art

Photography; an Art

/ doubledacres / 9 Comments
St Francis River near Fredericktown, MO

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever…It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.”

Aaron Siskind

I remember the first time I saw Ansel Adams work. I was mesmerized by it. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. How could black and white pictures look so amazing? That’s when the photography bug bit me.

In today’s high-tech world, anyone can point and shoot. Novices use photography to record memories. Photography is an art from and a form of nonverbal communication. Good photographers are artists who tell a story through their photographs.

Historical St Joe Mine in Park Hills, MO.

Photography is more complex than just point and shoot. A good photographer is creative and understands composition and its elements. They are 1) light 2) color 3) contrast and tone, 4) line 5) form 6) pattern 7) balance 8) movement 9) positive and negative space 10) texture 11) camera position 12) focal length 13) shutter speed.

A good photographer has to be able to do more than point and shoot. For instance, lighting and color can completely change the mood of a photograph. Many photos are printed dark and brooding in an effort to impart dramatic or mysterious effects when it is better to match the tonalities and contrast level to match the desired mood rather than to a standard formula.

Historic St Joe Mine in Park Hills, MO.

For those photographers who want to improve their photography skills I highly recommend reading, “The Art of Photography” (A Personal Approach to Artistic Expression) written by Bruce Branbaum. He is an internationally recognized fine art photographer. His photographs are held in public and private collections worldwide and represented by photography galleries in the USA and Europe. He is an ardent environmentalist and in 1974 was awarded the Sierra Club’s Ansel Adams award for photography.

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”

Ansel Adams

The Gallery at Redlands

/ doubledacres / 1 Comment

Next week I will travel to Palestine, Texas to be a part of the grand opening of The Gallery at Redlands. My friend David Tripp, who I have known since the second grade, and Sandra Jones are the new owners of the gallery.

In 2017 Wade and Gail Thomas opened the gallery and asked David Tripp to be the featured artist. This year they gave David and Sandra the opportunity to become the new owners of The Gallery at Redlands and they jumped on it. David has the vision of a gallery rooted in diversity. The Twelve was born. A group of featured artists representing water color, oil, acrylic on canvas work, pastel art, photography, pottery and sculpture. The featured artists are:

  • Cecillia Branham
  • Paula Cadle
  • Stacy Campbell
  • Deanna Pickett Frye
  • Grace Hessman
  • Mark Hyde
  • Elaine Cash Jary
  • Candice Lord
  • Lorraine McFarland
  • Tommy Thompson
  • Ian Watson
  • Doyle White (me)

The reception will be March 20, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Redlands Hotel, Suite 109, 400 N Queen St., Palestine, Texas. There will be door prizes and refreshments will be served. Come out and meet Wade and Gail Thomas, David Tripp and Sandra Jones and The Twelve.

I am excited to be included within this group of elite artists. David has assembled a very diverse group of artists who make up The Twelve and I tip my hat to him and Sandi for all the hours and hard work they have put into preparing the gallery for the grand opening. I am grateful to Wade and Gail Thomas. David Tripp and Sandra S Jones for this fantastic opportunity. I thank you.

David Tripp Art Collections 54 -www.davidtrippart.com

Recollections 54 The Art of David Tripp – http://www.davidtripp.wordpress.com

Bad Mood Not Allowed

/ doubledacres / 8 Comments

 

DSC_0369

Big River near Leadwood, MO

” Nature and books belong to the eyes that see them.  It depends on the mood of the man whether he shall see sunset or the fine poem.” –Essays and Poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson “Experience”

According to Merriam-Webster mood is a conscious state of mind or predominant emotion.   Emerson shares with us his thought that what a person sees is dependent upon what type of mood one happens to be entertaining at the time.  A thought that after thinking about it, I find to hold a lot of truth.

How many times have we cheated ourselves out of a breath taking sunset simply because our mood wasn’t right?  Now I won’t argue the fact that if your mind is in the right place a beautiful sunset can change your mood if you allow it to but it doesn’t always happen that way.

I remember a time in my life that I had went camping with a group that everyone there seemed to put a capital “n” in negativity.  Sitting around the campfire that first night I knew I was in trouble.  I honestly can’t remember any of them saying something positive.  I let it infect me and my mood was horrible.  I didn’t get one good photo that weekend.  I was definitely not on my best game.  I didn’t really realize until sometime later how much your mood can dictate the quality of your photography, painting, writing etc..

