New Calendar: Flora
I just put together a new floral calendar called Flora. I have been holding off on doing a floral calendar because I wanted it to have a theme. I wanted it to have simular editing, either all manipulated, or all natural photography. But then I thought, huh, I constantly change my techniques, bouncing back and forth from this style to that, so why not allow my calendar to reflect that too? So I bring you my latest calendar Flora!
Additionally, I have added my lattest Digital Abstract, Techno Luminescence, to my Digital Abstract Calendar.
Almost all of my images in these calendars can be puchased as premium art cards, matted prints, laminated prints, mounted prints, canvas prints, framed prints, and posters. All in varying sizes. To see more work and/or purchase click here.
Example Card:
The Challenge: A Light bulb, A String, and A Key
Who doesn’t love a good challenge? Especially a photography challenge. It makes you think, it broadens your horizon, it pushes you outside your comfort limit. Recently I participated in a challenged hosted by APC. The challenge, of which I chose to except, was to make a creative image using a light bulb, a piece of string, and a key. You could add anything else to the image, just as long as those 3 images were clearly visible.
Although there was not a huge turn out in the challenge, some amazing images were created. All different approaches and all different styles.
My original idea was to take a light bulb, and try to stab a key into it. Or at the very least, get a whole in the light bulb, and stick the key into it. Then I was going to set it up to look like it is laying in blood. Well if you know anything about light bulbs, they don’t break with a nice neat whole, they shatter. So I ended up working with a shattered light bulb. I set out some plastic bags, covered w/ white paper, layed out the light bulb, well the pieces at least, and created my pool of blood. I knew I was planning on taking the image in black and white, so I used good old fashioned maple syrup for blood. Since I had to have the key and string in the image, I tied the string to the key, and carefully layed on my bloody scene. Then I set my camera to the sharpest, highest contrast, black and white setting, then upped the exposure. (I was also going for a high key look. ) Set it on the tripod (I was working inside with poor lighting) and started shooting at several different angles. After a short trip in Photoshop, honestly, I did some minor editing, decreased contrast, cleaned up the edges, where the sheet of paper ended, etc. This was my final image (You might recognise it from my new banner above):
I took 2nd place in the challenge. First place went to Adriana Glackin.
Here are the rest of the entries:
Are you up to the challenge?
***************************
All of my work can be puchased as premium art cards, and most are available as matted prints, laminated prints, mounted prints, canvas prints, framed prints, and posters. All in varying sizes. To see more work and/or purchase click here. (or click on a particular image)
Example Card:
TTV: Through the Viewfinder
What is TTV: Through the Viewfinder?
Well, it’s pretty much what it says. It’s a technique using two cameras, an old box camera and the camera you actually take pictures with, in which you take a picture of what you see through the other camera’s viewfinder. Make sense?
What is the point you ask?
For me, I love the aged retro look you get with TTV. Yeah, you can make an image look aged or antiqued using textures and filter in Photoshop, but it’s just not the same. Most of the old box cameras are dirty, covered in dust, maybe some scratches, all of which add to the character of the image. (The dirtier the better I say!) Not to mention the challenge of balancing 2 cameras, and the whole flip flop issue. Most box camera’s used have a top viewfinder, that uses mirrors, so you have to keep your good camera at a 90 degree angle to what you want to photograph. Oh, and everything is reversed. Do you know how confusing that can get, you keep turning the direction you need to to center the image, yet in the viewfinder it’s going the other way?!?
So what do you need to get started?
First off, you need a camera to actually take the picture. I’ll assume if you are reading this, you already have one of those 🙂 And to get a nice close-up shot of the viewfinder, you will need a macro lens, or zoom filters. You will need to be able to take a picture a few inches away from the object. If your camera has a macro setting that you are happy with, then by all means, just use that! Besides that, you will need some sort of old camera with a large viewfinder, and then something to block out the light between the 2 cameras.
After you have what you need, honestly, all you do is take a picture of the viewfinder.
