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Robert Frank Gabriel

9 Years Ago

Giving Up Realistic Street Photography Of People

Well, no I am not, but if I were I would switch to expressionism and fauvism (wild beasts of color). I would still use the same candid street photographs of people but I would artsy each image post processing it into the style of expressionism and fauvism.

Would I still hear the same old same old complaints? lol...But did you talk to the people before you took their pics, did you chat them up, did you become pals with them, did you buy them dinner, did you get model releases, did you offer them a percentage of any sales? OMG you didn't take a pic of that homeless person without first getting to know him, without first taking him home with you, feeding him, letting him take a shower, etc....

Photography Prints

By the way, if you are a photographer and transform your images into expressionism and fauvism, please show me and us...I would love to see your post processed images photographed in this artsy style. Thanks

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Val Arie

9 Years Ago

Robert why not do both??? I like how this one turned out. She is beautiful! I play around with this at times and it is much harder than it seems. Some images seem to work and others just do not. I don't have a lot of photographs but of the ones I do many are overly processed...I don't know what else to call it...Don't know if they are expressionism or fauvism. You can peek in my photography gallery if you want to see the ones I have saved.

 

Abbie Shores

9 Years Ago

It would be good if you did not keep opening new posts about your street photography without closing the old ones....how many have you got open now?

'Growl'

 

Judy Kay

9 Years Ago

I like the effect. Which editing program do you use to achieve it?

 

Robert Frank Gabriel

9 Years Ago

Abbie,
Please forgive. I am passionate about what I do. My wife claims I have an obsessive compulsive personality defect! The nerve of her...
But with this discussion I am attempting to turn it into the art methods of expressionism and fauvism as you will see (I hope).

Val,
U R quite correct. Not all images lend themselves to be recreated into expressionist/fauvist minnie masterpieces. In short, most images look yucky in this style. I marvel at how Mr. Mike Savad creates his HDR beauties. He really has a talent for it.

Seems the image has to be colorful in its original form to give it a chance to succeed in post processing, or if not colorful than extreme color has to be added along with the other post processing secrets.

I have my most success (I think) with people and buildings such as stores with colorful displays (manikins, signage, etc.). Needless to say, I have to do lots of transforming to get the most creative colors.

On a personal note, I have not been trained as an artist (I have been as a photographer). Therefore, whatever success I have in the expressionist/fauvist style is based on my observation of the truly gifted artists who used this method.

As for the photo/art editing program, I use Adobe Photoshop Elements which is basically an entry level post processing editor. I worked with Photoshop for many years (at work), but I really don't need such a complicated program for what I do. As for how I do it, I press various artsy buttons in the Elements program and when I get the desired result, I smiled and display it here, on facebook, twitter, and flickr.

I sometimes am tempted to get a more artsy, more complicated program like Photoshop, and may do so one of these days, but in the meantime I want to see if my enthusiasm stays with me for this style.

VAL,
if you or anyone else here would like to show your creations in this style, please do so. I would love to see. Thanks.

Abbie,
See, no mention of you know what, nor will there be in this discussion if it continues.

Here is an example of an expressionist image of mine that I transformed from reality. I kept the dog's head real, the rest is unreal.
Sell Art Online


 

Barry Lamont

9 Years Ago

Hi Robert.. I prefer not to pigeon hole my work with "isms" but.. Like you, I have recently taken to creating graphics from (in my case, sub-standard)photos. This is due to physical difficulties I am currently facing which restricts my ability to carve stone... so I'm stuck in front of this machine for the most part. Anyhow, I will share some my graphic design work here as a further example of what can be achieved using various editing software. Not everyone's cup of tea.. but it keeps me busy :-)

Sell Art Online Photography Prints

 

Judy Kay

9 Years Ago

Frank, I am looking for a basic photo editing editor that is not too complicated,,,Is the adobe phtoshop elements available on iMac...I don't want an overkill program either.. Do you think the basic program with apple is sufficient? I have a sony rx100m2 camera..while it is not a dslr it is considered a semi pro camera and I may want to shoot in raw format and need a program that will accommodate my needs,
I really enjoy viewing your street photos on flickr...