DSC_0383-1

Big River near Leadwood, MO.

The two photos were taken by me in the summer of 2017.  They are pics of the same rock formation taken from different angles.  You look at it from different angles you get different views.  You see different details.  It is like looking at something in a good mood or a bad mood.  There are going to be things that don’t look the same.  This applies to life also, not just to your creative abilities.

I don’t care who you are but when you are in a bad mood and have to make a decision, ninety percent of the time it is going to be a bad decision.  For those of you who have lived with someone that has excessive, erratic mood swings, you know how much moods effect life AND you know how miserable they can be and you.

DSC_0378 (2)

Picture Of catch by my friend David.

 

DSC_0378

Same photo as above but unedited.

So if you would, imagine your moods like the filters I used with this photo.  Your mood decides what kind of day you are going to have just like the filter I used decides how colorful the fish is going to be.  I hope everyone is understanding what I am saying because moods are very instrumental in what kind of day you are going to have.

So remember when you get up in the morning and get that first cup of coffee in you, that it is time to start getting in that “good mood” you need to make your day enjoyable.  Tell yourself this is your day and no one is capable of messing it up unless you let them.  Put that smile on your face that is going to be greeting people all day long.  Clear yourself of any negativity.  Now go back to bed and say the hell with it!  JUST KIDDING!  Now put your big boy or girl panties on and go out into the world and ……… “Be happy, don’t worry, cause when you worry your face will frown and that will bring everybody down”……….

Thanks for reading my blog.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Remember to spread the love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Imagination: A Good Thing to Possess

/ doubledacres / Leave a comment

DSC_0128

I named this rock formation “Alien Rock”

I didn’t get on the river until around 4:30 p. m. and I knew I wouldn’t have time to do a lot of fishing.  I did realize that the retreating sunlight should present some great photo ops so I began looking for those shots that would show the amazing beauty of Mother Nature.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

My mind was working overtime and my imagination was like that of a 60s “flower child” who had taken a hallucinogenic drug.  I took several pics of the rock I had named “Alien Rock” trying to capture what I was seeing in my mind.  I think the above pic was the best picture to portray what I was seeing and I hope you can see it too.

To me it looks like an alien’s head slowly ascending out of the water just revealing its eyes and nostrils that had just broke the surface of the water.  I imagined it rising completely out of the water revealing a body as tall as the bluffs around it.

DSC_0132

Well, maybe I am losing it.  Maybe the crazy stuff going on in the world is finally taken its toll on me.  Maybe I have drank too many Jack and Cokes in my life time.  Naw, one can’t drink too many Jack and Cokes.  I got it, I need to quit drinking the kool-ade!  That’s it!

“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge.  That myth is more potent than history.  That dreams are more powerful than facts.  That hope always triumphs over experience.  That laughter is the only cure for grief.  And I believe that love is stronger than death.” – Robert Fulghum;  All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten: Thoughts On Common Things

DSC_0137

Was the alien there extracting lead from underneath the river bed; after all this is part of the old lead belt, or was he looking for a McDonald’s fish filet sandwich?  Maybe he is stashing green kryptonite in case he ever had a run in with Superman?  Was he a game warden in disguise spying on me.  Oh so many possibilities!

Hello, earth to Wayne.  Well back to regular programming.  Once I figured out what the alien was doing I began floating back to what the locals call the “Bone Hole” and fished as I went.  I managed to catch a small largemouth and several small perch.  I think the alien must have scared the fish off.  Oh crap, it is getting dark.  Where did that alien go?  I am skeered I tells ya!

“Logic will get you from A to Z; Imagination will get you everywhere”. – Albert Einstein

I hope you enjoyed today’s blog.  I am a firm believer that great artists ( painters, writers, musicians, etc.) are full of imagination.  I feel it is a must to be really good at what you do.  I think we need to emphasize it more than we do.  One can not suffer from too much imagination; well maybe I need to rethink that one.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  It is deeply appreciated.  Remember to spread the love.

 

 

Spread the Love!!

/ doubledacres / Leave a comment

DSC_0017

“The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.  That’s what I hope to give you forever.” – The Notebook

Some one asked me the other day what I meant by “spread the love”.  What is your passion?  Is it reading?  Fishing?  Equines?  Cooking?   What ever your passion is “spread the love.”  Let the whole world know.

