Danuta Antas Fine Art Photography Blog

Isolated People

2011-11-15T15:33:00.001+01:00

Words

Countless as the drops of rain
Swept by a wind like autumn leaves,
Words, invisible,Living for fractions of seconds
In an undefined space.

What a power is hidden behind them,
Mysterious force,
Which creates worlds so beautiful
and delicate
like a cobweb sprinkled with rain
in the sun beams.
Yet, at the same time,
In one brief moment
Can turn them to dust,
to nothingness, to hell?

The word, one little word
Can turn a happy man paradise
Into the hell of perpetually dying love.

From a series of poems called Towards Light

Author: Danuta Antas-Woźniewska

Written in 2005

Title: Isolated People, 2010

Fot. Danuta Antas

Beautiful Ugliness

2011-11-03T22:12:00.002+01:00

Generally, I love shooting beautiful landscapes, plants, flowers, etc, but I feel some special bond to things that are abandoned; things that are considered ugly and useless. This kind of interest developed gradually, while I have been travelling around a country with my beloved Andrew, who is a realtor and for his job he often makes business trips. Me?:) ... taking advantage of the opportunity and taking my camera with me for shooting unexpected treasures human dwellings unveil in front of us.

I have even created a series of works in my portfolio I call Realtor's Journal where there are some of my ugly discoveries. Some of them stole my heart, like the disappearing house in the photo below that is almost devoured by growing plants around it and from the inside. Looking at what is left from the house, once populated by an ordinary family with its joys and sorrows, makes me think of unknown people, makes me ponder on time elapsing, on how fragile our life is. I have impression that people leave some sort of presence in all the places they used to be. I feel that their thouhts and feelings, their energy still wander there. Although empty, abandoned, these places have lots of life for me. It si what I try to show in my photography.

These unique feeling of invisible presence that comes with a beam of sun sliding over a texture of a wooden fence or door, or a small flower growing between rocks. Almost everything brings life and human faces into my mind.

I would love to share my works with you and to learn your opinion on the works below. More of the kind, you will find on my website.

Updated photography portfolio

2011-11-01T21:50:00.000+01:00

Updating photography portfolio is for a photographer almost a daily task:) I have recently redesigned and updated one of my websites. I would love to hear your opinion on both, my works and my web design work.

Your feedback helps me make progress. I still consider myself a first-steps photographer as I know how much I want to learn and make my photographs better than they are now.

Below there is a home page of my website as it look like now.

I have also created some new projects you may see in my portfolio.

B & W Lover shooting in colour

2011-11-01T21:23:00.001+01:00

Although I am a dedicated b&w photography and art in general lover, I can't resist the poetry of autumn colours:) Below there are some recent shots of botanic gardens in my hometown. There is a beech wood there which is my favourite spot for shooting. I love the mystery the tall trees there create. To think, they grow for hundreds years; they were before us and will be lg after the world forgets us.

Autumn 2011, Botanic Gardens in Myslecinek

The Energy Of Trees my solo Exhibition Portugal • 09/21 through 12/15/2011

2011-09-11T22:38:00.001+02:00

THE ENERGY OF TREES Exhibition • 09/21 up 12/15/2011

Parque Biológico de Gaia, 4430-681 Avintes, Vila Nova de Gaia PORTUGAL

The exhibition is a part of a program integrated with The International Year of Forests. It is organized by The Biological Park of Gaia and In-Libris company. The curator of the whole program is Portuguese artist Paulo Gaspar Ferreira.

Those who happen to visit Portugal this Autumn are very welcome to visit my solo exibition in Parque Biológico de Gaia. Me, unfortunately for an accident that happened to me this Summer, won't be able to see it in person. I will be happy to learn some opinion of the show from the visitors.

Below there are some of my works that will be displayed on the exhibition.

