Tag Archives: art photography

Photography, Weekly Photo Challenge

Wrist Jewelry Photo Challenge

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I run a weekly photography challenge group and this week’s challenge is wrist jewelry photography. Things have been a bit crazy for me, so I had to whip an image out fast. I like to use an example for people to see, so I had to have something. I found this old bracelet and did some experimenting with it.

Our Wisteria bush is blooming like crazy this year, so I thought I would use it as a background. I originally planned on just taking photos of the bracelet. But thought I’d do a quick pic with it on my arm.

This is the original image, before any work.
I applied a filter
The bracelet before I added the purple color
Selective color purple image.
The stones are now purple and really stand out. 

In order to change the color of the stones, I used hue/saturation in Photoshop. The color desaturation is done using a black and white layer with masks.

Feel free to share your own wrist jewelry images in the comments or share your link!

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Photography

I went to NYC and did a thing

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I had 2 pieces in a juried exhibition at the Salmagundi Club. So, we took the train up to NYC. Read about the trip up here. Once in New York, we ate and drank and walked. The walking was probably a sad thing to watch really. I was having back spasms and the mister had a cold. We did not take the town by storm. But we did have a good time. The reception for the show was packed. It was exciting for me to see my work on the wall with so many other beautiful pieces. 

Dinner

Before the show, we went to Burger and Lobster for dinner.  The service was excellent. I also had the best Dark and Stormy ever. We both got lobster rolls and were fat and happy when we left.

Artist’s Reception

When we got to the Salmagundi Club, we noticed a long line for the coat check. There is a restaurant in the club, so we thought it might be for that. Nope. Turns out all of these people were there for the show! We made our way to the gallery, where we found this.

We made our way to where my pieces were and took a few quick pics before the crowd swept us around to see the rest of the show. 

  • They looked great in this spot!
  • There were so many people, it was difficult to get a good pic without somebody’s head in there.

We made it back home, despite the fact that we almost missed our stop on the way home. But that’s another story.  

Photography, Weekly Photo Challenge

Challenge Yourself Part 2

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I recently did a post on the importance of challenging yourself to stay inspired and boost creativity. I ended with images from a pocket watch challenge, which led me to a book challenge.

Book Challenge

The book challenge became an Open Book Challenge.

Photography and Motion Pictures by Sharon Popek
A page from an early history of technology book, discussing photography
The Clothing We Wear by Sharon Popek
A collage featuring an image from a shop window and chapter about clothing.

What’s Next?

These are images I worked on this week for my open book challenge. I feel like there is more to pursue here. So, I will be doing more of these. I like the idea of featuring images that pertain to the book’s subject matter. This is why I try to continue to challenge myself. It always leads to something new and inspiring. 

I would love to see your own challenges and inspirations! Share your links in the comments!

Photography, Year End

First and Last Images of 2018

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At the end of 2017, I wrote a blog about my first and last images of the year.  I thought I would do the same this year. It’s a great way to see where I’ve been and if I have gotten better or worse or about the same.

The first image I uploaded in 2018. I love fantasy books and art. I have been attempting to create some of my own. Silver keys hang from an overgrown vine, just waiting to be plucked. It has the feel of a dream.

The Key to Fantasy.

The last image uploaded in 2018. This started out as an image created for a stripes image challenge. But it turned out to be more about the hands. I see a series of hands coming soon. 

Hands.


Be sure to share your own 2018 retrospectives in the comments! Feedback is also welcome.

All images are available as prints. If you click on the image, it will take you directly to my shop. 

Photography

Doorways

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A favorite subject for many photographers is doorways. I am no exception. Is because they offer a sense of the unknown? What’s on the other side? What will you find if you enter? What might come out? Small town doors, big city doors, wood doors, glass doors, they all fascinate me. Enjoy this gallery of doorways.

Empty Shops in Williamsburg, KY.
2 empty shops side by side in Williamsburg, Kentucky. 
The Medical Arts Building Door in Knoxville, TN.
The entrance to the Medical Arts Building in downtown Knoxville, TN. 
Revolving door in the Empire State Building.
A gold revolving door to the Empire State Building in New York City.
Tiffany & Co. Doorway
Entrance to Tiffany & Co. in New York City.
Woodworker in downtown Berea, KY.
Downtown Berea, KY. 
Photography, Signs

Saturday Signs

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I don’t know why people are so fascinated by signs. But most people I know seem drawn to them. Especially if they are old or vintage. When I travel, I find myself drawn to them. Whether it’s a shop sign, a large sign, a small sign, or a road sign. I will take a photo of it. Some signs tell a story, a history of its location. Even if its just a one word sign, the color and shape can say a great deal about the shop or restaurant or even the area in general.

Maybe people are drawn to a certain sign because it’s got a place in their memory. Maybe they drove by that sign on the way to school every day. Or maybe it represents a happy memory of weekend trips to town.

