CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY – FROM BEIJING TO MUNICH
In another decade or so, photography, in a modern sense, will celebrate its bicentenary. During those preceding years, many pioneers of the art form have come and gone and left their mark, the list is too extensive and to omit one would be a crime. But, the breakthroughs in technique and expression have walked alongside the evolution of the equipment, as gear has become more sophisticated and features like super-fast auto-focus and image-stabilization have come into their own, images are now possible that a decade ago could only be fantasized about.
An extreme example of what can be done with digital manipulation
In the last ten years, the digital decade, camera evolution has taken an exponential leap; technical specifications have risen and prices have fallen. This, side by side with the similar evolution in personal computers and laptops, has resulted in a huge upsurge in the numbers of people out their with cameras, and we’re all convinced we’re artists!
The overwhelming number of superbly talented photographers out there these days is staggering, and it has become increasingly difficult to do something different, especially at heavily visited locations like the American National Parks or the Great Wall of China. As we evolve on our own journeys, it is easy to be motivated and influenced by the work of others. For me, it was Galen Rowell, his control of light, articulate in words and on film, was truly inspiring. But, at the same time, I was crudely aware of the dangers of modeling myself on his style, and I confess that many of my landscapes from 2004-5 were very much in that vein.
A simple single frame, flipped and rotated.
With interest firmly anchored in the outdoors, it has always been birds and landscapes that have motivated me to take my camera from the bag; very occasionally will I shoot candid portraits, and once, I had the fear factor of shooting a friends wedding. Subsequently, when we relocated back to Beijing in September 2007, it was with very little enthusiasm. So, we walked, and walked, and walked; from our home in the north east, just outside the 4th ring road, we’d walk downtown to Gaomau, Tiananmen Square and beyond to the western 2nd ring road, always punctuating these 6 hour treks with stops at our favorite restaurants. Whether it is God or the Devil who inhabits the details1 is a matter of perspective, but I began to notice details in the new buildings that have sprouted in Beijing over the last few years. At this time, pre 2008 Olympics, Beijing was undergoing the most frenetic growth and modernization, and almost for the first time, I was moved and motivated by modern architecture and had a desire to photograph it.
The base iamge for Brave New World and Maya
But, as before, I didn’t want to shoot purely literal representations, I wanted to take these forms, patterns, angles of glass and steel, and use them as metaphors for the cities new face, certain that many of them had been inspired by natural features such as waterfalls or the dappled shade under a summer wood. At the same time, I was aware that much of the ancient character of the city was being swept away, and in some way wanted also to honor that.
I entitled this article Contemporary Photography, which I feel needs some explanation. Contemporary simply means, of this time, current; and I use it, because the images were on the most part digitally enhanced and manipulated, especially in Beijing; later, when we get there, I was using in-camera techniques as expressive means in Munich, then later used digital techniques to create some other work. Two years later, as I write this, I look back at the work, and to me, it stands as a representation of where I was back then, it was contemporary.
A few hours work later than Stage 1
Initially, I did start with literal images, although still heavily motivated by the abstract. It wasn’t long before one thing led to another and fueled by a couple of beers and long hours at my desk, began to experiment with morphing, flipping, adding color gradients and printing them BIG.
Another example is this single frame below, which I like on it’s own, but it led onto three other abstracts.
By January 2007 we had made plans to go and visit family in Europe, which gave me the opportunity to check out the wealth of architecture there, in particular the churches and cathedrals. One can’t help but be moved by these buildings and what they represent, and again, rather than just documenting them I wanted to create something bigger.
A serious blend of three images and days in Photoshop.
By zooming the lens during a long exposure, flares are created.
Having been accustomed to shooting the natural world, where one has only limited artistic license, to have a free, open canvas to play with was liberating, allowing for a very creative spell in my development. A whole bunch of Photoshop skills had to be learned, masking, blending layers, and cloning in another superb program, Corel Painter X.
