2023-09-19 Fine Art Photography SIG meeting notes

We met online using ZOOM 6:00pm-8:30pm

The goal of our Fine Art Photography SIG is to help each other to create fine art from our photography.
The Fine Art SIG is a place where artists support each other and nurture creativity in others.
Unrequested criticism can feed an artist's fear of failure and stifle their creative growth.

ATTENDEES
Mike Barry
Judy Cannon
Heather Coe
Rich Ernst
Jim Fellion
Michael Hohol
Jim Limburg
Paul Marcoux
Cyndee Meese
Ed Ogle
Rich Roberts
Jim & Joan Sayre
Albert Wang

OUR MAIN DISCUSSION TOPICS WERE "Reflections" and "Abstracts".
Our members showed their "Reflections" and "Abstracts" images.
We also discussed "What makes art good enough to hang on your wall?"

RESOURCES (Where you can find sources of inspiration for Still Life Photography)
Look at my still life mood board to see what I consider "Still Life Photography"
- https://www.pinterest.com/mbarry1647/still-life-photography/
This is a good class, but it costs $57
- Joel Grimes Masterclass on Still Life Photography
- https://www.joelgrimes.com/still-life-masterclass
Here are some free YouTube videos
- Still Life Tutorial-Fine Art Photography - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJdgc7x-s40
- Photography As Fine Arts - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFb1ZgwP094
- 4 Tips Creative Still Life Photography - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwV9m1NlP0I
- Still Life Photography - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT807FhQSp8

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITIQUES AND PERSONAL PROJECTS
We discussed a couple personal projects. Paul showed SOOC (Straight Out Of Camera) images that combined multiple layers with blend modes. Joan experimented with filters in Photoshop to create very abstract images.

PICK A TOPIC FOR THE NEXT MEETING
I picked "Still Life Photography" for our next meeting in October.
In My Opinion...
Still Life Photography can teach us about Composition, Lighting, Designing a scene and more. During the Renaissance painters started creating depth in their paintings by adding shadows. We can create the same depth by using a "cross light" or lighting a scene from the side, 45'-90' to the camera. Lighting can be simple window light or strobes.
My favorite images in the mood board have strong shadows, a simple composition, texture (over the entire image or just the background) and often an interesting tabletop or board as a base.
Find some interesting objects, arrange them into a pleasing scene in front of a background, light them from the side, photograph them and add a texture to create an image that you might want to hang on your wall.
Joel Grimes likes to make series' of simple still life images.

AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY SIG MEETING - Tue 10/17/2023 @6:00pm
1. The main topic will be "Still Life Photography".
2. We will hold constructive critiques (optional) Pick as many as 3 images that you would like critiqued, and be prepared to show them by sharing your screen during the ZOOM meeting.
3. We will pick a topic for the next meeting

If you don't have time to research the topic, or you don't have any images that you want to have critiqued, that is OK, you can just attend the meeting and participate when you want.

Please email Mike, info@fcdcc.com, when you find mistakes, missing information or if you have suggestions for the Fine Art Photography SIG and I will try to address the issues.