Life Always Surprises Me

2011-08-17T11:06:00.002+02:00

It is 4 weeks now, when I am stuck at home with my broken leg, looking through the window at the Sun and missing the opportunity to do outdoor shooting. I learn to be patient this way:) Yet, to my surprise, life has some unexpected pleasant things for me, too, just to keep everything in balance. During these weeks of my compulsory stay at home and time of reflections and seemingly doing nothing special, I have sold more works than during the rest of this year. I have also got more assignement work concerning building websites than ever before. And to my greater surprise, all the websites I have done recently are for people, who share similar outlook than me. It's a real pleasure to create a website for someone who 100% trust your taste and accepts all the projects you do. I wish everybody and myself too for the rest of my life to have exclusively such clients. The work then, even it takes much time, is never considered to be a hard work:)

Some other good news reached me yesterday:) Two of my two submitted works to IPA The International Photography Awards contest have been awarded with Honorable Mentions. I do remember my deep concern while submitting the works as it was the time when I was completely without money and couldn't afford to submit more photographs. I will never know the outcome if I sent more works of mine to IPA. Nevertheless, I am glad with things they are.

Another Perspective

2011-07-24T18:19:00.001+02:00

For a year or more I have been subcsribed to Arina's Self Help Blog from which I receive daily a new quote by famous people. Today's words of wisdom are as follow:

You've got a lot of choices. If getting out of bed in the morning is a chore and you're not smiling on a regular basis, try another choice.
by Steven D. Woodhull

These words impressed me in particular as they coincide with my current situation. Several days ago, after an accident while walking in a woods with my dogs, I broke my right leg (ankle in fact) so badly that in a second my life turned upside down. From a very active person I was until that day, I am now constantly in bed, unfortuantelly in pain too, as the operated leg aches badly. Well, what a different perspective of life when each movement is like climbing Mont Everest, all the problems, concerns that were before accident seem to be nothing now. It is not that I was complaining much about life before the accident, yet now I have realized that I wasn't grateful enough for all I have, for all my life so far.

I know that every cloud has a silver lining and what happened to me is for my personal growth. Dealing with difificulties of ordinary activities, learning who is your true friend, I am listening carefully to my inner voice what it is going to tell me. Not being able to create photographs with my hands I have lots of time to create with my mind:)

If you are the one who suffer somehow, do remember 'every cloud ...":)

Sending warm thoughts and good energy to all in need.

Danka Antas

A photo I did in a park in my hometown, May, 2010

Hidden In Rocks, Flowers and Clouds

2011-07-10T18:14:00.000+02:00

'Hidden In Rocks, Flowers and Clouds' may well be a title for a new series of works I would focus on soon. Maybe? Yet for a while, I want to jot down just a few words about simple, ordinary clivia flower the photo of which there is below. This is a child-flower which originates from the one that was planted and cared by my grandmother. Probably nothing special, but my beloved grandma died almost 40 years ago and the plant is only one material thing that is left after her. The flower must senses my special feelings I pay to it as this year it gave flowers twice in the course of 3 months, which according to specialists in gardening shouldn't happen.

I like thinking that some energy of my grandma is hidden in the plant:) and she speaks to me this way:) She always was very loving, warm, positive thinking person, who liked joking and making small gifts to children. Just perfect grandma:)

50% Off Promotion on Limited Edition Fine Art Prints. One Selected Work a Month

2011-07-07T14:50:00.001+02:00

Each month there will be a special 50% off promotion on signed limited edition fine art prints of one work of mine. This month my choice is 'El Paradiso Mio" in its black and white version.

'El Paradiso Mio', by Danuta Antas
summer 2010

All my works are printed on the best Hahnemühle fine art papers with ultrachrome K3 inks and top EPSON technology to ensure the highest standards of Fine Art prints as well as their estimated about 100-year display life. The prints should not be displayed in direct sunlight; to exceed their longevity they should be mounted under glass.

The prints are offered in limited edition of 50 copies, each signed, numbered and supplied with the certificate of edition authenticity.

