Posted by Paul Wegemann on October 23, 2011 at 6:37 PM
Awhile back I came to the realization that spending so much time looking at other people's landscape photography was affecting my
interest in my own work. I was beginning to feel numb toward something I loved and I was also
disgusted that I was as guilty as anyone of the verbal vomit critiques that Kurt brought up in his post. At that point, I decided to shift gears and try something different, hopefully regaining my passion for photography. I've always had an interest in night photography, so I decided to expand on that and learn more about
light painting. It's been a fun journey and I look forward to learning more, but I thought I'd share what I've come up with so far.
I'd love to hear any and all thoughts on these photos. Night is, by its nature, mysterious and moody, so if that's the sense you get from these images, then I'll have conveyed what I meant to. This is still quite experimental for me and I'm trying to improve. It's easy to overlook things when you often can't see what you're photographing. I hope at some point to incorporate some of these techniques into my landscapes, but for now, my local park is a great place to practice.
Paul
Posted by Paul Wegemann on October 23, 2011 at 6:37 PM
#2
Posted by Paul Wegemann on October 23, 2011 at 6:38 PM
I think you could pull some more detail out of the shadows.
Paul, I like what you are creating in these. They are unique for me. In the first one, I think you could balance the light between the bushes on either side of the tree, because the very yellow one on the right is bright enough to pull my eye a little. Is your main subject the tree in this or are you looking for a progression of some type? You are conveying exactly what you are aiming for to me. They are all dark, moody, and mysterious. I really like the amount of light you have on the wall and the tree in the second one. The last one is downright forboding if you ask me. I mean, I would like to know what is out there in the darkness, but you are not letting me. Vive la difference!
Posted by Phillip Noll on October 23, 2011 at 7:10 PM
Very cool, Paul! Number 2 is wonderful! These all have a real sense of mystery and truly give the feeling that you are walking around in the middle of the night! Look forward to seeing more!
Posted by Joseph Kayne on October 23, 2011 at 8:49 PM
Very refreshing and marvelous work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on October 24, 2011 at 3:32 AM
I like your experments. Keep it up. I'm looking forward to see how this evolves.
Posted by Jim Casteel on October 24, 2011 at 9:41 AM
I like the Picnic table the best in the series but all are good. I think the reason I like the table best partially because it has more mood. Also because it doesn't have quite the bright spots that the others do. it is almost how you would see(in an altered reality) it if you walked up on it with distant overhead lights or a full moon.
Good stuff!!
Posted by Paul Wegemann on October 24, 2011 at 9:43 AM
Thanks guys. I appreciate the input.
Morris, thanks for pointing out the light balance issue. That's what I was looking for. And the shadow comment was really funny.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on October 24, 2011 at 10:40 AM
These are quite different to me, but also quite interesting. I like the first two; perhaps it is the attraction of the yellow/green leaves against the black. In the first, the rear bushes seem to bright and draw attention away from the tree and the "shadow" of light beneath the tree. In the second, the steps to nowhere in darkness are thought grabbing.
One suggestion might be to try using a more diffused light for the painting and see how you like it, as some areas on the table seems too concentrated.
Posted by Jesse Speer on October 24, 2011 at 11:05 AM
"mysterious and moody ..."
Well done Paul. Kudos for stepping out. And I think these are really good for "practice". At the most basic level, they are mysterious and moody. The light painting is fabulous ... although possible a bit overdone in #1. ?
#2 is spectacular for me. There's a sense of mystery that rises above the mood ... above the technique. I'm curious about this stairway to nowhere. And how even the branches even seem to carry on the flow of the stairs ... almost themselves stair stepping up into darkness. Intended or not, it's wonderful. The light painting works very well here. The lights obviously isn't coming from street lights, so the sources of light themselves are also mysterious. Leaves a lot to the imagination.
Find some purpose and context, beyond just "practice", and I think you've sparked a very strong series.
And think about the use of color. Question it. Is strong saturated color best for this approach? Maybe, maybe not. What about b/w? What about very low saturation? Question the technique and process ... and distill it further as your vision is distilled for this new work/series.
If you want to see what some others have done with night photography, try one of the historical innovators ... Josef Sudek, and his night walk work. And more recently, Robb Johnson. Of course, do NOT look if you'd rather have no outside influence.
Posted by Jack Garrett on October 24, 2011 at 7:05 PM
I am loving that picnic bench shot...would be a great entry in a photo contest!
Posted by Paul Wegemann on October 24, 2011 at 11:05 PM
Again, thanks for your feedback folks. I agree that first one is a bit too bright. I'll fix that and repost. Doug, thanks for pointing out the concentrated light on the table.