PHOTOGRAPHY – FROM BEIJING TO MUNICH by Alister Benn
In another decade or so, photography, in a modern sense, will celebrate its bicentenary. During those preceding years, many pioneers of the art form have come and gone and left their mark, the list is too extensive and to omit one would be a crime. But, the breakthroughs in technique and expression have walked alongside the evolution of the equipment, as gear has become more sophisticated and features like super-fast auto-focus and image-stabilization have come into their own, images are now possible that a decade ago could only be fantasized about.
ON THE FLY:
An extreme example of what can be done with digital manipulation
In the last ten years, the digital decade, camera evolution has taken an exponential leap; technical specifications have risen and prices have fallen. This, side by side with the similar evolution in personal computers and laptops, has resulted in a huge upsurge in the numbers of people out their with cameras, and we’re all convinced we’re artists!
The overwhelming number of superbly talented photographers out there these days is staggering, and it has become increasingly difficult to do something different, especially at heavily visited locations like the American National Parks or the Great Wall of China. As we evolve on our own journeys, it is easy to be motivated and influenced by the work of others. For me, it was Galen Rowell, his control of light, articulate in words and on film, was truly inspiring. But, at the same time, I was crudely aware of the dangers of modeling myself on his style, and I confess that many of my landscapes from 2004-5 were very much in that vein.
DREAMS OF ESCHER
A simple single frame, flipped and rotated.
With interest firmly anchored in the outdoors, it has always been birds and landscapes that have motivated me to take my camera from the bag; very occasionally will I shoot candid portraits, and once, I had the fear factor of shooting a friends wedding. Subsequently, when we relocated back to Beijing in September 2007, it was with very little enthusiasm. So, we walked, and walked, and walked; from our home in the north east, just outside the 4th ring road, we’d walk downtown to Gaomau, Tiananmen Square and beyond to the western 2nd ring road, always punctuating these 6 hour treks with stops at our favorite restaurants. Whether it is God or the Devil who inhabits the details1 is a matter of perspective, but I began to notice details in the new buildings that have sprouted in Beijing over the last few years. At this time, pre 2008 Olympics, Beijing was undergoing the most frenetic growth and modernization, and almost for the first time, I was moved and motivated by modern architecture and had a desire to photograph it.
STAGE ONE
The base iamge for Brave New World and Maya
But, as before, I didn’t want to shoot purely literal representations, I wanted to take these forms, patterns, angles of glass and steel, and use them as metaphors for the cities new face, certain that many of them had been inspired by natural features such as waterfalls or the dappled shade under a summer wood. At the same time, I was aware that much of the ancient character of the city was being swept away, and in some way wanted also to honor that.
I entitled this article Contemporary Photography, which I feel needs some explanation. Contemporary simply means, of this time, current; and I use it, because the images were on the most part digitally enhanced and manipulated, especially in Beijing; later, when we get there, I was using in-camera techniques as expressive means in Munich, then later used digital techniques to create some other work. Two years later, as I write this, I look back at the work, and to me, it stands as a representation of where I was back then, it was contemporary.
STAGE TWO:
A few hours work later than Stage 1
Initially, I did start with literal images, although still heavily motivated by the abstract. It wasn’t long before one thing led to another and fueled by a couple of beers and long hours at my desk, began to experiment with morphing, flipping, adding color gradients and printing them BIG.
BRAVE NEW WORLD
MAYA
Another example is this single frame below, which I like on it’s own, but it led onto three other abstracts.
ZEN
PROPHECY
ASCENSION
BEHIND YOUR EYES
By January 2007 we had made plans to go and visit family in Europe, which gave me the opportunity to check out the wealth of architecture there, in particular the churches and cathedrals. One can’t help but be moved by these buildings and what they represent, and again, rather than just documenting them I wanted to create something bigger.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD
A serious blend of three images and days in Photoshop.
ERHOHEN (INCREASE)
By zooming the lens during a long exposure, flares are created.
