Winter Blues 6

Well, my resolution to get back into regular blogging is swimming with the fail whale. I'd love to say it will definitely happen now...but life is busy and unpredictable as ever, so I won't make a promise I might not be able to keep.

One thing which is definitely happening though is the return of my work to The Egg in Liverpool for group show Winter Blues 6, from 25th November through to 15th January 2012. As part of this end of year show, I'll be showing three silver-halide prints, alongside the work of over twenty other artists. If past exhibitions are any guide, it will be a wonderfully diverse and exciting mix, and well worth a look.

The Dream of Flight     2011

Wind and Water     2011

A Waking Dream on The Way of All Flesh, Part Three     2011

iPhone Project

A long time without a post, I know...it's been a busy summer, but I have lots of stuff stored up to share, and plan to get back to regular blogging. To start off, an update on my adventures in iPhoneography, a project which has grown and developed into something with a life and direction of its own.

 Take a closer look at  http://statigr.am/atelierphotosynthetic 

Maverick Monochromatic Magic

It's rare I find the time to curate a Treasury list.
This is one of those rare occasions.

Sinthetix Series

A new series of fetish studies in high-contrast monochrome on metallic paper, emphasising the beauty and aesthetics of what is often considered dark and seedy, but is in fact a celebration of life and freedom.

Possession Part One     2011

This first image in the series bridges the gap between these two perceptions, contrasting the beauty of the female form and the striking fashion (including those iconic red-soled stilettos) with the stark surroundings and distressed floorboards. 

The following images remove the model from environmental context, creating a purity of focus on line and form, subject and composition, style and substance, the aesthetic and the sensuous.

Possession Part Two     2011

Possession Part Three     2011

Possession Part Four     2011

12x8 inch prints on Fuji Pearl silver halide paper are now available from Etsy at $40. Limited editions of 50. Parts Two, Three and Four also available as a set of 3 at $100. Other sizes poa.

Cy Twombly 1928-2011

It's with great sadness that I note the passing, at the age of 83, of Cy Twombly.

Much of my photographic work is influenced more by abstract art and artists than by photography and other photographers. Since I discovered his work a few years ago, none have inspired me more than Twombly. The last of the great American painters, and arguably the world's greatest living artist, he will be greatly missed...but of course his work will continue to serve as testament to his brilliance, and continue to inspire.

A life in pictures

Knockout, Hero, Genius

R.I.P.

Adventures in iPhoneography

Since I discovered the Hipstamatic app a while ago, I've found myself more and more intrigued by the potential of phone photography. Like most people, I don't always carry my big Nikon with me, but I'm never without my iPhone 3GS...the problem (or so I thought) with that was the camera on the iPhone is, quite frankly, a bit rubbish. Enter Camera+, an improved camera app and mini editing suite which allows both basic enhancements to counteract the limitations of the phone camera, and (with a little ingenuity) some interesting creative possibilities.

As well as a useful cropping feature, Camera+ allows a range of lighting adjustments, and a wide range of filters and effects, which can be utilised simply to bring out the best in an image, or layered over each other to create something new.

The camera app itself includes a zoom, timer, and stabiliser for the shaky of hand...and it's also possible to import any image into the editing software, not only those shot with Camera+. All in all, a very valuable app which turns the iPhone into a tool for 'real' photography, not least for giving me the ability to capture and edit the abstracted images I love, whenever I happen to come across something.

And as I continued to explore this new world of iPhoneography, I also discovered Instagram, a photo-sharing community of iPhoneographers (and snapshot-takers), with a facebook/twitter-esque feed-like-follow system. Instagram also has a shoot and filter option (basic but fun)...but of much greater interest is the worldwide community of people posting their work, including some absolutely brilliant photographers.

There's a huge range of stuff, from professionals posting unbelievable quality, to those shooting and editing entirely on their phones (some of which is also unbelievable quality), to teenage girls putting up blurry shots of their feet. But the set-up allows one to find new and interesting work through an organic network, without having to be distracted by too much crap...exactly the way social networking should be.

I've found it inspiring discovering the work of others, as well as valuable in terms of getting almost instant reaction to my own work. Not sure whether or not it has any great value as a promotional tool, although I tend to think any kind of exposure could be of some use. What it has done, though, is give me a push to finally get myself set up on Twitter, because there's the option on uploading to automatically post there.

So, having resisted for some time (while knowing I really ought to be getting involved), I'm now tweeting! Currently I'm using it for this iPhoneography project I seem to have fallen into, but I'm hoping to develop my twittery a little more over time. 

 

At this point, I have no plans to print these images or post them elsewhere...so to see more, come find me on Instagram (atelierphotosynthetic), or Twitter (@atelierPh).