Americana Signs

The still hanging sign on the very closed Tallassee Store in Tennessee.
I love this Puckett’s sign. A guitar at the top and a fork at the bottom. Food and music, the best combination.
Drugstore sign in Williamsburg, KY.
The sign for the Noshville Delicatessen in Midtown Nashville, TN.
There has been a funeral home at this location in Loudon since 1916. It is currently owned and run by the McGill family
Glyndon Hotel Sign is a cool old sign on a hotel with a rich history in Richmond, KY
The JFG Building in Old City section of Knoxville, TN. I’ve aged and toned it to give it a true vintage feel.
An old cafe sign I found in an alley in Nicholasville, KY.
Bijou Sign vintage style Grungy has a Topaz filter, texture, and some toning work
A simple sign in downtown Murfreesboro, TN. But eye catching with the dark blue against the light metal. A very vintage feel.
The sign is still visible from the C.W. Harvey Grocery store in downtown Lenoir City. The ghosts of yesteryear.
City Glass & Mirror is located in downtown Clinton, TN. Faded and chipped but still readable the sign drew my eye.
Hoskins restaurant sign
Comic Life
Lays sign
Laughing Jackalope
Keeton’s Jewelers sign. I have a thing for clocks on signs. This is a favorite of mine.
Aunt Sarah’s Pancake House
Oliver Hotel Sign
Jellico Motel and Restaurant sign. Memories of Americana and road travel in its hay day.
The Mighty Tennessee
Smith’s Restaurant in Lancaster, KY

Signs from Around the World

Some signs don’t need to say anything
Graffiti in Dublin, Ireland
Vienna Ice Cream
Pub
Aro Souvenir
Restaurant & Cafe
Chairs and Sofas
Railway Station
Bar & Beer Sign
People walk down the street in Havana, Cuba
Cine Yara
Bar Floridita in Cuba

Photography

Different Is Not Wrong

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I recently had the chance to enter a local photography competition. The theme was the human element in black and white. The only two rules were that it had to be black and white and have only one person in it. If you have seen my portfolio, you know that quite a bit of my work is dedicated to street photography. I was torn between entering a photo representing what I do best or trying to do something different. I decided to leave my comfort zone.

Embarrassment

I do try to hide my legs because of the fact that I no longer shave them. I get angry with myself for not just owning it. I mean,  I shouldn’t be doing it, if I’m going to be ashamed of it, right? And it’s not that I worry about people making fun of me. I don’t really care about that. But I know that it does gross some people out. I don’t blame them for that. It’s outside of their scope. We’ve been told that smooth women are sexy and clean. If they aren’t smooth everywhere, then they are dirty.  The hair on my legs is course and thick. I had to use that horrible hair removal stuff that stinks and itches. Shaving too me ages and I would go through razor blades like cookies. So, I decided I just was not going to do it anymore. It’s been two years.

Those are my legs (I’m a woman). No, I don’t shave anymore. Because I don’t want to. Also, I was dancing a little to create that movement.
When it’s time to rest my feet, it’s time to sit.
My right foot leads. My toes are long and my legs are hairy.

Something Different

I entered “De Feet” into the Human Element competition. When I got there to drop off my image, I felt weird. I knew that people would ask who the model is. Most people thought it was a man’s legs in a skirt. Then the other photos were mostly portraits or street photography and they were amazing. I got a little angry with myself. The part that hates myself was berating, “why do you always get it wrong?!” But the part that loves myself, the one that’s been fighting to get out for years, said, “different isn’t wrong, dammit.”

Different isn’t wrong

And that is true. I won 5th place out of 28 entries, not bad for an image so different from the others. I had several people tell they love it. Although, one person said she loves it, but still “wants to shave them legs.”

Photography

How would it look?

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A new gallery with some of my images in living spaces. Ever wonder what it would look like on the wall? I used an extension for Photoshop created by Giovanni Allievi. Visit his page and check out his work and if you can purchase the extension there as well.

A gallery of travel maps in place

They look great in these spaces. The soft, muted tones look great on dark walls or light. Did you know that you can purchase my prints already framed? It makes  decorating so much easier.

A photo of the Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest is composited with an antique map of Budapest
A composite map of Budapest with an antique map and a recent photo of the Budapest Parliament Building
A photo of the iconic London Red phone booth is composited with an antique map of London and a modern map of the Underground.
Great for a long skinny space. Like over a door or window or even a fireplace!
An antique map of Bohemia, an antique drawing of the city, and a modern photo of the old city skyline make up this cool travel map.

Some more of my favorites

Food art for the kitchen. Or travel photography from central Europe.  Check out my Americana gallery for images of American cities and towns.

 

Buskin on the Danube
Buick 8
Buick 8 front end
Polish Market Meat
Krakow Nights
White dogwood blossoms in the spring are a favorite in East Tennessee

 

Photography

Camera Art

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In the winter, I struggle to find things to photograph. I was recently cleaning out my office, see my goals for 2018 and found these old cameras. They seemed like the perfect subject matter for a quick still life photo shoot.

Holga Memories

I bought the Holga 120s for $12 in 1991 while in college. My favorite thing about the Holga was the vignette and the unpredictable light leaks. The photos always put me in mind of the early days of photography and felt nostalgic to me. Seeing it again made me want to go out and make some of those type of photos. I managed to scrounge up some of those old photos.

The Pacific Science Center in Seattle, WA.
A photo taken in the early ’90s. It feels dreamy and surreal.

Olympus OM-1

This was the 35mm film camera that I used when I Pentax K-1000 got stolen. I loved that Pentax, too. The Olympus and I did fine. But I don’t miss it much.

An old Olympus OM-1 35mm film camera sits atop a cool, old make up case.
An old Holga 120s film camera, covered in dust and memories
A vintage Holga 120S and an old Sekonic light meter rest in an old make up case.

An old Olympus OM-1 35mm film camera sits atop a cool, old make up case.
A vintage Holga 120S and an old Sekonic light meter rest in an old make up case.
An old Holga 120s film camera, covered in dust and memories

I can’t decide which I like better, the black and white or the color versions. What’s your opinion?

Prints are available here.

 

To see vintage camera art by other artists, click here.