Chris Harris Newsletter #156, June, 2018

Newsletter #156: June, 2018

© Chris Harris. All rights reserved.

Hi everyone,

Can you believe it? This is my 156^th consecutive monthly Newsletter which concludes 13 years!   Wow!

I opened a book in bed this morning titled “Haiku Mind”, thinking I would waken up slowly by reading a few thoughts for the day. The first sentence I read contained the word ‘unseen’. That word sparked the theme for this newsletter.

Why do I Love Photography?

To see more of the world than there really is; the unseen.

Newsletter Contents:

1. Seeing more of the world than there really is.   The ‘unseen’

2. Prince George Photo Workshop.   An inspiring experience

3. New workshops.   Take your photography to new horizons

4. You can host a Presentation.   Meaningful & inspirational

5. Website Portfolios:   Check out the new images!

 

1. Seeing more of the world than there really is.    The ‘unseen’

I’ve never been more excited about photography in my life than I am now, and that is because I am seeing more of the world than what I see in front of me.

In the past, if I headed out to a familiar landscape (e.g. the grasslands) to photograph, I had a pretty good idea what kind of images I would return with. The exception would be the result of extraordinary light or if a herd of big horn sheep unexpectedly climbed a near vertical cliff in front of me.

However, now that I am not photographing for book publications that were designed to educate and provide a ‘sense of place’, I no longer need to photograph solely in a representational manner. I am free to make imagery in whatever tradition moves me; I no longer require dramatic light or some form of peak action to make a compelling image. All I require is some contrast, tonal or colour, and I can see the world in ways I never dreamt possible.

When I head out to a familiar landscape these days, I have no idea what kind of images I will return with.  This is why I am more excited about photography now, than ever before.

Below are some examples where I have turned a familiar subject into one that was ‘unseen’; a completely new reality.

While driving past a rock face on nearby Meadow Lake Road, I stopped. The tonal contrast in the dark water reflection spoke to me about creative possibilities. I turned what I saw into the ‘unseen.

Seen

 Unseen

In the image below, there is a high contrast line connecting two calcareous Lakes. From experience, I know that such a line offers a great opportunity to move from a representational image (the first one) to an abstract composition. By using my photographic tools (camera and lenses) in new ways (creative techniques), I was able to place that line in a number of places within the final composition.

Representational

 Abstract

In winter, the grasslands are much less textured. The sage and grasses are covered in snow. To accentuate this, I envisioned being a painter with an unlimited amount of white paint.

Camera’s vision

 My vision

In early spring, this beaver pond viewscape is less complex than later in the season when there is a greater diversity of colour and vegetation. I took advantage of this by emphasizing colour contrast and texture.

Structured form

Free form

Here in central BC, we often drive by alkali or calcareous lakes set amidst the grasslands. I stop by this one often. The lines and colours of this reality are fixed in place, however, by freeing them and then rearranging them, I am able to create a new unforeseen reality. (note: the ‘unforseen’ image below was made from the exact same location as the ‘predictable’ image, but on different days)

Predictable

Unforeseen

I find my journey into free-form expressionism and abstraction a fascinating and rewarding one. Within a world of documentary images that duplicate what photographers see before them, I enjoy the process of investigating a subject and creating a new and exciting reality.

In this way I see more of the world than there really is; the ‘unseen’.

2. Prince George Photo Workshop.    An inspiring experience

This past weekend I had the very great pleasure of teaching my new 2-day “Meet Your Inner Artist” workshop to a group of keen photographers from the Prince George Photographic Society. It was held at UNBC, one of the most beautiful and photogenic university campus’ I have experienced.

Graduation Day at UNBC

I arrived in Prince George a day early to explore the campus. It happened to be graduation day so I joined the party! I can’t think of anything more inspiring than being at a graduation. I was surrounded by our ‘hope for tomorrow’. Here are four images I made walking around the central court area.

Spring blossoms

 

Two shapes

Reconstruction

Walls and Windows

As participants were entering the classroom the next day, I picked up my camera and looked about the room. It was like warming up before the game! Seeing contrast in the lower corner of the projection screen behind me, I made my image and showed it to a few interested people on my LCD screen. When asked about the result, I explained,” where there is contrast, there is an opportunity to create”.

Classroom projection screen

 When it became time for the class to photograph, it was raining, so we went into a room next door. This is an explanatory image I made in the corner of the room.

Elements of visual design

A planter in the main foyer

Thank you all for a wonderful two days. You were inspiring!!

3. New Workshops.    Take your photography to new horizons

Horizon

“Meet Your Inner Artist”

A Workshop in Photography as Art

I have created a new two-day workshop designed for photographers who are interested in reaching for new horizons. With a refined tool-kit and new ways of seeing, you will jump-start your power to envision yourself as an artist.

Illustrated talks on art and photography, in-the-field art projects, and constructive evaluation sessions will help you:

• Go to new places in photography; bring the familiar into a new dimension of artistry.

• Learn Free Form Expressionism and Abstract photography.

• Find beauty and art in unexpected places.

If you, as an individual or as a club, are interested in organizing a group of up to 10 participants for this 2-day workshop, please contact Rita Giesbrecht at the office; 250-791-6631 or photography@chrisharris.com

As we travel across much of Canada this fall with a spectacular audio-visual presentation, I am able to bring this workshop to almost any location. A perfect combination for your club or organization could be both a presentation and workshop.

Call or email Rita to discuss details. We would love to hear from you.

“I had an amazing time at the new workshop Chris. Thank you so much for coming here and for being such an enthusiastic and great instructor”.   M.S   Prince George Photographic Society

4. You Can Host a Presentation:    Meaningful & inspirational

Rainbow volcano

Rita and I will be going on tour again this fall, and throughout most of next year. We have a new and spectacular audio-visual presentation, “Cariboo Chilcotin: A Story of Resiliency and Beauty”.  We will take viewers to experience unaltered landscapes, wildfire affected landscapes, and the unique culture of British Columbia’s central plateau.

Last year’s wildfires changed but did not destroy the regions natural beauty. We will explore wildfire as part of the life-cycle of the land, and as forces of regeneration and resilience.

By exploring photography as an art form, I will also share how I transformed my evacuation experience into art.

Based on our most recent books, we will also explore the natural beauty of the grasslands, volcanoes, and Coast Mountains as part of the Chilcotin Ark story; a story of international significance.

We invite you to share and understand these powerful phenomena for yourselves. By embracing natural cycles, we inform our lives and our very nature; we embrace our Sense of Place, and we invite the world to do the same.

Our Confirmed Schedule So Far;

September 4-11, 2018: Develop Your Creative Vision Workshop. Barkerville, BC

October 9, 2018:   St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral.  Kamloops, BC

November 5, 2018:   Montreal Camera Club.  The Bonnie Nichol Lectures

November 20, 2018:    Trillium Photographic Club.  Burlington, ON

November 27, 2018:    Cariboo Camera Club.  Williams Lake, BC

Rita and I will be posting more information about our up-coming tour as dates are confirmed; if you see a scheduled event in your vicinity, this is the opportunity to have us come to your venue at the same time.

If your camera club, natural history club, or organization, have an interest in hosting a presentation, we would be most pleased and interested to hear your expression of interest. Our primary areas to present are British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Washington State, however, we are also preparing to include international destinations.

Thank you. We look forward to hearing from you. The email address is: photography@chrisharris.com.

 

    5.   Website Portfolios:   Check out the new images!

I have updated the Portfolio page on my website. Please visit and see some of my more recent images; especially in the Singles, Free-Form Expressionist, and abstract galleries. Enjoy!

 

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