The Joy of Light

“Light makes photography. Admire it. Love it. But, above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.”

I have always felt that photography, in the right hands, is an artform. However, sometimes it is hard to tell when, and how, the craft of photography can become an art and whether a particular image meets that criteria. I have often thought a lot about this in my own photography. And that is the subject of this Blog: how do I find the Art in Photography and how do I know when I have found it?

I hope you find my thoughts on the subject entertaining and, occasionally, informative.

You will notice that I have not included a way for you to directly engage in comments or argument about my comments. I don’t want to be in the position of having to police comments or censor people views or way of expressing themselves. I am too old for that. However, if you wish to engage with me directly  go over to the “Contact Me” page and drop me a line. I try to answer all of the comments I receive and If I find feedback that helps me develop my own thinking I will write about it here.

But is it Photography?

But is it Photography?

So here is the question this week: is it photography? Well, maybe I should back up a bit. This past week I received an e-mail ad for a new Topaz plugin called Impression. The blurb said that it could turn photographs into art. Well, I am skeptical of these claims....

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New Year 2015

A new year is like a blank sheet of paper: wonderful to hold and daunting when you consider its possibilities. I remember buying my school supplies with my mother and I loved to get home and put all that new blue lined three ring punched paper into my shiny...

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Thoughts on 500px

Thoughts on 500px

This website was conceived as a place to display my photography. It has transformed itself into a place for thinking about my photography and has become a wonderful tool for working out my own feelings about my hobby. It has been an excellent exercise and I expect it...

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Out in the Woods

Out in the Woods

If you go out in the woods today you’re sure of a big surprise ....... well, if you're my age you know that song. It has to do with picnics and teddy bears. But I'm thinking that if you go out in the woods today with your camera you're in...

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100 Images of Italy 2014

100 Images of Italy 2014

I have just returned from a month in Italy and it is good to be back. But now comes the work. In addition to all of the other things I have to do, I have 5300, give or take, photos to sort through and organize. No easy task. We travelled...

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A Point of View

A Point of View

Photography, like life, is a matter of point of view. And sometimes the best photos are taken by looking at something from a unique perspective. For instance, the other day I was trying to emulate a photographer I admire very much by the name of Denis Colette. His...

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Thinking of Water

Thinking of Water

I came across some images the other day that caught my eye. And as often happens that started a chain of thought. I'll deal with those images in a minute but first we have to take a step back before we can go forward. I have noticed of late a plethora of articles and...

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Words to Remember

"Migrant Mother" by Dorothea Lange taken in 1936 as the depression raged across America I receive a newsletter every so often from the “Digital Photography School” out of Australia. I can’t remember signing up for it but that doesn’t surprise me. I spend a good deal...

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The Italian Gardens

The Italian Gardens

I have set myself a new project: to photograph the Italian Gardens in Hastings Park in Vancouver. I spoke of projects in my discussion of the  Sofitel Grand Hotel in Amsterdam earlier. By setting goals one imposes discipline and fosters a...

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The Old is New Again

The Old is New Again

When I began this website I was concerned about art and photography and how they are related. I knew that not all photographs are art, but I also knew that some of them were. And it made sense to me that If I want to make art with my pictures I had better understand...

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The World of Fantasy

The World of Fantasy

I'm not sure that 'The World of Fantasy' is a good title for this observation. But what else do you call it? Maybe the word 'Art' is enough. What we are about to discuss is not portraiture in the strict sense and certainly not landscape art. It is the art of something...

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In the Fog

In the Fog

I like the fog. (Susan says I am always in one!) In British Columbia we are lucky to have misty days and to me they are full of mystery and peacefulness. Everything is so soft and easy on the eye and familiar scenes are made new and...

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