We are two like minds when it comes to photography. I have been passionate about it since I was a teenager and put my Canon EOS SLR through a ton of use throughout my 20s and 30s. I took classes at Ryerson where I used a darkroom and LOVED it. Now that I almost exclusively take photographs with my I-phone, I, too, miss the weighty feel of it hanging around my neck and sitting in my hands. I fist bump in agreement everything you wrote in this post as it summarizes my feelings about photography’s place in my own life.
I probably lean heavily towards drawing and painting, and definitely, for me, textile. to throw a bit of a wrench in, I really like textile work done on top of photographs. or photographs transferred to fabric and incorporated into a textile art piece. I love that. it's a peek. (like your interactive art. I suppose I like seeing the hidden and unexpected and being surprised.) so for me: all of it. together! :)
Very true thoughts on pictures and deciding whether to paint or not. I have learned a lot about taking pictures from my father who passed away 30 years ago and it is always important to me to take a good picture. This makes it so hard to delete any 😉. Samantha I especially love the black and white picture of your son sipping from a cup. So sweet 😍
I really loved this post. I loved seeing your pictures and examples. (Thought your little one with his face half buried in the cup was so cute!) I take a lot of pictures, too, thinking I would like to sketch/paint them, and then when I look at them later I delete a bunch because they are too busy, or the detail my eyes picked up just isn't there in the photo, so I cannot remember what was magic to me. You have given me a lot to think about, as well as hoping I'll take better photos! Thank you for sharing this!
I just wanted to say I also wish I hadn’t traded in my old cameras from years ago. I had a Pentax K-1000 totally manual SLR from when I started taking photography classes in college. And my very first camera at age 11 was a “Kodak Instamatic F.” Several years ago I was thinking about both of these cameras and did a search for them on eBay. I found both of them and was able to purchase them for very little cost. Are they the same ones I had previously owned? Who knows. Probably not. But now I have them displayed with some of my other treasures and I enjoy looking at them very much.
Maybe you can find your Nikon FE2 on eBay? Just sayin’!
When I travel, or even go on my walks (daily exercise that is not quite daily), I take tons of pictures with the idea of drawing them when I get home. So, your post resonates with me in that I often return home and it feels like the 'creative' moment happened when I took the picture and they no longer inspire me to re-do them in my artistic style. However, I still long to use those images...LOL, I don't have enough years left - though I plan to live to a ripe old age - to actually do all the 'paintings' I wish to do. In any case, I loved this post as it actually helps me explain to myself - why I haven't bothered to sketch/paint those past images I snapped. Cheers
In the very unlikely case you don't want to draw any more, you could as well make money with your photographs. They are so intimate, so loving, and really exciting to look at. :-)
Thank you for sharing this interesting topic. I was just in Savannah and almost visited the Telfair. I was born in 1960 so would have liked to see those photographs too. We visited the Bonaventure Cemetery and I am working on some sketchbook pages from photos I took there. I’m intrigued by the Spanish moss in the trees and am finding it a challenge to simplify. I very often combine several photos to make a scene. I do sometimes paint directly from a photo but realized just after reading your comment that some photos are better left as photos. Also—I love the clouds in your painting and think it’s even better than the photo!
Photography is not a creative medium I’ve explored so the photos I take are only valuable to me, really. I have wondered if drawing from those photos would actually bring them more vibrant life!
A good photo should always be left to stand alone I think - I prefer to use photos that are not good on their own if I am using them as reference for drawing, but having said that I am never looking to reproduce what is in the photo but take it to something entirely different, to create a unique image. The photo is there to spark ideas. I love your black and white photos, especially the vase, it is complete in itself, it does not need to be taken to another place.
I guess it’s not surprising that there’s so many photographers among us. I started when I was in six and seventh grade and continued for the rest of my life. In junior high and high school it was way too be a part of a lot of things that were going on in the school but also, I could be an observer as that was the job. As I became an adult, I got more and more into photography as an art. I’m a sucker for macro photography of nature, but enjoy all types and really authentic portraits.
So enjoyed seeing your son’ work and all the other people that you linked in your off the charts post today. So so interesting and stimulating. Thank you. Excited!
This post is so relatable as i take a million photos, and always struggle with knowing whether to leave it or paint it.
You made a valid point about looking at an image and knowing your limits when it comes to being able to execute it in paint or pen.
I took photography as one of my final subjects in High school (ALevels in the UK) and loved the whole developing and trying to capture your full range of values… I’m sure it helped with how I see today and how I paint and sketch.