More information on my website www.danutaantas.com

Lost Souls

2011-06-06T13:32:00.005+02:00

People all are lost souls who wander around the world throughout their lives in search of happiness. The few lucky ones, after long years of huge effort, learning, thinking, trying, failing and deepening their self-consciousness, find it finally within themselves, realizing that the subject of their quest was always with them.

To do so, they must have courage to say "no" when the majority would eagerly say "yes". They must have courage to follow their bumpy path, while others run smoothly along a motorway. They must have strength to endure the hardships of their journey and long painful hours of solitude.

Such people are like my Animated Trees below, where everything around my seem dead (b&w parts of my photographs are a symbol of dead), while they are strong and living a true life. The energy that animates their souls makes them colourful and standing out from the crowd. They are the salt of the earth.

The post is dedicated to a gifted artist Katarina Fagerstrom Levring,
who inspired me to write it.

Catch The Moment When It Occurs

2011-06-02T12:19:00.000+02:00

For the last 15 years I have made a huge effort to achieve a deep self-consciouss living. Reading tones of books, articles, thinking a lot, following all the wise people advice and verifying if it works, I finally reached the state of mind that lets me enjoy each day, each single moment regardless of circumstances and the weather (popular topic people in my country discuss everyday and constantly complain about).
The shots below are a perfect example of my catching the moment, living here and now. I did them last year while coming back home from a business trip with my Andrew. When we were driving a car along one of main roads in our city I noticed an incredible cloud formations in the sky. It was right after rain, the Sun was very low. I did the first of the shots below while we were moving and then, we stopped at a crossroads waiting for green light when I did the other two. The light and mood it created in the air made me particularly intriqued to observe other people in their cars, the bus driver whose face was reflected in the side mirror, the overall movement of other cars triggered to move in certain directions just by the change of light.
I love watching the life as if I was outside the scene looking from distance, seeing everything like wide angle lens:)

I hope you will enjoy the photographs and feel the special mood of the moment I have tried to show in them.

Miracles Are Not For Everybody

2011-05-31T22:47:00.000+02:00

I have chosen this controversial title for this post with a special intention. Why? I tell you in a minute. Of course, I think that miracles and wonders are for everybody, yet so few is able to notice it. People tend to consider a miracle a UFO sort of thing, but it may never happen in your life. Much easier is to live consciously and notice awesome things you pass by everyday, for example, on your way to work or just while walking with your dog.

But many people are like blind with open eyes. Can you notice in the mallow shot below something beautiful? I think you say 'Yes'. I have noticed it, too. I did this photo last Summer. The flower grew on a lawn in front of my house. It made me smile each day, whenever I got out and saw it. One day, some men working with lawn mowers cut it to the ground! For them, the mallow was just like a weed. They wouldn't probably notice the miss of universum if she was wearing T-shirt and jeans!:)

Lost in Virtual Space - Most Incredible Story of Computer Era

2011-05-27T15:05:00.000+02:00

Two days ago I received an e-mail from an American man of the same surname like mine, Antas. While brosing through the Internet websites in search of family roots and information about Antas name origins, he googled his surname and thus he came across my photo galleries. He decided to write to me. It would be nothing strange as everyday millions of people round the world get in touch with each other. For me, it was a nice surprise, especially because it turned out his ancestors came form Poland and his great grandpa had the same name like my grandpa. Moreover, it turned out we are peers. Yet, my surprise was that of shock almost when at the end of the e-mail he wished me Happy New Year!!! Well, to remind you, it was 25th of May. At first I have thought OK, maybe people in the US are so kind as to make special wishes all year round. However, I have never heard ot the habit:). The next day after receiving the message, the mystery of curious New Year's wishes was unveiled. It turned out that my newly met Antas name bearer send it right after Christmas and before the New Year, but the e-mail somewhat stuck in a virtual space and reached me after 5 month after sending it! Can you believe it!? I have never heard of such a story!

