Category: Family and Friends

Taking a photograph to make an illustration

I’ve posted this first example, of using a photograph as a jumping off point to create a digital illustration which suggests a work created with traditional art materials (such as pencils, brushes and/or paints), as a response to a conversation with another photographer. I contend that one has to use the digital tools to move the photograph sufficiently beyond what a photograph “looks like” and enough toward what a drawing or painting “looks like.” I believe this requires the use of hand gestures of sufficient quantity and quality (and well beyond just hitting filter effect buttons) in order to fool the eye and mind. Does this example achieve that desire? I think “just.”

Wacom Tablet, Photoshop, and Painter

Below are two of my early attempts at drawing on the iPad; examples of taking it the other way. Meaning “drawn” on the iPad and exported through Lightroom. We find ourselves in truly interesting digital imaging times.

Griffin Stylus on iPad (drawn from life)

Justice discovered when picking Sophia up from school

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Once back at Sophia’s house we shot a few hoops before moving on to WII gaming inside. I must say that I prefer real balls, racquets, frisbees and bowling pins to their electronic facsimiles.

Leica M8, 28 mm Summicron

John Stropes brought George Winston’s vast guitar knowledge to Milwaukee

Last Friday John Stropes introduced George Winston to a small group of his guitar students and friends. John has been educating Wisconsin in the various forms of finger style guitar techniques for several decades; both through courses at UWM and his many other venues. In that generous spirit John ensured the lessons were well documented for the educational use of future generations.

(click images for larger view)

George Winston, most widely known as a pianist, has obviously studied slack key guitar with near equal vigor and depth. He’s filmed and recorded the key players in Hawaii; and generously shares his research and expertise at Dancing Cat Records where you can download his books on the subject. Anyone who knows where to find every note and chord on a stringed instrument, in any of  a couple dozen different tunings, leaves a hell of an impression on me. When you add the many different ways to pluck a string or four; and achieve harmonic effects up and down the neck. Well suffice it to say Mr. Winston’s scholarship and musicianship left me awestruck; and wanting to hear him play guitar in concert (or in recording).

(Leica M8, 28 mm Summicron [above], 75 mm Summilux [below])

Real love loves reality

Our parents’ ashes
rest in that great chalice, Lake
Michigan, reflected

now in my dear sister’s Shades

(click image for larger view)

M8, 50 mm Summilux Asph

Jean-Luc Godard said, “When you photograph a face, you photograph the soul behind it.” Can this be true? Some times; perhaps.