1. Photography is always on my mind.
2. I need a wide angle lens eventually.
3. I read over Ken Rockwell's site about creating a master piece again today. And then it finally clicked. When I first read it, I was like.... boring!! Same old junk. I already know this crap... blah blah blah composition, blah blah blah lighting...
And then I realized what he was talking about:
"To create a master piece you need to create something that will take people away. Photos must engage the viewer. They have to stop the viewer dead in his tracks. Just being gross or shocking doesn't count; they have to grab his attention and take him away."
and
These are the most important parts of the article that struck a lightbulb for me. Here's the whole article for those curious.
Here's a quick painting I did just to compose the idea from my head.



My head sees the whole image. But it's harder to translate. Not bad for an hour painting with my tablet.
Things I like: The lighting. That's what I wanted to get out first besides the colors. The colors are second, and I like the redheads. Good redheads are hard to find these days so that will be a tough model call. I may just cast a blonde and paint her hair myself. I like how the action in the scene makes me want to go in and have fun. And also if you look closer, you can see the creeper hiding in the bush ready to pounce. It's all fun and happiness and excitement, then you explore and see the creeper lurking. Yet you can't help but wonder what will happen. Good? Bad? That's what I want to do. Capture a moment in time where peace and happiness lives with the foreshadowing of danger ahead.
I'm going to make this a composite so I'll need a studio time and a few models. It will be fun. I enjoy the post processing and the composing and painting in the end. It might be my favorite part because I have total control like a painter. I loved my painting course at UNH. I loved how everyone in the class had such a unique style.
Things I'll change and resketch: In my head the angle is looking up slightly, or looking on straight at her legs (knee length). I'm wondering why that is. She has to be close to the bush and the couple in the back are perfect... but I'm going to have to move them because the original image (yes in my twisted head) had them closer or not in there at all. I like how nobody is watching the creeper, so I'll keep that in there. Colors have to be vivid. I think the red dress would go better than the green. Also I'm thinking of gold/yellow for the back couple.
I definitely want that warm night feeling to be present. I want the rich fab feeling with the figures to show the upper class on the edge of danger. (i'm not a marxist but I love juxtoposition)
Okay more to come.
PS The Strobist Bootcamp starts tomorrow. I'm so excited to get the assignment. whoo hoo!

Labels: Masterpiece art