Obviously the image above doesn’t have the light blocked out between the two cameras. I just wanted to show you the viewfinder.
My set up:
I have my Canon Rebel XTi for my primary camera (we’ll call this camera #1 from now on), an old box Argus 75 for my secondary camera (camera #2), my stackable zoom filters (I don’t have a macro lens), and my Tube of Darkness. Put together it looks like this:
You can pick up an old box camera fairly cheap at flea markets, antique stores, or ebay. Cameras like the Argus 75 were so overly mass produced in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s, you can find them all over the place. I picked mine up on ebay for $4.99 plus shipping!
Here it is pulled apart:
The Tube of Darkness:
To block out the light between cameras, I used a 3 inch cardboard tube that I cut down to 6 inches long, and a black (fuzzy) sock (lost the match) of which I cut the toe off. I slipped the black sock over the cardboard tube, so that there is equal excess material at the top and bottom of the tube. Then I slipped the tube over the open viewfinder on camera #2, and used saftey pins to secure it around camera #2’s straps, making sure it’s pulled tight, yet not to cover camera #2’s lens. And viola! a Tube of Darkness!
And since I use an SLR camera, I just dip my lens into the tube, and pull the top excess sock material over camera #1’s lens. The sock works great because of the elasticity, it keeps a snug fit over the camera’s, keeping out the light. Sorry, I can’t show you a picture of the SLR in the Tube of Darkness because I only have one camera!
I took the picture, now what?
Honestly, that’s up to you and your taste! First off, crop off all that excess around the image. Most people leave a small border around though. After that, editing is all up to you! I have heard that a lot of people like to used the Urban Acid Photoshop Action. I have tried it, but usually end up just playing with the tones and colors on my own, so I can’t give you an example of it. Then why not upload it to Flickr? There are a ton of TTV Flickr groups! Not to mention the ton of information you can find in those groups! The largest one, Through the Viewfinder, has a blog with a ton of information, including a list of a variety of different secondary (base) cameras that can be used. Check that out here.
I hope you enjoyed my lil tutorial/informative blog! Now I’m gonna shamelessly self-promote 🙂
More of my TTV images
This is the very first TTV I took. This is my daughter. What I love about this image, is that it looks like a picture that fell out of my baby book!
This picture was actually chosen as the picture of the day on Absolute Michigan’s Michigan in Pictures Blog!
“Museum of Newaygo”
All of my work can be puchased as premium art cards, and most are available as matted prints, laminated prints, mounted prints, canvas prints, framed prints, and posters. All in varying sizes. To see more work and/or purchase click here. (or click on a particular image)
Example Card:
Tutorial – Dark Skies
This may be a silly tutorial, but it’s really simple. I thought I’d share a quick photoshop trick I sometimes use to give skies a deep, darker color. I have used it in several of my images.
A few examples:
TUTORIAL
Open your image in Photoshop
My Starting Image
STEP 1: Dupilcate your image.
STEP 2: Got to Image > Adjustments > Black and White
STEP 3: Turn down the Cyan levels and the Blue Levels all the way to the black (-200%). Click OK
STEP 4: Change the Layer Mask to Luminosity.
STEP 5: Flatten Image, or merge down, whichever you prefer. Now the image may be a little grainy for you taste. I make another duplicate layer, reduce noise (a lot), then erase everthing in the top layer other than the sky.
There you have it! You are done!
Told you it was simple and silly!
Afterwards, you can change the image to black and white, and use contrast adjustments to get results like these:
Calendars!
Redbubble now offers calendars! So of course I had to make some! Currently I have 3 themed calendars, but am also willing to put together personal choice calendars. i.e. you pick 12 of my images and let me know, and I’ll create the calendar for your purchase!
So on to the calendars!
Digital Abstracts by Karri Klawiter
A collection of my 12 most popular digital abstracts.
A collection of 12 of my most popular old barn/dilapidated buildings.
Once Upon a Time: A Photographic Series by Karri Klawiter
12 images from an abandoned house in Allegan County, Mi. Most of which are done in HDR.