I wonder if something similar has ever happened to you?

My favourite work

2011-05-23T00:27:00.000+02:00

It is now 1,5 years since I took up photography more seriously. At the beginning, I could't imagine that it will be such a great passion of mine. I often think how much progress I have made since October 2009 and know that it just a beginning:) I will never stop learning. Today, while making some cleaning on my PC, I have come across one of the very first shots I did, when I bought my Canon camera. It is also my fav image, because somehow it reminds me the mood of old 19th century photographs. I have edited the original shot once again using my present knowledge of the field:) and here it is:)

When Time Goes By, 2009

PANORAMA OF MY COUNTRY

2011-05-20T08:21:00.002+02:00

Below there are works I have submitted to photo contest and were qualified to II International Photo Salon PANORAMA OF MY COUNTRY that is currently taking place in Kijev, Ukraina. More info here.

The works depict the area surrounding my hometown (central/northern part of Poland).

My focus, while creating these works, was on showing the mood of a particular place and season, emphasizing the essence of each single moment the shot was taken in.

"Study At Morning Coffee" Finalist at Juried PORTRAIT 2011" Exhibition

2011-05-08T15:41:00.003+02:00

One of my works, the black and white portrait of my beloved Andrew has been included into exhibition, called PORTRAIT 2011 organized by The Cultural Local Centre in Kolo, Poland. I am very pleased, as it is one my early works I did last summer, having very limited knowledge of photography at that stage:) It has also made me realize how much progress I have made since then.

Beautiful Soul

2011-05-08T15:09:00.001+02:00

I have always had a great pleasure in seeing young gifted people who dare to be different than the majority of their peers. Ellie Goulding is such a person. Her beautiful and mature voice is incredible inspiration for me.

Tales Of Mystery On YouTube

2011-01-11T16:49:00.001+01:00

Tales Of Mystery video presenting my fine art landscape photography has been today published on YouTube. It is a summary of my 2010 work, the majority of which was devoted to creating my own world and seeking my inner peace. I gladly share my vision of the world I wish we all lived.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Living Life You Want To Live.

2010-12-02T14:44:00.004+01:00

El Paradiso Mio - Awakening

Last summer I have started to shoot a series of works I have called El Paradiso Mio. All of them are based on nature, landscape mainly. The majority of images have been taken in Botanic Gardens in my hometown. The works show my interpretation of the world, or to be more precise, they show the world, which I would love to live in. I try to show my personal attitude to the depicted scene, my feelings I have felt in a certain place, the mood of the particular day. All this is far more important than the ordinary, document-like shooting.

As many conscious-living people know, the world has everything to offer us. Bad and good, beautiful and ugly. We decide what we choose, how we create our reality. That is why I work on the images I take with my camera to make them look like I want they looked like. I treat my art as the life should be treated. I choose what, when, why and how to do. It is the most important rule I apply to my creative process.

El Paradiso Mio – The Land Of Fairy Tales

El Paradiso Mio – Hope

El Paradiso Mio – Sunbathed

Welcome To My New Photo Gallery

2010-10-28T10:43:00.002+02:00

I am pleased to announce that my new photo gallery has been launched on my birthday, October 15th. To visit it, click HERE.

"No Ordinary World" landscape photography

2010-07-17T17:19:00.000+02:00

Blooming Images

2010-06-13T16:57:00.003+02:00

blooming photos

The Secrets In Breathing Without Sound

2010-05-06T19:33:00.002+02:00

Beautiful, heart-moving, inspirational, just I love it:)

Mystic - Another Approach To Spring Theme

2010-04-26T08:47:00.001+02:00

Taking advantage of the season I have taken lots of blossom images recently. At first I was excited at the view of white and fresh green colours but after some time I realized that all the shots look so smilar and in fact I got bored with the colours. Then I strated to play with changes of colours and various layers in Phoroshop. Thus the image below has been created with several layers, one original, one monochromatic and one with changed colours plus some other to get the whole to suit my purpose.