We are two like minds when it comes to photography. I have been passionate about it since I was a teenager and put my Canon EOS SLR through a ton of use throughout my 20s and 30s. I took classes at Ryerson where I used a darkroom and LOVED it. Now that I almost exclusively take photographs with my I-phone, I, too, miss the weighty feel of it hanging around my neck and sitting in my hands. I fist bump in agreement everything you wrote in this post as it summarizes my feelings about photography’s place in my own life.
I probably lean heavily towards drawing and painting, and definitely, for me, textile. to throw a bit of a wrench in, I really like textile work done on top of photographs. or photographs transferred to fabric and incorporated into a textile art piece. I love that. it's a peek. (like your interactive art. I suppose I like seeing the hidden and unexpected and being surprised.) so for me: all of it. together! :)
Very true thoughts on pictures and deciding whether to paint or not. I have learned a lot about taking pictures from my father who passed away 30 years ago and it is always important to me to take a good picture. This makes it so hard to delete any 😉. Samantha I especially love the black and white picture of your son sipping from a cup. So sweet 😍
Wonderful post and wonderful pix. Thank you.
I really loved this post. I loved seeing your pictures and examples. (Thought your little one with his face half buried in the cup was so cute!) I take a lot of pictures, too, thinking I would like to sketch/paint them, and then when I look at them later I delete a bunch because they are too busy, or the detail my eyes picked up just isn't there in the photo, so I cannot remember what was magic to me. You have given me a lot to think about, as well as hoping I'll take better photos! Thank you for sharing this!
Hi Samantha-
I just wanted to say I also wish I hadn’t traded in my old cameras from years ago. I had a Pentax K-1000 totally manual SLR from when I started taking photography classes in college. And my very first camera at age 11 was a “Kodak Instamatic F.” Several years ago I was thinking about both of these cameras and did a search for them on eBay. I found both of them and was able to purchase them for very little cost. Are they the same ones I had previously owned? Who knows. Probably not. But now I have them displayed with some of my other treasures and I enjoy looking at them very much.
Maybe you can find your Nikon FE2 on eBay? Just sayin’!
When I travel, or even go on my walks (daily exercise that is not quite daily), I take tons of pictures with the idea of drawing them when I get home. So, your post resonates with me in that I often return home and it feels like the 'creative' moment happened when I took the picture and they no longer inspire me to re-do them in my artistic style. However, I still long to use those images...LOL, I don't have enough years left - though I plan to live to a ripe old age - to actually do all the 'paintings' I wish to do. In any case, I loved this post as it actually helps me explain to myself - why I haven't bothered to sketch/paint those past images I snapped. Cheers
In the very unlikely case you don't want to draw any more, you could as well make money with your photographs. They are so intimate, so loving, and really exciting to look at. :-)
Thank you for sharing this interesting topic. I was just in Savannah and almost visited the Telfair. I was born in 1960 so would have liked to see those photographs too. We visited the Bonaventure Cemetery and I am working on some sketchbook pages from photos I took there. I’m intrigued by the Spanish moss in the trees and am finding it a challenge to simplify. I very often combine several photos to make a scene. I do sometimes paint directly from a photo but realized just after reading your comment that some photos are better left as photos. Also—I love the clouds in your painting and think it’s even better than the photo!
Photography is not a creative medium I’ve explored so the photos I take are only valuable to me, really. I have wondered if drawing from those photos would actually bring them more vibrant life!
A good photo should always be left to stand alone I think - I prefer to use photos that are not good on their own if I am using them as reference for drawing, but having said that I am never looking to reproduce what is in the photo but take it to something entirely different, to create a unique image. The photo is there to spark ideas. I love your black and white photos, especially the vase, it is complete in itself, it does not need to be taken to another place.
I love the pictures and the drawings. What cameras do you recommend? You really cannot compare phone cameras for the real deal. Thanks for sharing😊
I guess it’s not surprising that there’s so many photographers among us. I started when I was in six and seventh grade and continued for the rest of my life. In junior high and high school it was way too be a part of a lot of things that were going on in the school but also, I could be an observer as that was the job. As I became an adult, I got more and more into photography as an art. I’m a sucker for macro photography of nature, but enjoy all types and really authentic portraits.
So enjoyed seeing your son’ work and all the other people that you linked in your off the charts post today. So so interesting and stimulating. Thank you. Excited!
This post is so relatable as i take a million photos, and always struggle with knowing whether to leave it or paint it.
You made a valid point about looking at an image and knowing your limits when it comes to being able to execute it in paint or pen.
I took photography as one of my final subjects in High school (ALevels in the UK) and loved the whole developing and trying to capture your full range of values… I’m sure it helped with how I see today and how I paint and sketch.
Your photos are beautiful of your boys!
So great to read - thorough and thoughtful and love seeing how photography plays in your process. Thank you for sharing this!
Wonderful post! Thank you for the shout!👋📸✨