Almost all of my images in these calendars can be puchased as premium art cards, matted prints, laminated prints, mounted prints, canvas prints, framed prints, and posters. All in varying sizes. To see more work and/or purchase click here.
Once Upon a Time, A Photographic Series
Recently I had the privelage to explore an abandoned house I came upon. The house looks to me to be turn of the century, and was obviously at one time a gorgeous home. Once upon a time this house was a home, now it is just remnents of the past. Images are in HDR.
All of my work can be puchased as premium art cards, and most are available as matted prints, laminated prints, mounted prints, canvas prints, framed prints, and posters. All in varying sizes. To see more work and/or purchase click here. (or click on a particular image)
Example Card:
Don’t forget to visit The Gift of Art, where all proceeds go to the National Cancer Institue, to help fund cancer research.
Weekly Themed Features – Still Life
Sorry, I have been a little behind on these here. I have had a lot going on in life. This weeks featured theme is Still Life. These beautiful works of art were chosen from A Photographer’s Craft. Please enjoy these works, and don’t forget to check out the artist’s personal pages, where you can view more of their gorgeous work!
“Harmonious Shells”
by Maria Medeiros
An instant classic. Huddled together, these shells make a beautiful image. Maria Medeiros washes you away to a sunny beach full of relaxation.
“Nails and Nuts Figure”
by VashR31
Funny, adorable, and an eye catcher for almost anyone. These everyday items come together in an imaginative piece of art caught on camera by VashR31.
“Want a Bagel”
by Miron Abramovici
Although this is not your typical still life, Miron Abramovici captures a wonderful, artistic, almost primal vision within a pair of rocks. Who doesn’t want a bagel?
“Still Life”
by Adriana Glackin
Adriana Glackin creativily captures the classic fruit bowel still life using the unique technique of painting with light, giving an old classic, and stunning new look.
“Lilies”
by Rose Atkinson
With beautiful composure and great lighting, Rose Atkinson gives us a gorgeous piece of Lilies in a window sill.
“Still Hooked”
by Debbie Black
Using amazing perspection and great use of negative space, Debbie Black takes an everyday, normal item, and turns it into a wonderful piece of art.
Don’t forget to visit The Gift of Art, where all proceeds go to charity.
New Digital Abstracts
Ok, so I’ll admit it, I’ve been lazy, haven’t done any new digital abstracts in a while. I finally got a little bit of time on my hands to play a bit. (Not to mention I cleared out 60 images from my redbubble site and have room for new!) FYI, all of the following images were created using Apophysis 3D hack and Photoshop
So here we go!
First up we have: Shattered Conception, which was created to be simular to Product of Conception, yet different. They both have a jewel look going on.
Next we have Underlined Elegance, which with this small preview kinda has a stars and stripes look doesn’t it? Like it should be red white and blue? Full size view does not look like that though 😉
Followed by Apparition of Complicated Expresso. I know, I know, what a name!?! Hey, it’s abstract, I can name it what ever I want! Besides, doesn’t the colors remind you of coffee and cream?
And then the Eye of the Dragon. I love it when a fractal turns out looking like something! Behold my dragon’s eye!
There was also the Ghostly Sphere, but it didn’t make the cut. (it might later though) I’ll share it anyways.
All of my work can be puchased as premium art cards, and most are available as matted prints, laminated prints, mounted prints, canvas prints, framed prints, and posters. All in varying sizes. To see more work and/or purchase click here. (or click on a particular image)
Example Card:
Don’t forget to visit The Gift of Art, where all proceeds go to the National Cancer Institue, to help fund cancer research.
Interview with Featured Artist…ME!
No I didn’t interview myself! Come on now! I was interviewed by shawhouse as the current featured artist with A Photographer’s Craft. I thought I would brag and post the interview 😉
Interview of photographer Karri Klawiter by Shawhouse
Every once in a great while one encounters an artist whose body of work reveals such surpassing clarity, focus and sophistication that the images should not merely be referred to as “Art,” but as “Arthur.” I recently cyber-sat down with Karri Klawiter to discuss her Arthur… Luckily, Ms. Klawiter agreed to the interview before reading my questions.