Having been accustomed to shooting the natural world, where one has only limited artistic license, to have a free, open canvas to play with was liberating, allowing for a very creative spell in my development. A whole bunch of Photoshop skills had to be learned, masking, blending layers, and cloning in another superb program, Corel Painter XCONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY – FROM BEIJING TO MUNICH by Alister Benn
In another decade or so, photography, in a modern sense, will celebrate its bicentenary. During those preceding years, many pioneers of the art form have come and gone and left their mark, the list is too extensive and to omit one would be a crime. But, the breakthroughs in technique and expression have walked alongside the evolution of the equipment, as gear has become more sophisticated and features like super-fast auto-focus and image-stabilization have come into their own, images are now possible that a decade ago could only be fantasized about.
ON THE FLY:
An extreme example of what can be done with digital manipulation
In the last ten years, the digital decade, camera evolution has taken an exponential leap; technical specifications have risen and prices have fallen. This, side by side with the similar evolution in personal computers and laptops, has resulted in a huge upsurge in the numbers of people out their with cameras, and we’re all convinced we’re artists!
The overwhelming number of superbly talented photographers out there these days is staggering, and it has become increasingly difficult to do something different, especially at heavily visited locations like the American National Parks or the Great Wall of China. As we evolve on our own journeys, it is easy to be motivated and influenced by the work of others. For me, it was Galen Rowell, his control of light, articulate in words and on film, was truly inspiring. But, at the same time, I was crudely aware of the dangers of modeling myself on his style, and I confess that many of my landscapes from 2004-5 were very much in that vein.
DREAMS OF ESCHER
A simple single frame, flipped and rotated.
With interest firmly anchored in the outdoors, it has always been birds and landscapes that have motivated me to take my camera from the bag; very occasionally will I shoot candid portraits, and once, I had the fear factor of shooting a friends wedding. Subsequently, when we relocated back to Beijing in September 2007, it was with very little enthusiasm. So, we walked, and walked, and walked; from our home in the north east, just outside the 4th ring road, we’d walk downtown to Gaomau, Tiananmen Square and beyond to the western 2nd ring road, always punctuating these 6 hour treks with stops at our favorite restaurants. Whether it is God or the Devil who inhabits the details1 is a matter of perspective, but I began to notice details in the new buildings that have sprouted in Beijing over the last few years. At this time, pre 2008 Olympics, Beijing was undergoing the most frenetic growth and modernization, and almost for the first time, I was moved and motivated by modern architecture and had a desire to photograph it.
STAGE ONE
The base iamge for Brave New World and Maya
But, as before, I didn’t want to shoot purely literal representations, I wanted to take these forms, patterns, angles of glass and steel, and use them as metaphors for the cities new face, certain that many of them had been inspired by natural features such as waterfalls or the dappled shade under a summer wood. At the same time, I was aware that much of the ancient character of the city was being swept away, and in some way wanted also to honor that.
I entitled this article Contemporary Photography, which I feel needs some explanation. Contemporary simply means, of this time, current; and I use it, because the images were on the most part digitally enhanced and manipulated, especially in Beijing; later, when we get there, I was using in-camera techniques as expressive means in Munich, then later used digital techniques to create some other work. Two years later, as I write this, I look back at the work, and to me, it stands as a representation of where I was back then, it was contemporary.
STAGE TWO:
A few hours work later than Stage 1
Initially, I did start with literal images, although still heavily motivated by the abstract. It wasn’t long before one thing led to another and fueled by a couple of beers and long hours at my desk, began to experiment with morphing, flipping, adding color gradients and printing them BIG.
BRAVE NEW WORLD
MAYA
Another example is this single frame below, which I like on it’s own, but it led onto three other abstracts.
ZEN
PROPHECY
ASCENSION
BEHIND YOUR EYES
By January 2007 we had made plans to go and visit family in Europe, which gave me the opportunity to check out the wealth of architecture there, in particular the churches and cathedrals. One can’t help but be moved by these buildings and what they represent, and again, rather than just documenting them I wanted to create something bigger.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD
A serious blend of three images and days in Photoshop.
ERHOHEN (INCREASE)
By zooming the lens during a long exposure, flares are created.
Having been accustomed to shooting the natural world, where one has only limited artistic license, to have a free, open canvas to play with was liberating, allowing for a very creative spell in my development. A whole bunch of Photoshop skills had to be learned, masking, blending layers, and cloning in another superb program, Corel Painter X.
Just une word: Very good job!