Hmm…………….
This is a question I get ask on a regular basis.
“How can I become a better Artist?”
My answer reminds me of an old joke:
A tourist is walking down the street in New York City, sees a Cop and ask for directions.
“How do you get to Carnegie hall? ”
The Cop replies “Practice, practice, practice”
…umm…yeah.
BUT, that IS the one of the answers I give most frequently.
Practice
A marathon runner does not just decide the day before a race to run 10 miles.
He practices, he runs, and runs, and runs.
Infrared art is a skill, in just the same way.
A violinist doesn’t pick up their instrument only when they want to play for an audience.
Your camera is your instrument.
If you only pick it up when you intend to take that perfect image, you may disappoint yourself.
I want to be a better Digital Artist, and I practice constantly.
I would like to say I practice every day, but I don’t always get to.
I shoot Flowers,
Lots, and lots,
and lots of Flowers.
If you follow my photography Facebook page you know how true that is.
Why Flowers?
I do like them, but mainly because they are easily accessible.
They are my practice both for image capture, and for post production.
By using them I have learned to better control the Infrared image I am making.
I can work on sharpening my focus,
Controlling my depth of field,
And trying to understand the way light works in Infrared.
Practicing with Flowers has helped me improve my digital art.
I encourage you to find …Something you can easily practice on.
Give yourself a goal to shoot regularly, but also have an idea in mind of what you want to accomplish.
But don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
I’ve learned many things by messing up.
For example, I cannot handhold an a half second exposure. Who knew?
I guess THAT’S why they make tripods.
Art is journey, . . .
. . . My goal is just to be a little better than I was yesterday.
How about you?
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Dan Wampler
Dan Wampler is a digital artist from St Louis, MO. Having been interested in art and photography since childhood, he spent most of adult life working for Kodak and in the portrait photography industry. A student of the works of Ansel Adams, Any Warhol, and David Hamilton, Dan attempted to keep a wide range of artistic style.
As an early adopter of digital imaging, he found it gave him a way to completely incorporate art and photography. Began shooting Digital Infrared in 2004, and had first camera converted in 2006. His work has been seen in numerous gallery shows, is featured in an iTunes app. He produces Infrared and natural color digital art for sale and teaches his post-production techniques online.
Dan is LifePixel's Creative Director, social media manager, lead blog author, main workshops and training sessions instructor. His images appear in this gallery and throughout the website.
If you have a topic suggestion or request feel free to shoot him an email at danwampler@lifepixel.com
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Dan,
Huh what’s going on here? This is the second time in five minutes that I find myself commenting. First to Vern’s stuff and now to yours. I do not do a lot of “flower photography” especially not in infrared. Thanks for showing the potential.
It’s the mystery and the unexpected that intrigues me the most about infrared. Coming home after a session and looking at the RAW images from the camera. Oh wow. Definitely some “stink” but many are just neat as can be. I’m hooked.
I know exactly what you mean Laura. I am hooked too.
Thank you Dan, bottom line for me is what I put in to it, is what I get out of it.
I first discovered IR back in the film days. Too much control requirements for me. I found digital infrared about 4 years ago and became obsessed immediately. Along with that obsession came disappointment. I bought and bought and still have the urge buy IR equipment in hopes of getting better. This post came at the perfect time. It is making me focus on taking IR in order to get better. Never understood why “Dan” shot flowers, flowers, and more flowers. Thank you for helping me understand that reason.
I completely get the ‘practice’ bit, but can I ask…. you’re working with flowers, presumably indoors? How does that translate to knowing how an IR shot will look out of doors, in bigger landscape shots under different light conditions? I’ve been learning by practicing IR for 4-5 years now (landscapes), and still find it a mystery to know which shots will “work” and which won’t! And when they do, why are some better in false color, and some only work in B&W.
Every image you see in the piece was shot outdoors, using sunlight.
When asked how to take a good photo, the noted French photographer, Robert Doisneau, replied: “If I knew how to take a good photo, I’d do it every time.” Apparently, although he was a pro, not all of his photos turned out well, but it shows he was practicing for the perfect one.
Boy did you hit the nail on the head. I never thought of using flowers.
Thanks
It’s absolutely true – I still kinda stink at photography, but there are a number of other things in my life that I’ve gotten fairly good at because of practice. Infrared seems finicky in a lot of respects – I don’t see how you could get good at it without putting in the time.