Feeling Beauty In Simplicity

2010-04-19T14:23:00.001+02:00

There is also a colour version of this photo, but personally, I prefer this B&W. Instead of enjoying nicley looking colours, I may focus on the flowers' shape, texture and light. It is what fascinates me most in all kinds of art. I love the feeling of being inside the scene, not just looking at it. And monochromatic art lets me feeling the reality. Whereas colour, well ... , I have got impression that colour is only for visual pleasure, at least in my case:)

W Hołdzie Ofiarom Katastrofy ze Smoleńska

2010-04-11T18:22:00.000+02:00

Jedyne, co w obliczu tej tragedii mogę powiedzieć, to pochylmy czoła, niech nasze usta zamilkną. Pomyślmy.
Pomódlmy się.

The Best Ever Coffee

2010-04-01T19:07:00.000+02:00

Today, I have got this link from a friend of mine and I want to share it with as many people as possible. The shortest, yet the best lesson of life in my whole life. Enjoy the video.

I Love Black & White

2010-03-30T20:55:00.002+02:00

City Life - You Are The Only One To Change Your Life

2010-03-27T17:12:00.003+01:00

The photos below I took the previous year. Andrew and I have been promoting a new lifestyle and our bicycles (top right photo) are prepared to use them:). We learnt some time ago that when you live honestly, especially with your inner self, life has different colours, fears disappear and miracles happen just of all the sudden:) The only obstacles that prevent you from happy life are in your mind! And you are the only one to remove them. In my worst, most challenging part of life, when I was far from me myslef, I have always said that I can't afford the luxury of being in depression. What I have meant by that? Just what I mentioned above "You are the only one in the power to change your life"

Enjoying Every Moment of Life

2010-03-27T15:19:00.005+01:00

I love these rare moments when Andrew and I have time to enjoy an ordinary day and may do what we love best. We both are great nature lovers and we take every opportunity, even while doing some business trips, to have a walk, either we ourselves or with our dogs. Photo cameras are often our companions. It is then when I have taken the majority of my works.
The photos below we took each other last Thursday:)

Poles Apart - Many Facets Of Culture And Humanity

2010-03-26T23:31:00.007+01:00

I have chosen to the two photographies below just to show how diferrent are faces of human culture and human nature. Meeting in my everyday life the best things people have ever made, invented, created and at the same time the worst, the evil they do to others, to the world we all live in and to the planet, it all makes me reflect upon the condition of a human being. Do we still have right to call themselves Homo Sapiens?

The Orchestra Of Lines

2010-03-26T19:59:00.001+01:00

Yesterday, I took an advantage of really warm weather and went on a trip off the city. Happy to take some photos, surprised how much early Spring resembles Autumn, share some images here.

Spring relationships

2010-03-24T21:53:00.001+01:00

I wish you all such a nice relationships for this Spring:)

The view form my window.

In Search of Spring

2010-03-22T00:15:00.001+01:00

After this year long winter everyone in my country is waiting impatiently for a signs of Spring. Me too, longing for warm, the Sun shining, birds singing and for fresh colours. At this time of year everything around us seems to be grey and dirty. Lucky those living in southern countries. I dream of taking photos of plants, animals and landscapes flooded with light, full of bright colours. Wherever you turn your eye, there are plenty of inspirational themes. But not here, where I live. I don't complain. No! But I know how easier it is, when you live surrounded by abundance of nature's beauty. For me, it is more chalenging to find interesting things to take a photo. So far, Spring with its fresh colours first has appeared at my home. An age-old plant/flower, remembering my grandmother is in bloom now. I have taken lots of images of the flowers; and here there is a photo of it.

