This is Brandon S. He’s young and he isn’t afraid of sending it. I spent the last two days both riding and taking photos at IOCO, BC. This is a trials bike only place and there are lots of big rocks and trees to hop up and over. Stuff that I can’t do but love seeing others do.
Just a few days before I was with Ron W. Ron, is a self-described ‘Old Trials Guy’. At 68 years young Ron puts the majority of riders to shame as he rides with precision meticulously placing the front wheel where it needs to be and not falling. We arrived at IOCO mid-morning and were treated to cooler temps, frost and fog. Lots of it. The rocks were particularly icy. Any wheel spin caused the frost to melt under the tire and immediately ice up. If it wasn’t for the non-smooth surface ice skates would have been a better choice.
The weather began changing and I wanted to head into the forest as I saw the fog started to shift. Rays of sunlight filtered in through the canopy of trees. It was magical. Riding became secondary as the priority was to photograph this beautiful light. Less than 30 minutes later the magic had disappeared. I put my camera away and spent the rest of the morning riding.
Artist: Nicole Fraser Armstrong – Title: Dans les Mains de Dieu – Medium: Acrylic on canvas. This image evokes a strong emotion. It reminds me of a typical cold winter Quebec scene but in reality is from Manitoba. It’s a familiar scene that gives me a sense of peace. Plus, I love the different shades of blues.
I’ve been working with quite a few talented artists over the past few months photographing their paintings. Each have their own unique style and use different mediums to explore and create. I relate easily with them as I am an artist myself – expressing my thoughts through my photographs instead of through acrylics, oil or watercolour.
I’ve put together a small collection of my favourite pieces from each artist along with their names and medium used. Most have come to me to reproduce their artwork to print or simply to have a digital record of their art. I enjoy working and seeing their paintings and am always amazed at the creativity people have. I love the colours, the textures and the image itself and what it represents.
Photographing a painting though is not as easy as it sounds. First the colour and tones must be 100% accurate. I use a colour checker as well as a light meter to help with this. I must also make sure that there is no distortion from lens barreling. A tripod is a must and shooting with a prime lens offers better success. The quality of the lens is also of paramount importance for a clear, sharp image. Some paintings come in framed while others are behind a glass. These in itself, while seemingly innocent, pose a variety of problems including glare. Sometimes the frames are crooked and so I must adjust for that. I try and do most of the work in camera – taking the time to set up is the most important – and this allows me to have a faster post-process work flow. Patience and attention to detail is key when photographing artwork.
This isn’t my artwork. My art is this case is reproducing to the best of my abilities an image and it’s my job to make sure it is 100% accurate across all facets.
Artist: Monique Hurteau Series: Precious Metal Medium: Watercolour on Fine Art Paper www.moniquehurteau.comMonique has a wonderful creative and playful style. Her abstract work is real, smart and connects with the earth. You should check out her Wrench series on her website! I love the earthy tones in this particular piece and the use of space and lines.
Artist: Diane Clark Medium: Acrylic on CanvasDiane Clark scenes are reminiscent of the interior (BC). Her lovely use of colours and attention to detail make for a precise yet playful painting.
Artist: Denise Grams Medium: Oil on CanvasI love Denises’ use of texture in her paintings. You can almost feel the feathers of her Crow Series. She builds her layers and with a close look several colours reveal themselves. Beautifully composed and true to the North Shore.
