05/10/13

Smoky Mountain Wildflowers

Waterfall of Wildflowers in the Smoky Mountains

Wildflower Waterfall

Two weeks ago, I visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park, between North Carolina and Tennessee, for the first time, catching the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in all its glory. Starting at Oconaluftee River Trail in the lower elevations, Crested Iris, Thyme-leaved Bluets, Foamflower, and Blue Phlox dotted the terrain while elk meandered across the pathways and trotted out to a stream to have a long cool drink with their comrades.

Fearing the car ride up the mountains would be like so many other white-knuckle trips I’d taken to lofty peaks in the past, I mulled over whether to trek to the other side or play it safe in the low-lying area around the waterfalls. The well thought-out decision to make the journey did not go unrewarded, as surprises greeted us around every twist and turn—clusters of red and yellow Columbine and Bleeding Heart sprouted from craggy cliffs; Bishop’s Cap lined up along the slope in perfect unison; White Trillium peeked through bunches of Fire Pink; and whole cliff sides were sprayed in purple, as in the featured photograph, Wildflower Waterfall.

A fellow seeker of flora and fauna that day boasted about the unique ecosystem of the park, a part of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, referring to its extraordinarily diverse population of plant and animal life. According to the National Park Service, “over 17,000 species have been documented in the park, and scientists believe an additional 30,000 – 80,000 species may live in the area.” Considering this, a one-day visit only whetted my eagerness to see more of this spectacle, and I’m already daydreaming of a Summer or Fall sojourn to take in a little bit more.

04/22/13

Search or Serendipity?

Someone remarked recently that great photographs cannot be found by searching or hunting for them. At first, it made sense, but when I really thought about it, I’m not sure I agree. There are many times when planning a photography adventure for the sole purpose of photographing particular settings turns out extremely well.

Planning a trip doesn’t necessarily mean that the resulting photographs will be mundane; on the contrary, time and money can be saved with planning by ensuring that aspects such as weather and lighting will be advantageous for the photography. In addition, routes can be mapped to save time and gas that might otherwise be wasted looking for specific or for intriguing locations. That having been said, there is another side to that argument, which may hint at the intended spirit of the remark.

The reverse argument favors the idea of serendipity—finding that amazing photograph when you least expect it—unplanned, uncharted, and completely spontaneous. I’ve taken many surprising photographs resulting from chance encounters. More often than not, however, I find the unexpected during a planned trip. One such photograph titled, Stained Glass Tree, was taken on a visit to a popular waterfall. Although the waterfall was stunning, the real beauty that day was a scrubby looking maple glistening at the edge of a cliff overlooking the waterfall, sunlight illuminating its multicolored leaves while patches of blue sky peaked between every crevasse.

So, what is the best approach? There is no one right approach, but the message in this is that whether you plan a photography adventure or not, make sure that you remain open to all of your surroundings, not just your intended destination. You will be surprised at what hidden gems can be found.

04/9/13

Springtime in the Lowcountry

He witnessed the beauty for a moment and then looked away.

When he turned his head back around… it was gone.

Spring finally arrived in the South Carolina lowcountry (low-lying region along the coast) as plantations and gardens awash with color boast abundant varieties of flora, including azaleas, irises, wisteria, dogwood, and others. The lowcountry possesses an ethereal beauty that is unlike any other, bringing thousands of visitors to the area every year just to witness the fleeting spectacle.

Walking around Magnolia Plantation with my camera last week, I bumped into one such visitor carrying a point-and-shoot camera and a bewildered expression on his face. We greeted one another, and then he confessed his extreme frustration at leaving his good camera equipment at home, lamenting, “I just didn’t expect this. I’m not sure how impressed I was with anything…until I saw this—right here, right now! This is amazing!”

03/22/13

Saturdays at Charleston Farmers Market

As an artisan of the Charleston Farmers Market with my photography business, Susan DeTomi Photography, I meet amazing people every Saturday. I interviewed some customers last year, both local and from all around the world. This video illustrates why people love the market and keep coming back every year. Come visit us on April 13, when the CFM season begins, and every Saturday after that from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Enjoy the video!

