Adventures in Fine Art Photography by L.A. Moore

Tokyo Schoolgirls

2011-07-19T09:32:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you get lucky and a shot just works.

I came across this scene when walking through a park on the outskirts of Tokyo.

A twist on the typical "group portrait", this image was chosen by Rodney Smith out of 2800 submissions to be 1 of 50 images showcased in the Center for Fine Art Photography's, Portraits, Exhibition (www.c4fap.org).

The image was also recently chosen as the Category Winner (Portrait) of the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Members Show. (www.fmopa.org).

I wish ALL my shots were this lucky!

2011-07-19T09:28:00.001-07:00

Well, as much as this belongs in my "Photoon" blog, it really is a companion piece to the photo below.

A bit of cropping and a little twist on the "Evil Twin" theme gave me something that suits my own twisted sense of humor.

A Lesser Walker Evans

2010-10-08T15:07:00.000-07:00

Subway photography is a delicate art at any time and subway photography in Japan/Tokyo is a case in point. The Japanese are typically overly polite, obsessed with "the rules" and seldom will partake in any activity that would upset the peace and order of another. It always amazes me how they can stand nose to nose on a crowded subway, yet somehow manage to NOT invade each others space. Foreigners "gaijin", can get away with a certain amount of boorish behavior because it is expected of us, but, I always try and respect the culture and blend in, however impossible that may be.

I was compelled to take a risk when this photo presented itself. Maybe not the best compositionally and certainly, way out of park where headroom and portraiture is concerned, seeing these two men sitting beside each other made me click off the frame. They were a study in opposites. The worker and the businessman, siamese like in their proximity, brought together by fate and timing to form this unusual bond.

The Official Weigh In

2010-10-08T15:04:00.000-07:00

One of the quirks my father in-law has, is that he is a measurer! He loves to know the distances between all points and for some reason, he has an obsession with weight. Particularly, it seems, mine! I assume he is concerned for the health and welfare of his daughters spouse, but I also assume there is some sense of pride regarding the relatively fit and trim Japanese society vs, the in most cases, lesser so, North American. To this end, shortly after we arrived we had the official "weigh in", whereby we established the baseline from which we would be judged at trips end. I think the odds are stacking against me though, because it seems to be every mother in-laws creed to over feed and such is the case here, where breakfast is a seven or eight course meal that typically consists of soup, rice, fish, pickles, vegetables, fruit, eggs and a few other, (typically unidentifiable) items thrown in for good measure. All washed down with copius amounts of green tea.

Room Without a View

2010-10-08T15:01:00.001-07:00

When in Japan and visiting Tokyo, I stay with my in-laws. They live in the Nakano district, not far from Shinjuku by subway.

Several years ago my father in- law tore down his traditional Japanese house and built a modern Japanese structure. The main living room now has couches and chairs instead of traditional tatami and while many concessions have been made for modern conveniences, the essence of the Japanese home remains. It is spare and tasteful and highly efficient.

One sad concession to modern times and the premium that is put on space in crowded Tokyo, is a house that was built in the former parking lot behind my in-laws home. The guest room, located on the third floor, used to have sweeping views of the striking Shinjuku skyline. This is our view today.

Two Weeks in Tokyo

2010-10-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

Should be interesting. The plan is to visit several galleries and museums and of course take lots of pictures. Stay tuned.

Las Vegas Sign

2010-02-05T10:36:00.000-08:00

Probably one of the most iconic images in America, is the Las Vegas Sign. Hundreds of people a day are drawn here to cement the record of their stay in the City That Never Sleeps.

What Happens In Vegas

2010-01-14T14:45:00.001-08:00

For the last few years I have had to go to Las Vegas on business. Last year I put together this image which encapsulated a little bit of the "What Happens Here Stays Here" theme.

This year I am going to take a slightly different approach.

For most of us, the new year brings a time of contemplation and assessment. For me, this also happened at a time where I was completely reassessing my subject matter, style and intent. I have been off on a real Photoshop creative odyssey lately and felt it was time to reign back in and just take some pictures.

I got the spark of an idea when I was in Las Vegas last year, but didn't really have time to see it completely through. There is a hint of it in the picture above. Stayed tuned , I will post the results when I get back in just over a week.

Pool Demon

2010-01-10T04:02:00.001-08:00

There's more than sharks in the water!

5 Minutes of Fame at MOCA North Miami

2010-01-09T11:43:00.001-08:00

I think that MOCA in North Miami has one of the best artist outreach programs in the country. Each month they run 5 Minutes of Fame where local artists get exactly ten minutes to showcase a body of their work for MOCA staff and the general public.

This past January 6th MOCA held a special edition of 5 Minutes, where Bonnie Clearwater, MOCA's Executive Director and Chief Curator was the host of the evening and graciously and expertly gave critiques on each artists work.

