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The Art of Communicating

"I consider great photography visual poetry. Each element that makes up the picture communicates something invaluable to us...beauty, loneliness, joy-just like art, poetry and music."


I've always been intrigued with those things that inspire great music, movies, photographs, paintings, etc.

I like to understand what the artist was thinking and feeling with they produced their work. What motivated them to produce it.

For example--I enjoy "Arms of An Angel" by Sarah McLachlan. Many of us interpret it to be a spiritual song about angelic beings, etc. However--she wrote the song about the death of a fellow musician from drug addiction.

In spite of what inspired her to write such an emotionally powerful song--all of us interpret what it means to us. She's ok with that.

That's what good art does--allows the viewer or listener to make that piece theirs--to own it in such a way that you "feel" something from it.

Just as a good poem conjures up emotions--I think of Edgar Allen Poes' Annebelle Lee--good photography creates "visual poetry". Each element that makes up the picture communicates something invaluable to us--beauty, loneliness, joy--just like art, poetry and music.

And photography--just like most artists--just happens. Inspiration to photograph something doesn't just make us go out and find something (although I did hike ten miles in Colorado once just to get a shot of an aspen tree--which almost killed me!).

But what it does take, in my opinion--is a "poet's eye". Just like great movie directors and cinematographers--the Annie Liebowitz's have a certain knack/style that creates beautiful images.

This is one reason I decided to start Artisan Photo Services and Artisan Photo Sentiments. How often have you taken a really great photo and wanted to frame it? What's more--what if you wanted to make it look it's best and enlarge it? Then add a special "sentiment" or message on it for a loved one?

That's the concept of offering services to take your precious photo's and make them Wow!

Today's technology allows us to manipulate lighting, color, all sorts of enhancements to make things appear different that they really are.

Years ago--Walt Disney experimented with filming animation cells by stacking three layers of plate glass--each separated from each other and containing different animation drawings.

By filming downward and arranging the plates to produce a 3-d effect--Walt Disney gave animation more depth and realism.

Thus with photography--to create illusions of whatever that makes us respond...feel...react.

Sometimes I enjoy sitting in my office--just staring a scenic photo (like the one above) as it takes me to my "happy" place. I can see myself reaching down and taking a handful of cold river water!

Years ago at Irishfest in Crown Center in Kansas City--I saw a black and white print of an Irish cemetery that captured my imagination. It was very memorable--and looking back--I wish i would have bought a print of it. There was just something about the lighting, contrast and symbolism that struck a note with me.

So, make the most of your photo shoots and if you need help in creating that masterpiece, CLICK HERE and check out VerlinStudios and our Artisan Photo Services.

And if you need great advertising idea's and tips--GO HERE to our advertising site and get a FREE twelve month subscription to our Marketing & Business Update eNewsletter.

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