Don’t keep it to yourself.  Spread it around so everyone can see what your passion is.  If it is crossword puzzles or taking a horse back ride on a moon lit night.  I don’t care if it is “makeup artist” or librarian.  Keep a journal of the things you think are important.  Even if you think it is unimportant.  Maybe it is to you but someone may learn from your passion for fishing, mending fences or perfectly content sitting at home.  Maybe someone is depressed because they seem to be so content sitting at home doing nothing then they find out from you that you do too and all of a sudden because of the relief you provided them, they are ready to face the cold cruel world again.

Don’t be afraid to compliment someone.  That may be just what they need at the time.  Say “Hi” to people.  Be kind to others and help each other.  Read a good book lately?  If you have then share it with the people around you.  It is about you taking what you love and spreading it around and sharing it with others.  The sweet part about it is it doesn’t cost you a penny.  Nothing!

DSC_0348

So you ask, why spread the love?  What difference does it make?  Good questions.  You may never know if it touched anyone or not.  See the elderly couple sitting in the corner booth?  They look as if something is bothering them so when you go up to pay for your meal you also pay for theirs.  Then you leave without saying a word.  Did your act of spreading the love touch them?  You will never know.

See the young lady staring at you as you do some sketches in the park?  She seems really interested in what you are doing.  Art is your passion so you call her over and share your sketch with her.  You can see her face light up.  Did you sharing your artwork with her touch her life?  You will never know.  However, what if I told you that the day you showed that young girl your work she became so mesmerized with it that she grew up to be a famous artist?  Just because you took a few minutes to spread the love, you changed that young lady’s life.

DSC_0077

One of my passions is photography.  I usually have a pic or two in my blogs.  Sometimes they don’t even have anything in common with what I am writing about.  I put them in there hoping that they might inspire someone to pick up a camera and find a passion for photography.  Spread the love!

14102395_10153914142043041_5517971233640166969_n (2)

I hope I have been able to impress upon you that by taking the time to “spread the love” you are making the world a better place.  Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Surround yourself with positive things and stay focused on your dreams.  What ever you do, when you are following that dream “spread the love”!

“I have no special talents.  I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Believe in Yourself

/ doubledacres / 1 Comment

DSC_0021

“Death is not the greatest loss in life.  The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.” -Norman Cousins

I remember the first time I read this quote.  I was completely blown away.  Can you say profound?  I mean wow.  Just wow!

How many of you have had that “something” die inside you?  Were you devastated?  Did you feel your life was in a downward spiral out of control?  Maybe you didn’t feel any of these.  People handle things quite differently.  I still remember that day “something” died inside of me.

It was my freshman year of high school.  I had always loved art.  I had been told that I was talented and should consider taking some classes to hone and fine tune my artistic skills.  I decided to enroll in an art class.  I was going to pursue a career in art..

Classes began and I couldn’t wait to immerse myself  into the class and learn everything I could to make myself a better artist.  Things were going pretty good and I was excited that I could see improvement in my work.  Then it happened.  One thing I could never draw was people.  I struggled at it.  I was sure that my art teacher could take me under his wing and explain to me what I was doing wrong and teach me how to draw people.  Wrong!  Not that teacher any way.

I was asked to stay after class one day.  That is when I got the wind knocked out of me.  My teacher asked me if I was serious about an art career and I said absolutely and I told him I realized drawing people was my weakness and that I was going to work hard to overcome that.  Then he looked me in the eyes and asked me, “Why are you wasting mine and your time?  You are obviously never going to get anywhere with it and you should find something else to spend your time on.”

I was dumbfounded.  I had all these people telling me I should consider an art career and the art teacher is basically telling me that I suck at it.  I was devastated to say the least.  I finished the art class and pretty much gave up.  I had friends that tried to encourage me to start drawing again but “something” died inside me that day and would never surface again.

“Follow your passion. be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, and, above all, don’t let anyone limit your dreams.”  – Donovan Bailey

I don’t blame the teacher.  I blame myself.  He might have gave up on me but I should have never gave up on me.  I should have worked harder and kept my dream alive.  I let my dream fade and did nothing to stop it.  Lesson learned.

Thanks for reading.  Be kind to one another, share the love and God Bless you one and all.