I probably don't have to tell you what a great opportunity this is, when trying to get a gallerist of even a postage sized space to look at your work is akin to winning Survivor.

The other wonderful thing about these evenings, is that you get to see a wide range of work and expression and if you happen to be presenting as I did that evening, you get to meet other artists and hear the rationale for the work they create.

The bottom line here is exposure and this is where MOCA and 5 Minutes of Fame really excel for the artists.

If you are in Miami or happen to be there when one of these events is on, I strongly encourage you to go. It is entertaining, educational and most of all it supports both the artists and the Museum. I am only sorry that you can only participate once a year if you are an artist. I would be in there ever month if they would let me.

L.A.

Dead Australian Pines

2009-11-22T02:42:00.000-08:00

On a recent trip to Honeymoon Island, just north of Clearwater Florida, I was struck by the sculptural beauty of these Dead Australian Pine trees.

In their demise, these trees still show an amazing grace and more than a trace of personality. I'm not sure what killed them, but there were hundreds of them in the park.

A New Direction

2009-10-19T07:45:00.001-07:00

Adj. 1.fragmented - having been divided; having the unity destroyed; disunited, split, disconnected, divided - separated into parts or pieces; a spiritual journey in ten images.

A step in an even more Minimalist direction. See more Fragmented images at the website: www.lamoorephoto.com

2009-10-12T01:24:00.000-07:00

I am happy to be a part of Canvas 5 coming this Friday October 16 in Tampa Florida.

LIVE MUSIC.KILLER COFFEE.LOCAL ART
Friday, October 16th, 8 PM – 1 AM (Free Admission)

2702 Causeway Center Drive
Tampa, FL 33619

If you’re in the greater Tampa Bay Area, it’s worth the trip to attend Canvas 5 – An Art Premier of selected emerging local artists.

Canvas exists to simply promote a community of inspiration. The idea, the dream, was born to provide a spring board to local up and coming artists, in such a way that would benefit both their craft and their career. The desire is not to bleed the artists of their funds, it is not to exploit them for sponsorship revenue, but to let them know that there are people who care and want to help.

Canvas is the brain child of Mike DeSerio and Bobby Triplett, both of which are part of the leadership team for Element Church in the Brandon/Tampa area. Their desire was to hold an event that could reach out to the art community of Tampa Bay – an event that could foster both excellence and creativity and could impact a city through the expressions of inspiration.

Check out previous CANVAS events: http://3.canvas813.com/ & http://four.canvas813.com/

A Photoshop lesson with Clyde Butcher

2009-08-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

To some, photographer Clyde Butcher is known as the 'Ansel Adams of the Everglades:' a man who spends his time capturing powerful black and white images of Florida's incredible and varied wilderness. To the many who have seen his photographs, Clyde Butcher is known as the artist who helps us see the incredible beauty hidden in Florida's swamps, rivers, uplands and bays.

I was lucky enough to spend a few minutes with Clyde on my way back from 5 Minutes of Fame at MOCA in North Miami. Charles Levin, one of the founders of the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts in Tampa had come with me to hear the presentations at MOCA and to shoot some pictures while we were in Miami. He suggested we stop off and see Clyde at his gallery in Naples on the way home.

This was not my first visit to the gallery. In fact I have been there several times before and done the tour of Clyde's production darkroom as well as heard him speak at one of his lectures. I highly recommend both activities to anyone who finds themselves in the Naples area. Clyde is a passionate speaker and a proud environmentalist. His large scale black and white photographs are nothing short of stunning and you can easily find yourself falling hypnotically into the deep blacks of the silver halide prints.

The digital process has also found its way into Clydes workflow and he is constantly looking for ways to bring black and white digital printing up to a level that could rival his silver prints. On our visit there he had recently printed some images from a trip to Yosemite. While not quite at the depth of the silver images the prints were nonetheless dramatic and compelling.

In order to get at close as possible to a negative based print in a digital based process, Clyde has spent hours working with Photoshop determining where the tools replicate negative based adjustments and where an alternate method might achieve the desired result. In simple terms he says " you don't use Photoshops dodge and burn tools, to dodge and burn". Clyde has recently completed a DVD on his black and white digital workflow and in it he includes many of the tips and tricks that he uses to produce this next generation of superb inkjet prints.

It was a pleasure to spend some time with Clyde and hear first hand some of the methods he uses. I had one of those experiences that I am sure confronts us all when we are in the presence of a master and his work. You know, that moment when you feel very small and wonder if and how your work will stand up over time. I have learned to just take those moments as inspiration and feel thankful that I was able to spend some quality time in the presence of a man who believes passionately in his work and the art of photography.

Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami 5 Minutes of Fame

2009-08-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

I would be happy with one minute of fame, so 5 Minutes worth seemed like a good deal. The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (www.mocanomi.org) offers a unique opportunity for artists to get their work in front of the public. On the second Wednesday of each month MOCA holds 5 Minutes of Fame. Approximately 10 artists are given 5 (more like ten) minutes to present a body of work and take questions from the audience on their inspiration, working methods, technique and subject matter. The evening showcases artists from all disciplines and on this particular night there were a few photographers, a sculptor, a painter and a young woman who worked with wire to create art objects (primarily guitars).

The evening is run by Adrienne Von Lates, who is the Curator of Education for the gallery. Adrienne did a fantastic job of keeping the program moving and giving each artist an opportunity to show their work and field questions from the audience.

I personally think this is a great event and something that should be adopted by virtually all museums. This was a welcoming environment and an opportunity to showcase without going through a huge and painful selection process. You were held accountable for your techniques, subject matter and maybe most importantly the story or evolution of both your work and yourself as an artist, but it was soft and encouraging criticism designed for you to get a better understanding of how your work was viewed by the public.

I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and got both fantastic feedback and some equally effective criticism. It's a gem in MOCA's program and I both applaud and thank them for it.

More HDR (High Dynamic Range) debate.

2009-08-10T07:59:00.000-07:00

I touched on this before, but after a little help from John Barclay www.barclayphoto.com, I tried my hand at this again.

There still seems some heated debate about the artistic validity of HDR photography. Quite frankly at this point, I think anything goes. Whatever floats your boat, no pun intended here, in terms of artistic expression, is up to the individual artist. There is no denying that guys like Barclay are getting stunning results with the use of superior technical knowledge, a fantastic eye and a few well chosen software tools. I have been leaning towards abstract expressionism in my photography and I think that HDR shots could easily find a place as a layer in my process. These shots, which have been tweaked with a couple of additional software tools, do have a painterly feel. Again, I don't know if it is photography anymore, but it is photo based art.

I will be taking part of 5 Minutes of Fame this week at the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami. www.mocanomi.org. I am going to run some of the new images past the attendees and see how they react. Stay tuned for updates.

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Members Show

2009-08-04T05:02:00.000-07:00

For the past several years I have been entering the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts Members Show (FMoPA, www.fmopa.org)). I have been lucky enough to win Second Place twice at this show in 2005 and 2007. And as the old cliche goes, third times the charm, just not for me....yet.

I'm sure most of you who enter shows and competitions have a similar experience. There is something exciting about the thrill of competition and the hope that "this time" you will make the cut, make the grade, find acceptance, validation, adulation or love and will be set on your course to world domination. Of course the odds are against it and with both the proliferation of competitions world wide and the extraordinary number of people who seem to be willing to pony up their $30, $40, $50 or more to enter, the gods really have to be with you (or maybe a friend, ex teacher or relative on the judging committee) in order for you to be one of the chosen few. None the less, it is a path to having your work seen, judged and exposed to a wider audience.

This year, the FMoPA show was split into categories, Creative Mediums, Details, Documentary, Events, Nature/Landscape, Portraiture and Travel. The judges were Delores Coe, Carolyn Kossar and Suzanne Williamson. The show was very well attended even though entries were down from the previous year, probably due to the poor economy. There was a lot of great work and I think one of the advantages of entering a local show, is that you can actual see all the entries, and get a real sense of how you stack up to the competition. I have to admit that when I had my entry framed and sitting on my dining table, I was sure that it would be a grabber. Plus, I decided to add a little twist. I posted, Please Touch this Photograph, on the bottom of the mat and left the glass out of the frame. I had printed on a textured paper so that there would be some sensation for the brave who decided to add touch to their viewing experience. Even though I was not recognized in this years show, I had a wonderful time watching those who were willing to reach up and interact with the photo. We are conditioned to never touch the art in a gallery or museum, so this was my little rule breaker and it certainly caused discussion, laughter and curiosity among those who took some time to view the photo.

So, on to the next entry. I think I like the International Juried Show, where the prize is Lunch with Susan Kismaric, Curator at the Museum of Modern Art. Ahh, I can feel it, world domination, is right around the corner....

Portrait of a Party Guest

2009-07-21T06:16:00.000-07:00

Painters and and photographers through time have turned out a dizzying array of portraits, from historical figures to family members to lovers. The portrait in its unique way has been a small window into the human soul.

Over the years I have taken several shots that in the strictest sense were portraits. They consist of head and shoulders views of individuals, mostly friends, sometimes strangers, but they were seldom posed. I have decided to go back and harvest some of these shots and give them my own particular spin.

In some cases it has been a journey into my past and a special opportunity to re-experience, thoughts, memories, emotions and encounters, both random and intimate.

The Eyes Have It.

2009-07-13T16:17:00.000-07:00

I think they follow you around the room. What do you think?