 

Mary Bedy

9 Years Ago

Judy, Elements, is indeed, available on Macintosh. But are you still on iMac? I'm on a MacBook and I use elements all the time. I'm still in version 9, I guess I should upgrade, but there's always a learning curve when you do that and I can't find things for a while. Not familiar with creating altered works in other programs, and I've barely scratched the surface with Elements. Nice work, everybody.

 

Robert Frank Gabriel

9 Years Ago

Judy/Mary,
I have Elements 11 on my MacBook Pro.
The really basic program with an iMac (Apple) is iPhoto. I am using iPhoto 11. This program is OK and good enough for my "straight" images most of the time. When I need more work done (especially if I am recreating a straight image into my version of expressionism) than I have to use Elements 11.

These two programs are all I need for the present time.

Here is a recent image I transformed into expressionism....I was stunned by the woman's beautiful red hair as the sun made it sparkle.
Photography Prints

 

Robert Frank Gabriel

9 Years Ago

Barry,
Thanks for showing us your images.
I have (since I first studied "art" some 50 years ago) always favored the expressionists/fauvists....emotionally "violent" wild beasts of color.

When my straight images begin to either depress me or not hold my interest (AADD), I switch to fantasy for awhile. This works for me, the process of going back and forth from reality to fantasy...

 

Amanda Jane Dalby

9 Years Ago

Judy have you looked into Photoshop Touch for iPad. It's really easy to use, and very inexpensive compared to the other packages.

 

Judy Kay

9 Years Ago

Thank you everyone...Amanda...dont have iPad...google nexus7 tablet... I have an IMAC version 10.9.4 with Mcintosh HD..I just one week ago migrated from windows xp and dell to the IMAC..thanks to a virus that took over my pc.So far happy,,,can't get used to keyboard,.,I am always off key..especially on right side..Its wireless...I am accustomed to a different type keyboard...I will look into Pixelmator and photoshop elements11 I was hoping that there was software in the mac IPHOTO to handle raw and most functions,,,There is so much overkill on most programs,but who knows,,,i may want to delve into digital art someday..Thx again everyone for your suggestions...What a community!

 

Bob VonDrachek

9 Years Ago

I do a bit of digital manipulation and I guess this one qualifies as "street photography". The street is in Jiu Fen, Taiwan captured way back in 2014 and one of my first uploads to FAA.
Photography Prints

 

Mary Bedy

9 Years Ago

Judy, I have Pixelmator too, but I don't really know how to use it.

I can relate to your keyboard thing. My work laptop has a numeric keypad to the right of the main keyboard. My macbook does not. Takes me about 15 minutes to make the transition, during which I'm constantly typing gibberish.

EDIT - I absolutely HATE i-Photo. Apple has just dropped it. I say good riddance. Just my opinion ;-).

 

Judy Kay

9 Years Ago

Apple dropped IPHOTO? I have it as my default photo editor on my IMAC. What are they replacing it with? I hear you Mary about the "don't know how to use it"..I downloaded some editors when I had the xp system,,,,There was so many features and tools I didn't know where to start,,,,I just want a good editor,,,One that will process raw files in case I start using that feature on my new camera, convert files if necessary... add filters and effects and help me develop my photos to their utmost potential,,, I may have to hook up my other keyboard that I had with dell,,I used it from 2003 and loved it,,,I have not hit a correct key yet with the apple keyboard,, my fingers are aways off key ..I can type 90 wpm +..except on this keyboard,

 

Stanislav Killer

9 Years Ago

its street , tho staged, and its expressionistic (free colors and forms)

Ollie Photograph by Stanislav Killer



enjoy !

 

Abbie Shores

9 Years Ago

They are using the normal photos now, which Apple has extended.

 

Margaret Saheed

9 Years Ago

I believe that Yosemite may come out next month. I use iPhoto and as Philip said Aperture and iPhoto will be discontinued, but Photos will not be launched for about six months. This is one of the references I looked at.

http://www.imore.com/photos-os-x-yosemite-explained

I hope this is helpful for you Judy. Meanwhile just keep using IPhoto!

 

Judy Kay

9 Years Ago

Thx for the updates and reference links. I am glad they are coming up with a better editor. I am also evaluating Pixelmator and Elements11..

 

Margaret Saheed

9 Years Ago

I saw that too Philip and will have to get iCloud for when Photos comes out.

Robert, I use PSE8 for some basic manipulation like 'painting'.

Art Prints

 

This discussion is closed.