How long have you been practicing photography?
Art has been a part of my life since I can remember. Doodling as a child, late in high school I discovered I could paint, and now as an adult I’ve moved to photography. I really started practicing photography in January 2008. Before that, I dabbled a little bit here and there with a 35 mm, but nothing serious, and not very often because of the whole processing film thing. I would make one roll of film last months. Every shot I took was planned out, because I would only take one. My husband bought me a digital SLR for Christmas this past year, and that has seriously opened the world to me. I love my new camera, and with it being digital, I can take as many as I want! Then Photoshop entered my world in April….ah…life will never be the same!
What was your first camera, and how have you progressed with respect to photographic equipment?
My first camera was one of those long, flat, black and blue, 110 film Kodak cameras. Remember those? Do they even sell 110 anymore? I loved that thing. I would carry it around everywhere when I was little. But I tell you what, I think don’t the pictures were ever in focus, much less had the subject fully visible. I couldn’t tell you what cameras I’ve had after that and before my first SLR.
My husband came home one day with a Canon Rebel SLR he picked up at a pawn shop. The intention was that he was going to take up photography as a hobby. He read the manual from front to cover (yes, he actually read the whole thing), played with it a bit, took it on a hiking trip, took 10 rolls of film worth of pictures, packed it away, and never touched it again. I would pull it occasionally, for holidays and such, but it really didn’t get much use till last summer.
For some reason I can’t remember now, I was taking a lot of flower pictures, and they were actually turning out nice! (My pictures never turned out growing up, I always had a secret passion for photography, but never thought I was any good at it.) That summer I used a whopping 3 rolls of film! Hey, that’s the most I had ever used. But to be fair, I also had a cheap little digital camera that I was using constantly too. That cheap little digital camera died after my 2 yr old dropped it. So I started dropping hints to my husband about getting a Canon Rebel Digital SLR. My biggest argument was that we already had filters and lenses that were interchangable with it, so why would we buy another cheap digital that will barely get used. His argument was that I already had an SLR that worked perfectly fine. Much to my surprise, the very last present I opened Christmas morning (I must add here, that I was deeply depressed by then, I thought he took the hint, but it wasn’t looking good) was my digital SLR! I cried and cried. Such a stupid thing to cry about huh?
So…my photographic equipment is still limited, but it does include: Canon EOS Digital Rebel Xti, Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens, Canon EF 35-80 mm lens, Canon EF 100-300mm zoom lens, 3 (1x, 2x, 4x) zoom filters (I really want a macro lens), and various other filters.
Do you have a favorite image in your own gallery? What is it, and why is it your favorite?
I think my favorite image is “Abandoned.” I am not really sure why. It really isn’t anything special, but I love it all the same.
Have you ever done anything extreme to get that “ultimate shot” – or have you traveled anywhere remote to take photographs?
I haven’t really done anything extreme, yet. But I did get chased off private property for taking pictures of an old school house. Honestly, I did not know it was private property, it wasn’t marked, it sat on the side of the road and there were 3 fences and a good 10 acres between it and the next house. Man was the owner mad! By the way, that old school house is the one in “School House Rot” and “School of Time Past.”
Which image from my body of work has most inspired you? Take as long as you need.
Oh sure, this question you say take as long as you need, could have used that on the camera question! It is a hard question too.
I think it would be “Lost” though. I woke up one morning, realizing that day was a deadline for a competition I wanted to enter, but I didn’t have anything to submit. I started going through all those old pictures saved on the computer I never did anything with. You know, the rejects. I came across one that was already merged into HDR of a tree. Very boring, I know. At that time, things weren’t going very great in life; I was in a dark mood. So I thought, hey, what would it look like in black in white?