The Swing of Things

I'm very pleased to announce that my work will be on display at The Egg in Liverpool from July 8th - 31st, as part of group show 'The Swing of Things', curated by Headspace.

In my first exhibition since moving to the North West, I'll be showing recent photographs featuring my new environment, alongside several other artists. If you happen to be in the area, I'd be honoured if you took the time to see my work up close and personal.

More information at HeadSpace@EggSpace.

Recent Nature

Still     2011

Skyward     2011

Fallen     2011

Papaverisimilitude     2011

Papaveracity     2011

Visit my Etsy shop for these and many other prints in a variety of sizes and finishes.

Recent Surfaces

Spring Loaded     2011

Wall of Silence     2011

Obfuscation     2011

Beyond     2011

Shelter     2011

8x12 prints on stunning Fuji Pearl paper available now at Etsy.

Recent Landscapes

Into The Ribble Valley     2011

Flight of the Witches     2011

Witches View     2011

From Pendle Hill     2011

All now available as beautiful silver-halide prints from the usual place.

Hip Hip

My name is Justice, and I am a Hipstamatic addict!

I won't be giving up my hi-tech equipment, but the fun of the simulated lo-fi has me hooked.

I am blaming Sarah of Eyeshoot for my affliction/obsession, though I admit this may be entirely without justification.

Anyway, I would strongly suggest if you don't already have Hipstamatic installed on your iphone, do not be tempted by it. There is no escape once it has you in its grip.

The ridiculous number of weird and wonderful film, lenses and flash options...along with the bewildering permutations in which they may be combined...either manually or (with just a shake of the phone) randomly...well, let's just say this way madness lies.

Madness, and surprise, and wonder...and beauty.

Just say no, kids!

New Work - Industrial Processing

Nearly two weeks since my last post...life has been busy! Happily though, I've been able to put some time into new work and not been completely consumed by the day job. One of the things I was looking forward to after moving from the empty expanses of Suffolk countryside, was photographing the industrial architecture and landscapes of my new home in the North West. These images are some of the first results of that endeavour.

The Potential Difference I     2011

I've also been experimenting with some post-processing to create specific atmospheres for these photos. HDR is in danger of becoming a cliché it seems (and with so much of it being overdone to the point of ridiculousness, that's not surprising). I don't want to go down that route, but the techniques intrigue me, and there can certainly be creative validity to it. So instead of running my photos through a piece of $30 software, I've taken a little time to more gently and carefully alter the work, hopefully with some success.

The Potential Difference II     2011

The idea of photographic purism doesn't interest me in the slightest. In fact, since the advent of Photoshop and high-quality digital equipment, I think it's an irrelevance. If one chooses to place artificial limitations on oneself instead of using the tools available to express one's creativity, that's fine. But don't preach to me about my work having less validity because I have taken the image from the camera and turned it into something different.

England's Green and Pleasant     2011

It's certainly possible to go too far, and it's certainly true that post-processing won't (in most cases) turn a bad photograph into a good one. But then, much of this is subjective. Personally, my aim when shooting is to achieve the composition I want (and I don't always follow the 'rules' on that either)...but what I do with the raw image I capture is determined not by artificial restraints, but by my creative concept and vision.

Black Gold, Black Sky     2011

These images are post-processed in this way for a very specific reason, because the contrast between the skies and the man-made elements is enhanced and emphasised, and the effect of our presence on the environment is dramatised. In the last two, of the Stanlow oil refinery at Ellesmere Port, this concept is distilled into a depiction of the industry and landscape both in harmony and in opposition, the sky itself seemingly created by the smokestacks of the giant plant below.

Less valid than an unaltered photograph? Some may think so. I think not.

A Gentleman and a Scholar

So, returning a few favours to some of those who have been kind enough to feature my work recently, I created a Treasury of my own. With Fathers Day not far off (and my own birthday also approaching), it's a collection curated with the modern man in mind.

And again....

This time on the main front page!

Featured!

On Etsy's UK front page...

The Poetry (and Music) of the Clouds

Into/Through l (The Brain is Wider)    2011

"The brain is wider than the sky"

Emily Dickinson

Into/Through ll (When The Day Arrives)    2011

"And when the day arrives I'll become the sky"

Trent Reznor 

Into/Through lll (Kiss the Sky)    2011

"Excuse me, while I kiss the sky"

Jimi Hendrix

Shades of the UK

A black and white collection from the UK Photo Team.

New Work - Dandelions and Bluebells

Soffione I    2011

Soffione II    2011

Soffione III    2011

The Passing of Spring    2011

Prints of all these images, and those in the previous entry, are now available through my Etsy shop.