02/15/13

What is Fine Art Photography?

When photographic images are referred to as “fine art,” it raises questions—perhaps because it gives an impression that fine art images are somehow superior; more artistic; even gallery-worthy. Still, there is a history and an established meaning of “fine art images” in the world of photography.

Advocates such as S.D. Jouhar, founder and Chairman of the Photographic Fine Art Association in 1961, strove to establish a new classification of photography created as art, defining “fine art” as “creating images that evoke emotion by a photographic process in which one’s mind and imagination are freely but competently exercised (Jouhar).”

Along those lines, fine art photography was distinguished from commercial photography. Jouhar strove to classify photography as an art rather than a craft, one of the prevailing perceptions at the time. The new definition also encompassed the “technical” perspective from which the photograph was created, emphasizing “fine perception” and “technical execution.”

Clearly, characterizing photography as fine art was intended to promote it in a new and positive way that would benefit all photographers. Even so, common misperceptions exist about the use of this term, suggesting it may be a means to elevate a photographer’s status.

Investigating present day photographers for the meaning of “fine art photography,” Alain Briton provides a note-worthy analysis of the term in his essay, “Fine Art Photography Top 16” (Briot, 2010), excerpted below:

“Become an expert in light

Compose your images carefully

Study colors and contrast

Create images that represent what you felt, not just what you saw

Focus on quality not quantity

Master both art and technique

Master all the aspects of fine art photography (composition, conversion, optimization, printing, curating, and exhibiting)

Optimize your photographs using layers in Photoshop

Make the final print your goal

Mat and present your work in a professional manner

Focus your work and effort on projects

Share your work with others and build an audience

Do not try to recreate the wheel

Create a personal style

Do not expect success overnight

Do not overestimate talent”

References:

Briot, A. (2010, June 5). Fine Art Photography Top 16. Retrieved February 15, 2013, from Nature Photographers – Online Magazine: www.naturephotographers.net

Jouhar, D. S. (n.d.). Dr. S.D. Jouhar (1901-1963) – A Retrospective. Retrieved February 15, 2013, from wwwsdjouhar.com

02/15/13

New Topics on Photography!

I’m expanding this photoblog, Impressions, to feature articles on a variety of photography-related topics in addition to continuing with its original focus—to display photographs by Susan DeTomi highlighted by creative writing.

Customers approach me to discuss all aspects of photography, so adding those discussions as topics for blog postings seemed like the perfect way to share them! Please stop by to leave your questions and comments.

06/27/12

Riding a Butterfly

"Rding a Butterfly" poem & Clouded Sulphur photo

Clouded Sulphur at Bear Island

Riding a Butterfly
If I hitched a ride from a butterfly,
holding tight, wings fluttering beside me—
I wouldn’t have to ramble through brush,
woven with prickers, every pest in tow,
to catch a glimpse of one perfect flower—
gardens and meadows alike, we would go.
My flighty host would alight each blossom,
sipping sweet nectar from a very fine straw;
the flowers would shower us with pollen,
the wind gently blowing the seeds to sow;
the bees would encircle us for hours,
all the while, putting on their jealous show.
- Susan DeTomi

08/12/11

Welcome to Impressions Photoblog!

Welcome to Impressions, a photoblog featuring the photography and writings of Susan DeTomi. Some posts feature photographs from Susan DeTomi Photography highlighted by creative writing and others feature articles on photography-related topics. This blog allows me to express and blend two forms of art that I truly enjoy—photography and writing.

The photographs featured in some of the blog posts represent a small sampling of the photographs I take for fun and in connection with my photography business, Susan DeTomi Photography, based in Charleston, South Carolina. Although I specialize in color, nature, and macro photography, I also have a collection of black-and-white photography as well as new media art. You can visit me at the Charleston Farmers Market in Marion Square on Saturdays, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, to view or purchase my work, which includes matted and/or framed fine art images and cards created with archival materials.

Impressions

a photoblog featuring photography & writings of Susan DeTomi

Category Archives: Recent Posts