Gesture by Ted Byrne
Photography is acutely sensitive to gesture. I look for it, emphasize it wherever possible. Not just human, or animal gesture. Culture can gesture. History can gesture. Feelings…. feelings can gesture more than anything else.
This is a photograph. This is not a manipulated photograph nor is it an enhanced photograph. Well, not unless you think the extensive lens, filter, film, camera stop, and darkroom technique that say, Ansel Adams employed also de-legitimates his images to the claim of photography. The fact is that photographic artists do what they do. Yes I use post-processing techniques, as did Adams. Mine happen to be digital, and are exactly the techniques I needed to create what needed to be created here. But I did not draw, paint, or scultp this piece. What I did is photography and this is how my photography looks in the 21st century.
If you want to know how this image was made and why… click here . I’ve also posted my virgin photo direct from my FlashCard.
Most importantly, I hope you enjoy the end of this journey that resulted in Gesture.
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Canon 40D, through my mighty Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens – Topaz & Alien Skin filters interacting with composite PhotoShop tools.
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Comments
Love the 21st century photography! You nailed it Ted! Wonderful Photography!
Well it is. I suddenly realized that what you and I are doing is not some hyphen-photography (enhanced-photography, processed-photography, etc.) but, well as much photography as Ansel Adams or any other photographer who has gone before us. I simply change my lenses in the digital darkroom, he did it before he snapped the shutter. Right? Thanks for the support Vonne.
– Ted Byrne
Great job, Ted.
Thanks BD… the image pleases me, and I’m quite pleased that it pleases you :-)
– Ted Byrne
I’ve seen this type of gesture in my Dad when he would talk about something serious or if someone urked him, lol. this is definitely a gesture! I like this texture because it also seems to add to the gesture in some way…:) great job Ted :)
I also love the 21st century photography, it is so much fun, creative and gives one the ability to emphasize what they were actually seeing in the lens as they shot the photo…I can go on more about this, but anyhow, great work!
Thanks Nancy. You know, I am not at all sure that what Ansel Adams saw through the lens was what was finally produced on his printing paper. Check that, I know that wasn’t the case. He was known to remove objects the size of cars under the enlarger. And his chemistry in the wet darkroom did all sorts of post processing thingees – as did his dodging and burning. In fact, many of his prints were created by someone else. Yet he was listed as the photog? Hmmmmm…. I wonder????
– Ted Byrne
I first thought you had shot this through a screen door. I am fascinated by your treatment of his eye. It would appear you may intend the glass to be displaying a reflection, yet I tend to see his eye itself as evident and even a key element here. Bottom line is another effective image, er – feeling.
Hmmm….. Nope, this is simpler than carrying a screen door around. Actually, that’s the point I guess LL… PP is a much more direct way to get at what we intend, eh. Thanks for the support.
– Ted Byrne
Great work Ted! Amazing that you remember all the things you did with it! When I start working on a picture in PS I almost never remember all steps I did when I’m finally satisfied with it….lol.
Oh, it’s like recalling a jazz improvisation when you hear the final work. You have a pretty good map there in front of you, especially when, as I have on my blogsite (see link above) brought up the original image for comparison. Thanks for your compliments Anne-Marie, I reeeeeely appreciate them.
– Ted Byrne
Nice shot! I really like this
Fantastic example of 21st Century PHOTOGRAPHY Ted! A perfect capture of ‘that’ moment… You are completely right :)))
Thanks DF. I guess I coe across a tad defensive up there on the right, vis-a-vis 21st century photography, but I’m through with the extremist in the organic photography movement who insist the only images which “appear” to be photorealistic in the mid-twentieth century fashion can claim that they are photography. I love photorealism, I also love photo-impressionism, photo-expressioniam, and photo-abstraction. I will not allow a tiny band of zealots to define what photography is. Grumble… :-)
– Ted Byrne
Brilliant work!
Fan-bloody-tastic!!! You’re very supportive, thanks Karen.
– Ted Byrne
you have all my respect. I love yor work.
Ahhh…. from the portraitist who created this →
… I am overwhelmed. Thanks Tazzina!
– Ted Byrne