“Afternoon” by Tania Cafasso
I’ve sold my house & I’m on the move!
I wish I could pick up my garden & take it with me but sometimes you have to leave things behind you to make room for even more wonderful things yet to come…….
Studying photography has made me more aware of light sources, in particular, shooting directly into the sun which I rarely did before.
In response to Nat’s “Morning” image - this is “Afternoon”.
Tan :) xx
It was morning. The sun crept through the ivory slats- timidly at first, as if testing its welcome- and then more confidant, reaching out in fractured beams to touch her face. She looked at her knee, patterned in the unyielding approach of day and absently drew a frame around it, wondering what it would look like once she photographed it and brought it to life in the darkroom. She smelt the chemical smell that put her at ease, saw the image appear slowly through the liquid as if by magic. But like always, the moment had too soon gone and the light had shifted.
Morning- Natalie Chumbley
We view life how ever we feel, our emotions allow us to see beautiful soft colors if we wonder into our dreams. Even when we are taking the darker black and white edge from time to time its nice to be able to reflect on these stages in life.
This stage in my life is to find the light in darker situations. It seems like painting colors on patchwork…mixing tones, moments and reflecting on my journey so far as a emerging photographer.
Its a matter of experimenting with different techniques and I seem to always start with color.
Teags.
“Chromotherapy “ by Tania Cafasso
Chromotherapy or colour therapy, is a practice which uses different colours & light to balance energy within the human body.
Having not experienced this type of treatment myself, I’m not in a position to say that I agree with it either way.
What I will say, is that I definitely associate different colours with certain emotions or situations. Without realising it, we all do. That’s apparent if you think about the fact that red & blue (used to symbolise hot & cold water) have the same meaning all over the world, no matter what language you may speak.
I related the beautiful bright colours in Nat’s images to my summer wardrobe & one particular piece that when I can get around to wearing it, denotes the beginning of my favourite time of the year. When it’s so much easier to leap out of bed in the morning & I can finally stop using the electric blanket!
Tan :)
‘windmill’
many things come alive in the breeze, and beauty can be found in the most mundane things. look through the eyes of a child and you will see the whole world moving in colour
When everything fails just follow your heart.
This is my version of an ugly situation that became a fresh beginning in my work and in myself.
Like the ugly duckling, Sometimes we just need to feel the cold breeze to be able to fly, and transform into something beautiful.
By Teagan Oliver.
“Seven Swans” by Tania Cafasso
You’ll have to excuse me today. Because instead of taking the photographic angle, I’m about to get all philosophical!
Some elements in one’s life can sometimes seem like a frustrating work in progress. (This is where I’d insert the symbol of a frustrated face…if I knew it!)
The famous story by Hans Christian Anderson of The Ugly Duckling, is a tale about personal transformation for the better. In the end, the ugly little duckling was transformed into a beautiful swan & he felt glad to have endured all the troubles & sorrow because it enabled him to fully appreciate the pleasure & happiness around him, all the more.
So beautiful people out there! My simple message to you is - just keep the faith!!!!!
Tan xx
As much the father of abstract photography as he was of ‘straight’ photography, “Paul Strand fused together the two seemingly contradictory approaches of documentary and abstraction.”
While researching my photographic influences, I found myself drawn to Strand’s abstract approach, as well as many hand colourings by various artists and the ‘painterly’ feel of the finished products. This is my homage to these two distinct photographic methods.
-“HALDA Typewriter Keys” 2011. By Teagan Oliver
Look at the things around you, the immediate world around you. If you are alive, it will mean something to you, and if you care enough about photography, and if you know how to use it, you will want to photograph that meaningless. If you let other people’s vision get between the world and your own, you will achieve that extremely common and worthless thing, a pictorial photograph. - Paul Strand
Over the past few days the words ‘Old’ & ‘Vintage’ have been ticking in my mind. It’s not just because Tan’s stunning car drove me back to some of my very own memories, But she took me into Paul strands. It’s history, Art/ists & Creations of all kinds that seem to change the way a photographer’s eye sees. Theoretically Strands photographs are simply crafted, They are true. I’ve referenced my image to his ”Typewriter Keys” 1916.
I may have grown fond of this work because he has photo’s of still life and man mad objects that we often look past and not into. I think its important to not just see art, but to read it. There are underlying meanings. And then I thought about how words get broken up into letters.I have a little passion for typewriters as I have 2 antiques of my own. I more so love the idea of writing manually and the creative form of typing. Most likely because of the fact of how rarely they are used. It’s these moments that take us back and forth to what is old and what is new.
I play on the idea of making something fun out of what is ‘old fashioned’.
Im going to use this time to mention my inspiring great grandmother, because when I look at my HALDA typewriter I see her. ‘Complex, full of timeless stories ready to be told & just in need of some new ink.
From a photographic view, I didn’t set out to discover what I have. I actually wanted to try out my new external flash. (which I used manually to bounce around the white walls to get these tones) Technically I wanted to achieve just this. Mentally (As Always) I achieved much more.
Your photography is a record of your living, for anyone who really sees. - Paul Strand
“Vintage Car” by Tania Cafasso
I have an affection & fascination with old vintage cars. When I think about it, I suppose it’s kind of in my blood & has been inherited from my Father & his chosen field of work with & around them.
My parents have boxes of old photographs that I often pull out when I go there & I love to sift through them all, often going for a trip down memory lane at the same time. Today I came across photos of my sister & I ranging from when we were very young to our late teenage years, standing next to what were rare cars at the time & would be even rarer now. A shot of us with a 1913 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost would have to be my favourite. So it is this, together with other people that have crossed my path, which has cemented what I have labelled as another one of my “healthy obsessions”!!
When I take photos, I am always very mindful that I am helping to capture a little bit of history & that moment in time. The people around me don’t always realize or appreciate it, but I’m ok with that!! Because I know that in the weeks, months & years to come……that they will!!
From the ferris wheel in Nat’s “new landscape”, I saw the spokes from an old fashioned mag wheel. My image is a little tribute to another master of photography – Paul Strand & his 1920’s abstract image “Wire Wheel”. I hope his following quote inspires you to go pick up a camera & capture some history for yourself!
By Tania Cafasso
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“I go and get the camera and do it. Photography is a medium in which if you don’t do it then, very often you don’t do it at all, because it doesn’t happen twice.” Paul Strand
Wire Wheel, New York, 1920 - Paul Strand
‘the new landscape’ by Natalie
The combination of the car and the sunset in Teagan’s response got me thinking about technology and machines in nature. Do they look out of place or are we so used to it that technology has become part of our landscapes? Do these new landscapes have their own beauty?
“sunshine in your smile” (inspired by tan’s cheerful tulip)
This image I call ‘Setting fire to the rain’, it’s been a gloomy day and as we drive out of the misty/ grey weather I was lucky enough to capture this amazing sunset.
I’ve been taking snapshots from behind my window while traveling to the country for the past 2 days.
There’s movement & glare.
It’s almost as if I’ve seen 4 seasons in 48 hours.
I was taken back to the places & the people that created my imagination… My passion for photography & art- but my favorite element of all; nature and pure country sunlight.
I wouldn’t be ‘me’ without it.
And as I reflect on life as I know it… I am so grateful for the people who have made my shining light seem so bright and worth while.
By Teagan.
“Tulip” by Tania Cafasso
Tulips - they symbolise fame and perfect love. Yellow Tulips in particular, symbolise sunshine in your smile and cheerful thoughts.
I chose to respond to the sun flare from Nat’s image and the way it emphasises the transparency of Aria’s delicate wings.
Hoping all your days are filled with yellow Tulips…..
Tania