Autumn Colours - the Secrets of Photography

2010-02-09T15:05:00.003+01:00

Autumn Colours is one of most favourited pictures of mine. It is warm and bright, but it is my way of seeing nature. I remember the day I took the photo last autumn. It was so cold and windy, as it seemed to me that it would snow in a moment. Worst, I was dressed in a Spring jacket, no gloves, no scarf, so you can imagine how I felt, ... cold like icicle. Coming back home, it turned out that images I had taken were, well, awfull, of greyish colour. But then, after a time and hot tea, I started to work on images "in my digital dark room" and create the autumn I wished it could be. And I want to remeber the one, from the image below.

Autumn Colours 2009, by Danuta Antas

Make winter warm

2010-01-25T23:09:00.002+01:00

Today was minus 13 degrees (Celsius) outside and I had to cut my everyday walk with my dogs down. Although they like such weather, their paws are less happy about such low temperatures. To make winter a little warmer I have made a revision of summer photos in my portfolio. I came across one of photos I did on last Sunday in summer 2009. The day was very warm, not to say hot, and I took a lot of images then. The image below is one of my favourites.

It's me, in action with my Canon EOS 50D :)

International Art Project

2010-01-19T22:31:00.000+01:00

deArte Gallery is an on-line gallery established in January, 2010. It is a "newly born child" of Danuta Antas-Woźniewska, Polish graphic artist and photographer. The primary aim of this gallery is to create an elite or select community of artists from around the world, the artists whose common, yet outstanding feature is art made with creativity, passion, love and spirit. The art that spreads positive attitude to widely understood nature, to life, to aesthetic as well as to moral values. deARte Gallery is going to select these invalubale art from the ocean of works that are created on other principles.

The idea behind deArte Gallery project is to promote such artists, both, professionals and amateurs, and their art works by creating a special space on the Internet for them. Additionally, artists and visitors who believe in the same, positive values, can make their voice heard in the world and share their opinions via deArte Gallery Blog.

Please, inform us of any artist whose works you think could be promoted on our website.

www.deartegallery.com

Winter Photos 2010 - part 2

2010-01-18T13:53:00.006+01:00

Uzi enjoys winter walks:)

He is looking for a treasure in a snow:)

How handsome he is:)

And another image I have taken recently. This time not my dogs:)

More winter landscape photos of mine on DEA Fine Art Photography Gallery

Egyptian Myth - texture in photography

2010-01-14T18:35:00.000+01:00

My latest work - digraphy (a mixture of digital photography and graphic arts)

My old fascination with ancient Egypt, often forgotten, sometimes unexpectedly, comes to light.

Winter Photos 2010

2010-01-11T23:41:00.008+01:00

Some images of my dogs I have taken recently. Both love being outdoors, no matter what the weather is.

I wonder if you can recognize what the below photo on the left depicts?

Nature wonders

Industrial Landscape

Poland - my country

2010-01-10T02:13:00.000+01:00

The colours of Poland

Nice winter walk

2010-01-09T18:23:00.001+01:00

My Dearest on today's morning walk

Today's heavy snowfall is rather a rare phenomenon in my country since global warming climate changes became visible some 20 years ago. But I remember winters from my childhood, when first snowfalls occured at the end of November and snow, sometimes reaching up to waist, started to thaw at the end of February. It always was a time of great fun for children. Now such pleasures seem to die. When it is snowy, so few people and children are enjoying the opportunities to spend time outdoors. Well, it gives some food for thought? My Andrew (in the photo) with two our dogs and me, we had a really nice time in a wood. It's great fun for dogs to play with snow and for us to see their happiness. Looking at them today with muzzles covered in snow, smiling eyes, tails wagging happily made me realize how few things is necessary to be happy. And we, people, should learn from animals how to take the best of life from simplest things. My animals have taught me a lot in this matter, and I really appreciate it.

Nature lovers

2010-01-06T23:42:00.006+01:00

Uzi

Uzi, my Belgian Shepherd loves nature, like me. I am really lucky to have such a companion.

