Newsletter #139: February, 2017
© Chris Harris. All rights reserved.

 

It’s all in a Day’s Work!

Hi everyone,

In this Newsletter I am sharing an experience with you; the up’s and down’s I had as a photographer during a day at work (I know, many of you will not consider this work!). It’s highly autographical (as photography is), but it’s the reality for many artists of different media. I hope you find it inspirational.

This is the 139th consecutive monthly Newsletter; my TWELTH YEAR without missing a single month! Enjoy!

Our goal at the Chris Harris Gallery is to share photographic adventures and inspire others in the creative process. Please share this Newsletter with friends. We appreciate your interest and continued support for my work.

 

Contents:

1.  “Artist’s Block”: breaking free
2.  An Artist’s Journey: observation and experimentation
3.  Cross-photography: photographing as a painter
4.  Continuing Along: enjoying the gifts of the day
5.  The Art Within: heading home…slowly
6.  Blog Posts: Look at them from time to time, or subscribe!

 

1.  “Artist’s Block”: breaking free

Last week I headed out on a road trip to photograph. I had work to do in the office but I was determined get away. Before long, I realized I was not in a good mood. I was feeling ‘down’, certainly not creative, and wishing I had not left home.

I hate this feeling. I don’t enjoy being this way. I know I love my work, and I have an amazing life, so why wasn’t I happy and excited?

An hour into my journey, I realized I was trying to control my day, control the environment I was in, and control the outcome of my photography.  I was not grounded and I certainly was not open to receiving any gifts which the natural world had waiting for me.

I stopped the truck. I got out and walked (there is no traffic out here, I only saw one vehicle all day), trying whatever version of meditation I could think of. Gradually, I began to slow down, eliminate the negative voice track, and see the world around me as a wonder of beauty.

Ordinary marsh in winter

Back at the truck, I reached for my camera and made an image of where I was. It was just an ordinary marsh in winter. Nothing I would ever stop to make a photograph of.

It was then I remembered a quote by Joseph Campbell; “Where you stumble, there lies your treasure”. I went to work.

Creative rendition I

 

Creative rendition II

 

I got back in my truck, excited, feeling creative, and observant.

Ordinary view ahead

Creative rendition

Ordinary view ahead

Creative rendition

Now with spirits in high gear, I continued along my journey.

 

 2.  An Artist’s Journey: observation and experimentation

Now happy and observant, I drove slowly along Meadow Lake Road, heading toward the Gang Ranch. The curving line of the road, and the diagonal lines of the grasslands beyond, drew my attention. I stopped to make the image below.

The road to winter grasslands

As artists, we don’t have to see the world as it is. We can be subjective and intuitive. We can show our personality and our mood. We can experiment, be creative, and seek new interpretations.

A more creative and expressive rendition of the road to winter grasslands

 

With mastery of your toolkit and a little imagination, you can go anywhere you want.

 

3.  Cross-photography: photographing as a painter

As I continued along the winding road, my eyes were always glued on the grasslands landscape on the western side of the Fraser River. For centuries, water draining off the plateau towards the Fraser River has left intricate patterns. This topography is beautifully revealed by shadows created by low angle winter sun.

Snow covered grasslands in winter light

When I look at complex landscapes such as this, I search for ways to simplify the composition. One way I accomplish this is to approach the subject as if I were an abstract painter. By reducing the contrast and softening the details, I am able to simplify the elements. This more painterly abstract rendition of a portion of the previous image, was created by using the in-camera multiple exposure feature.

Photograph as a painting.  Grasslands in winter light

4.  Continuing Along: enjoying the gifts of the day

Heading toward the Gang Ranch

 

Looking toward Churn Creek Canyon

Mule deer hangs out on the ranch

 

And—gone!

 

5.  The Art Within: heading home…slowly

There is art within every subject

On the way home I decided to make one more stop. Surely, I thought to myself, there is art within the snow covered rock walls ahead.

The art within, I

 

The art within, II

As Dennis Ducklow and I discuss in our workshops, photography is an art form and we as photographers can be artists. If we are not afraid to be who we are, and to express how we feel, then we can be confident and proud of our creations.

Now that my major book assignments are behind me, I am enjoying a new creative journey, and I am excited to discover where it may take me. Art, and the mystery of what art is, drives me further down the road!

 

6.  Blog Posts: Look at them from time to time, or subscribe!

Every week I post a blog on my website titled The Story Behind the Image. Drop in for a visit when you have a moment or subscribe to be notified when they are posted. This week I will tell the story behind this image!

 

What is this story about?

Thank you. See you next month!

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