That started the snowball effect. I took all that recessed dark depression and anger, and put it into the image. When I first thought it was done, it still didn’t feel right, until I added the girl. I guess she symbolized me, because I was feeling quite lost at the time. Creating it really made me feel better. Isn’t art a great stress reliever? I submitted, thinking there is no way this picture is going to win, it doesn’t have the feel any of the other entries did. It won. I was shocked and happy; I even did a little dance of joy.
Wonderful story. Truly inspiring… .But, I was referring to my body of work. Take as long as –
What was your name again?
Ed. Note – The interview resumed the next afternoon.
Have you got your own website, if so what is the url and how long have you had it?
I do not have my own website as of yet. (outside of my Redbubble site.) Though, I do have a blog I just started that is based on art. It’s address is http://artbykarri.wordpress.com
Film or Digital?
Digital! Hands down digital! You can take as many pictures as you want, and get rid of those you don’t with just a click of a button. No wasted film!
JPEG or RAW?
I’ve tried RAW, truly, but JPEG seems to work best for me. I can’t explain it. Everyone says ALWAYS use RAW, especially with HDR images, but for me RAW images merged into HDR end up with a lot of noise. I must be doing something wrong…
For here or to go?
Unfortunately, to go. Two young children, a husband, school, and other responsibilities, I rarely get to say for here.
Are you a member of Gift of Art where all proceeds from art sales go to cancer research? What would you say to help promote the charity account?
I think the art speaks for itself. It is an amazing collection, plus the proceeds go to help research cancer. Why would you buy art elsewhere? Yes, I am a member, and I am not just saying this to promote my work. It really is an amazing thing they are doing. I was honored to donate a couple of my most popular works. We all know someone in which cancer has affected their lives, if not lost a loved one to it. It is an unbiased killer. It doesn’t care what color your skin is, if you are a child or 120 years old. We need all the help we can get to fight it. Someday there will be a cure.
What is your favorite subject to photograph (and why)?
That is a hard one. My subjects change like the wind, but if I had to pick one (and it is probably because of withdrawal, haven’t been able to get to any recently) it would be dilapidated, abandoned buildings. They have such character and history. How many families have lived in this house? Where they happy? What did it look like new? How many people over so many years stood in this spot, or looking out that window? I find it all so fascinating. Of course I also love genealogy, so there you go!
What is your favorite Andrew Lloyd Webber musical (and why do you have a favorite Andrew Lloyd Webber musical?)
Who? I’m gonna have to Google this one! Hey, I’m just a small town country girl!
Is there anything you would like to add about the Photographers Craft group or anything else?
The Photographer’s Craft is a wonderful group of amazing photographers. Not only do they have talent, but they have the heart to go with it. Just look at The Gift of Art.
You going to eat those fries?
Dang straight!
Dang!
Weekly Themed Features – Symbols of Hope
This week’s feature theme is Symbols of Hope. These beautiful works of art were chosen from A Photographer’s Craft. Please enjoy these works, and don’t forget to check out the artist’s personal pages, where you can view more of their gorgeous work!
A symbol of hope can mean a number of things to any individual person. If you were asked to take one picture creating a symbol of hope, what would it be?
Would it be a white dove in mid-flight as it was for Mark German?
(This image can also be purchased at The Gift of Art)
How about a symbolic lone tree as in Dana DiPasquale’s “Maybe This Year Will Be Better Than The Last”?
Or maybe it would be a serene landscape image like Adrian Rachele’s “Ode to Life” or “Breaking Through” by Tom Vaughan.
(“Breaking Through” can also be purchase at The Gift of Art)
Or a glorious start to a new day like it was for Sue Wickham?
What about a symbol of faith as it was for lallymac?
“And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews and they smote Him with their hands.” John 19:2-4
Maybe it’s the ever watchful guardian angel in “S A C R E D” by Redtempa?
For me, through my eyes…the symbol of hope was the innocent smile of my daughter, my future, my hope.
What is your Symbol of Hope?
Don’t forget to visit The Gift of Art, where all proceeds go to the National Cancer Institue, to help fund cancer research, and give hope to others.