Golden grass catching the sunrise

[Shortsighted]

When I arrived at Tommy Thompson this morning the sun had not yet risen, still wrestling with the horizon for dominion because boundaries are hard to cross, but when it did triumph all red with fury, then climbed to a respectable height, the tall amber-coloured grasses next to the narrow trail reflected that golden glow and felt like a caress to the back of my outstretched hand as I walked along.  I had to stop and photograph that delicate grass because I figured that I could process the image in a fanciful manner to better reflect the impression that it had on me.  A straight photo wouldn't suffice because of all the depth-of-field issues.  I used some art filters to capture the impressionist memory of the sight.  I was thus moved by grass.  Is that a tick I see?





 

[Dr. John]

Interesting filter.  A bit Van Gogh-y.

[Shortsighted]

Actually Doc, I utilized several filters in succession.  It's funny referring to you as Doc because I'm used to people using that moniker on me.  Anyway, the beauty of filters in the digital realm is that they can create an image somewhat analogous to the picture I had in my head, as if I were a painter with impressionist inclinations.  I've always been partial to that period.  I doubt whether Van Gogh would be flattered by the term Van Gogh-y, especially since it could easily be abused through transformation to Van Googey, when one considers the thickness of his paint.

I've previously commented on the magic that filters deliver by removing extraneous detail from a photograph, thus cajoling it in the direction of a rendering with a dearth of realistic detail and more emotional content that might be free to soar.  I only have my mental image to go by and just recruit whatever filter gets me there.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  One other photo I took of a path through a dark tunnel of foliage with a bright lacuna at the end of the tunnel intrigued me but didn't work as a pure photo, whether colour or B&W.  I tried filters on that photo but I didn't get anywhere with that approach.  Knowing the possibilities of digital filters lets me take more experimental photos that I am attracted to but that I could easily reject for intellectual, or technical reasons, but remain an outlet when I know that filters might shape it into something interesting.  It's like photographing with your heart instead of your head.  I'm pleased that you see something in it too.  Unless, of course, you were merely being sarcastic.  Van Gogh-y indeed.

[Dr. John]

No I wasn't being sarcastic.  I like the textures the filters bring to the photos, particularly the first one.  I also love Van Gogh and particularly like seeing his paintings in-person because you can really see the thickness of the paint in 3-D.  It is wonderful to look at one of his landscapes from an extreme angle to appreciate the almost landscape of paint ridges.

[Shortsighted]

I quite agree regarding the sculptured paint technique of Van Gogh.  The relief of the paint reflects light more unpredictably than a thinner application would achieve.  In general, the impressionists worked with paint with utter conviction, whether sculptured onto the canvas, or just smeared in a dynamic fashion, or layered to create a exciting statement of the sublime nature of things, as with Turner's interpretations.
I much prefer using digital filters than drugs to get funky.  Those that can do ... paint.  Those that can't paint ... take pictures and bend them into unreality.  An unreality that manages to be closer to the mind's version of reality than reality itself.  There are just too many distractions in a day to get creative, but a day without any creativity is a tragedy than most people endure without conscience.