Bari, Uzi's and my friend. Very cute creature.

PICTURESQUE PLACES FOR ARTISTS

2010-01-06T14:04:00.016+01:00

Balchik at the Black Sea Coast, Bulgaria.

Fine artists, photographers, musicians and all people sensitive to the beauty of nature always seek picturesque places for inspiration. Being surrounded by ancient monuments and stunning views cause unforgettable memories and it, sometimes, makes an impact on the rest of someone's life. On the other hand, it is not so easy to discover such places, especially for people living in an areas that are far away from a particular place of interest. For that reason I have decided to initiate this issue on my blog, and I will be grateful if you, visitors, readers, funs of photography and art, will share your experience on that topic. There is no better form of advertisement than recommendation.
To start picturesque places issue, I want to recommend visitng Balchik in Bulgaria. It is an ancient town, situated or rather nestled in the white cliffs, descending steeply into the Black Sea coast. I am not going to write about history, geography or monuments of Balchik, because you can find these information on the Internet. For me, more important are stunning, breathtaking views I take back with me from my journeys. And Balchik left lots of such images in my mind, not only in my holiday photo album. What I remember most is a summer palace of Romanian Queen Maria with surrounding Botanical Garden. I have seen that place as a sort of heaven on Earth. Not surprisingly, it is called Tenha Vuva in Romanian (Quiet Nest). And it really is such a place, beautiful, magic, awe-inspiring. If you look for inspirational experience, Balchik is a perfect spot for you, maybe not only for a trip but to settle there for good. Bulgarian resorts offer really good opportunities to purchase a cheap, comfortable house to live in or to organize workshops for artists, photographers or just as a nice place for retired. More on Balchik and Bulgarian real estate offers you can find on ABREN REAL ESTATES blog or website.

Balchik White Cliffs

Botanical Garden overlooking the Black Sea

Balchik's harbour

Boundaries of ART - part 2

2010-01-06T00:58:00.015+01:00

Is digital processing still an Art?

This time I am not going to focus on what makes an artist but rather on what makes a fine art photo. Lots of critical things is being said about processing of digital images. Sceptics say that it is manipulation and it is unfair. Well, do the really believe that before computer era, artist never used anything like processing? Nobody doing art works thinks so. It is artist's work to interpret reality, to enhance, sometimes, an ordinary moments of life or just to depict their own artistic vision. Taking a photo without any corrections is like doing a document or like doing a photo for passport. Would you think of such an image as an fine art photo? Sure, you wouldn't. In the past, artists working in a dark room also "manipulated" with images, but they had different tools at hand. They used filters to give, for example, softness or to change colours. They also used chemical processes and corrections to work with images. Now, as everything else changed and rarely people can manage without computers, so did artistic tools changed. No matter what way or technique you choose to do your work of art, but the clue is in whether you know what you want to show and then you decide which tools you would need. Even if you allow some unexpected effects occur in your piece of artwork, you should know how to make use of them.

Don't waste your time on unreasonable discussions concerning digital world. Experts in the field of visual art can tell manipulation apart artistic interpretation as well as a piece of artwork apart a craftwork.

Below I show you one of photos I took last autumn. Choose yourself whether you prefer a camera interpretation or my "manipulation".

BEFORE

AFTER

BOUNDARIES OF ART

2010-01-02T16:57:00.007+01:00

What makes an artist?

This is a question that frequently arises in my mind, when I am reading viewers' comments to images displayed on various on-line galleries. Why? People are often critical when some parts of an image are, for example, out of focus. For me, it is crucial whether that lack of sharpness in a picture is made on purpose or by accident. That small difference makes a photo either a sort of technical document or a fine art image. Taking an image which is 100% in focus may be a presentation of high technical skills acquired by a photographer, which is not so easy. But this ability itself doesn't make an artist. Sometimes, however, it seems to me that photographers forget about it. They concentrate on technique, spend huge money on professional cameras thinking that it let them step up the professional level. Of course technique is important, but only for better ability to express your thoughts, feelings and messages you want to send to people.

