NOTE to photographers: The other thing I have found is that the Fujifilm X Pro-1 camera renders files in a way that is much more in keeping with my vision than the traditional dslr cameras. I'm not sure if it is the way the sensor array captures or the lens renders.  But it is markedly different from Canon and Nikon and even Sony full frame cameras.  There actually is a film-like aura about the files that gives a subtly intuitive veracity.  Utterly subjective, I know.

Turner sky part two

Yesterday I posted the cyanotype monochrome version of the sky.  This is the colour version.  I'm not sure which I prefer.

Turneresque cloud formations in the sky

There have been some Turneresque cloud formations in the sky.  I grabbed one yesterday and was pleased at the way it developed.

Bam. Suddenly neo-baroque went white out!

I don't know what happened.  One minute I was thinking Caravaggio and then, it was snow white.

In fact, the petunias insisted on white.  It was white or nothing.

Next the monochromes came.  It was out of control.

Time for skullduggery

It's not really time for skullduggery.  I just wanted to use that word in the headline.

I have trotted out good old "Death" for a few shots.  He doesn't always look good in a photo (who does?).  He does, however, put the genuine "morte" in nature morte, nest-ce pas ?

Occasionally, he will shine.  The trick is to make him look natural and not contrived.  And he has a natural smirk, sort of.

New Darwinian summer frieze

I'm evolving this idea.  These days it's all evolution.  Evolve.  Evolve.  Evolve.  I expect to see Darwin come out of my bathroom any day now.......sans beard and hair.....looking for a cameras to get in on the action.

Don't monkey with me, Darwin!

Objects have to be arranged

I was feeling a bit frustrated with the water and reflection shots.  So I set up the old "cezannesque" still life again.  By that I mean the multi-layer tilted surfaces with the textured cover.  Cezanne didn't invent the idea but he made extensive use of it in his many still life paintings.

I find the various elements involved like painting a picture in many ways.  The objects have to be arranged exactly and the colour and form must be harmonized.  It's odd but a few millimetres to the left or right completely alters, and often ruins the picture. Go figure

The danger is that one can start to repeat the same theme, so the added challenge is enough change to move forward.

I change up the fruit and flowers as often as I can to modify the composition and colour.

I push the wet idea a bit

I wanted to push the wet idea a bit.  I may have wrung all the moisture out of it (for me anyhow) for the time being.  I'm going to attempt some more elaborate compositions.

Elaborate seems to provide scope for variety and modulation of form in the composition.  I'm also fiddling with the 36 megapixel Nikon D800.  Large files are slow to load but detail is interesting.

He crept quietly around back

I noticed I could occasionally find an interesting angle if I moved 'round to the back of the still life and shot it from a high angle into the light.  With transparent subjects like flowers and round objects like mangoes, it often works.

As touched as possible, as personal as possible

Ive been trying some new ideas for composition; trying to simplify where I can.  Sometimes one gets out on a limb of the unknown, which is where I feel I am now.

Over the long weekend, guests brought some wine, one bottle of which was a beautiful black  with a red seal.  I painted up two bottles to look like it.  I could have used the actual bottle,  but I wanted the Morandi paint job to add human effort to the still life: I wanted these to be as touched and modified as possible to keep them as personal as possible.

Man whacked away at mango still

I have whacked away at the mango still lifes in spite of the bone challenge.  Ironically, I prefer the work I'm doing on the side with the mangoes to the bones.

It seems a diversion can foster creativity.  Don't look now but....

As if I didn't have enough to challenge me, I upgraded to OS X Mountain Lion.  Not for the faint of heart.

If you take the plunge, it turns your laptop or desk top into an i pad interface.  Plunge best taken with internal wifi connection.

Who likes designer bones?

I took a page out of Giorgio Morandi's book and painted the bones.  I may not have the colours right.

In fact, the whole bone thing may not be working.  I wonder if the ancient Britons painted stone henge five thousand years ago?

My mangoes are now officially rotting.  They aren't going to wait for me to get the bone idea right.  The studio smells like a garbage can.

Quick, open the window.  Glad it's summer.