Jesse, thanks for questioning the use of color. I think you hit the nail on the head. Being a night image, it's not about color, which along with the brightness, was bugging me, but it just didn't bubble up into my consciousness until someone pointed it out. I had one of those "aha!" moments after I read your comment.
BTW, I've enjoyed Josef Sudek's work previously, but had never seen Robb Johnson's. Robb just found a new fan. Thanks very much for pointing him out.
And for those who are wondering, the stairs truly are a stairway to nowhere. They're part of an old, long-gone, footbridge across the North St. Vrain river.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on October 24, 2011 at 11:35 PM
I think #2 is really a standout here that leaves me wondering where the light is coming from. Thanks for sharing something different and venturing down your own path.
Posted by Tim Mulholland on October 25, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Very nice idea! I just love being exposed to new and different ways of doing things, particularly in photography!
Congrats on your new adventure. I love the fresh perspectives and cant wait to see where it takes you. And i thin 2 works on many many levels. Maybe a nice metaphor for yoyr own journey. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Bill Bean on October 27, 2011 at 9:26 PM
Great stuff. I keep looking at #2 over and over looking for inspiration. I, too, have become infatuated with night photography and I'm working to learn it. A photographer whom I admire says "....night photography is the closest to a blank canvas we as photographers get. Painting with artificial light we can bring out only the elements we wish to reveal...." Closer to a paraphrase than a quote but you get the idea. Hope to work on a bit of this more as time goes by.
Discussion
17 repliesinterest in my own work. I was beginning to feel numb toward something I loved and I was also
disgusted that I was as guilty as anyone of the verbal vomit critiques that Kurt brought up in his post. At that point, I decided to shift gears and try something different, hopefully regaining my passion for photography. I've always had an interest in night photography, so I decided to expand on that and learn more about
light painting. It's been a fun journey and I look forward to learning more, but I thought I'd share what I've come up with so far.
I'd love to hear any and all thoughts on these photos. Night is, by its nature, mysterious and moody, so if that's the sense you get from these images, then I'll have conveyed what I meant to. This is still quite experimental for me and I'm trying to improve. It's easy to overlook things when you often can't see what you're photographing. I hope at some point to incorporate some of these techniques into my landscapes, but for now, my local park is a great place to practice.
Paul
Paul, I like what you are creating in these. They are unique for me. In the first one, I think you could balance the light between the bushes on either side of the tree, because the very yellow one on the right is bright enough to pull my eye a little. Is your main subject the tree in this or are you looking for a progression of some type? You are conveying exactly what you are aiming for to me. They are all dark, moody, and mysterious. I really like the amount of light you have on the wall and the tree in the second one. The last one is downright forboding if you ask me. I mean, I would like to know what is out there in the darkness, but you are not letting me. Vive la difference!
Good stuff!!
Morris, thanks for pointing out the light balance issue. That's what I was looking for. And the shadow comment was really funny.
One suggestion might be to try using a more diffused light for the painting and see how you like it, as some areas on the table seems too concentrated.
Well done Paul. Kudos for stepping out. And I think these are really good for "practice". At the most basic level, they are mysterious and moody. The light painting is fabulous ... although possible a bit overdone in #1. ?
#2 is spectacular for me. There's a sense of mystery that rises above the mood ... above the technique. I'm curious about this stairway to nowhere. And how even the branches even seem to carry on the flow of the stairs ... almost themselves stair stepping up into darkness. Intended or not, it's wonderful. The light painting works very well here. The lights obviously isn't coming from street lights, so the sources of light themselves are also mysterious. Leaves a lot to the imagination.
Find some purpose and context, beyond just "practice", and I think you've sparked a very strong series.
And think about the use of color. Question it. Is strong saturated color best for this approach? Maybe, maybe not. What about b/w? What about very low saturation? Question the technique and process ... and distill it further as your vision is distilled for this new work/series.
If you want to see what some others have done with night photography, try one of the historical innovators ... Josef Sudek, and his night walk work. And more recently, Robb Johnson. Of course, do NOT look if you'd rather have no outside influence.
Jesse, thanks for questioning the use of color. I think you hit the nail on the head. Being a night image, it's not about color, which along with the brightness, was bugging me, but it just didn't bubble up into my consciousness until someone pointed it out. I had one of those "aha!" moments after I read your comment.
BTW, I've enjoyed Josef Sudek's work previously, but had never seen Robb Johnson's. Robb just found a new fan. Thanks very much for pointing him out.
And for those who are wondering, the stairs truly are a stairway to nowhere. They're part of an old, long-gone, footbridge across the North St. Vrain river.
Keep it up!
Tim!