To make a good piece of art you need to focus on yourself, on who you really are, what person you really are. Don't copy other people. Don't think of money you would like to get for your wonderful job. You will earn a lot of money when, you are true to yourself and true to life in your work.

For example, if you are emotional person, it would be a little odd to do, let's call it "very technical", works. I mean works, in which technique is so perfect that it dominates over the message. Or, if you are a modest, shy, introvert person, bright, vivid colours widly thrown on the surface may not suit the message you want to pass. Think of it, and let technique serve you, otherwise you will be a servant of new technologies.

BARI AND UZI

2009-12-29T00:34:00.006+01:00

My Dearest

My dearest 4-leg friends. The one on the left is Bari and the other one is called Uzi. Bari has been living with my family for almost 7 years. Actually, he is with us from the Valentine's Day 2003. It is my best Valentine:) Bari was left by his former owner in the really freezing day and spent several hours outdoors. He was so determined to find a new owner, so he had followed me and my daughter for 15 minutes. We decided to take him to our house and he stayed with us. Bari is a nice, friendly dog. His companion Uzi is now 2,5 years old. He is a Belgian shepherd dog, a big one. Uzi is a Polish champion and a winner in his breed. He is also a very nice and friendly dog. Our dogs are really happy ones. The are loved by us and they like each other very much.

DIGRAPHY, A NEW GENRE?

2009-12-28T20:28:00.012+01:00

Are digital art images processed in Photoshop still a photography or rather graphic art?

Or maybe it is a new genre which needs to get a new name? I would call it digraphy. What do you think?

NEVER IS TOO LATE

2009-12-28T18:29:00.015+01:00

Some Spring in Summer

During winter time in my country (Poland)days are really short. I always long for the sun and light. Today I have worked on some of my photos made in summer and one of them I put here. Well, this picture reminds me of a long way that led me to the place I am now. For about 20 years I have worked as an Art teacher and then an English teacher. But at heart I have always been in love with art. I was afraid to left behind my job, afraid of not having a proper income to live upon. But last summer, I decided to change everything in my life and to make living as a freelance photographer. At least, I am a professional graphic artist so why I shouldn't manage to work independently. So, I started to run my own business, I have learnt a lot of new things, and believe me NEVER IS TOO LATE to take up what you really love.

In my on-line gallery DEA FINE ART PHOTO GALLERY you can witness the amount of work I have made since last September. Everything from webdesign to 95% of all artworks along with Page Rank 3 I did during 3 months! I will be glad to share experience with everyone interested in starting new stage of life or with those who, like me, have done it earlier with success.

LA GATTA

2009-12-27T22:29:00.015+01:00

La gatta is one of my recent works. I love cats and I used to have one for almost 14 years. This photo is my special "thank you" to her for all those years spent togehter.

Despite the history of cat's theme in my work, I like to use in my works various textures inspired by nature. Majority of them I take from my other photographies. This is a kind of photo collage; it is one of my favourite techniques used in modern digital photography. Somehow, it is very close to traditional graphic arts.

SOME MUSIC I LOVE

2009-12-24T00:02:00.012+01:00

CHRISTMAS TIME

2009-12-23T21:59:00.003+01:00

Christmas is a special time for reflection. And it is when I have decided to start my own blog. I usually express my thoughts and feelings via my art but I also look for other forms of expression. I also hope to meet new friends and people to share ideas. I will be happy to "hear" your comments on my work.

Boże Narodzenie, to czas refleksji. Ja postanowiłam dzisiaj uruchomić swojego blogga. Tych refleksji w moim przypadku, nazbierało się mnóstwo, ale dzisiaj pozwolę sobie ograniczyć się tylko do najserdeczniejszych życzeń świątecznych:)