2009-07-09T06:33:00.000-07:00

Water Study I was chosen for the portfolio exhibition in the Vermont Photography Workplace's show, Water, taking place July 18 to August 9 at the workplace's facility in Middlebury Vermont.

Hidden Desire of the Black Swans

2009-06-25T09:57:00.001-07:00

A series of five images.

Celtic myth indicates that when inhabitants of the Otherworld required passage to the physical land of life you and I experience every day, they would take the shape of the swan. Furthermore lore states they would travel out of the Otherworld in pairs, thus reinforcing the theme of union, bonds and partnership.

It is my assumption, that when you cross dimensions of any kind that time and space do not translate directly.

Photography Based Art

2009-06-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

I have always loved painting and I would say that painters have had a more influential effect on me than photographers.

For years, I sought abstraction in traditional photography, taking closeup abstracted views or using infrared which gave a painterly effect. As I continue to explore the capabilities of Photoshop, I have become infatuated with the ability to actually paint a photograph. The thing that remains fascinating is that the "paint" is actually a series of photographs that are layered and brushed in to create the final image. In this way several images can be combined to create unique effects based on texture, color and tone. I don't know if they are photographs anymore, but I do feel they are photography based art. Here is "A Day at the Beach", a piece of work that makes extensive use of this technique.

After Bacon

2009-06-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

Mark Rothko to Francis Bacon. Inspiration comes in many forms. This composition was inspired by a documentary I saw on the Ovation Channel about Irish painter Francis Bacon. Here is the Wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bacon_(artist).

I love the Ovation Channel for offering so much material that deals with the heart and soul of the artist, regardless of their medium. Watch the Ovation Channel for the best in Arts programming.

To HDR or Not HDR 3

2009-06-15T16:57:00.001-07:00

To HDR or Not HDR 2

2009-06-15T16:56:00.001-07:00

To HDR or Not HDR?

2009-06-13T07:13:00.000-07:00

Well, of course it is a question a lot of us are asking ourselves. High Dynamic Range Photography or HDR has been around for sometime, but lately seems to be popping up in more and more places. It also seems to be causing quite a debate. I am no stranger to HDR having used the concept and technique when managing commercial photography for Masonite. Bracketing exposures has long been standard practice for covering your butt on commercial jobs and blending them to come up with an optimal exposure has been around for some as well, so I am surprised at the reaction this process is receiving as it becomes more main stream. I have seen some fantastic results using HDR as a tool and my friend John Barclay, www.barclayphoto.com, has embraced it as a key component in his creative arsenal. I am not sure where it will sit with me, but I feel it can be a useful and unusual element in my compositions.

There are several companies out there who offer HDR processing and I have checked out a trial version of Photmatix which can be found at http://www.hdrsoft.com/. If you use the trial version, Photomatix watermarks your processed pictures. Here are a couple of first passes. As with any technique, practice and experience rule.

Water Studies

2009-06-12T13:14:00.000-07:00

Well the After Rothko got me off on a new and pleasant tangent. The Vermont Photographic Workplace has a call for entries for an upcoming show entitled "Water". Here is information about the Workplace taken from their website: The mission of the Vermont Photography Workplace is to support contemporary photography as a means of creative expression and cultural insight. VPW sponsors educational activities, including workshops, portfolio reviews, guest speakers, as well as exhibition opportunities through regional and national juried exhibits. Our goal is to create an environment where photographers of all ages and abilities can explore and nurture their creative potential.

See our call for entries for our next photo exhibition: WATER

So it was a happy coincidence that After Rothko led me to Water, so to speak. I developed a series of five "Water Studies" using the techniques discovered while working on the Rothko photos. Every once in a while I shudder when I see how I have moved from being a hard core traditionalist, to anything goes. Developed for the VPW submission, here are the five Water Studies.

After Rothko

2009-06-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

Like many artists, influence can be a significant factor in creation. Sometimes direct, sometimes assimilated, we tend to be an amalgam of what we see, hear and are attracted to. I have always loved abstraction and minimalism and have strived to incorporate these two concepts into my own work. An empty space with a single chair can take my breath away and so it is no surprise that the work of Mark Rothko holds a place of reverence for me. Rothko's paintings are, at their most simple level, a meditation and at their most complex a window on the soul of humanity. In a nod to the Master, I have created some photos that take as their inspiration some of Rothko's great works. In others the influence is apparent, but I have intentionally taken some left turns that fulfill my own sardonic sense of humor.

When I attended the recent Cezanne

and Beyond exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, I was struck with the influence that all the Impressionists had on each other and how it continues to influence artists such as Jeff Wall. I consider myself in good company here. The work of Rothko has inspired an unusual approach and whether you respond to it or not, it has given me some new ideas, made me explore and understand certain techniques, both of Rothko's and my own.

In an attempt to refine my personal vision, I continue to experiment, explore and take cues from those who have gone before.