Around The Bend…

Tags

art, country art, farmhouse, farmhouse art, farmhouse decor, forest, hiking, lush, mirror image, nature, nature art, nature lover, nature photography, nature prints, rustic art, rustic decor, sharon cummings art, tall trees, traditional art, trees, walking, wooden bridge, woods, woody

A beautiful walk through nature on a wooden bridge. Breath in the fresh air….ahhhhhh

SEE MORE HERE!

Here Comes The Sun…

Tags

beach sunflower, botanical prints, daisies, daisy, floral, floral prints, flower, garden, gardening, nature, nature photography, photography, photos, pretty flowers, sharon cummings, sun, sun flower, sunflower, weeds, wild flowers, wildflowers, yellow, yellow daisy, yellow flower

 

And I say…It’s alright!  After 2 days of dark, wet and windy weather, I welcome the sun today with open arms. We are having unseasonably rainy and cooler temperatures here in Florida.  May is usually hot.  Just hot.  But the rains have started early.  I just hope this isn’t a premonition for Hurricane Season.  Let me worship the sun while I can!

…. ..

..

…. ……   ….

….

.     …..   . .. . …

…. ..

. …..

. .

Gerald Marella Patience To Perfection Photographer

Tags

art, Artist, bird, birds, buy prints, eagles, feathers, fine art america, floral, flowers, Gerald Marella, landscapes, nature, nature photography, nature prints, owls, patience, photographer, photographs, photography, photos, professional photographer, scenic photography, selling prints, skill

I’ve always envied people with a lot of patience.  When I take photos, I just randomly snap whatever catches my eye.  This is not the case for Gerald Marella.  When I was first introduced to him and his work, I could tell that he was different.  He was certainly interactive in our social media group, but it was obvious that his heart and mind were always on his craft.  He made excuses for absences sometimes, but there was really no need.  His work shows where he spends his time and the results are utter perfection.

I recently asked Gerald the same questions I have been asking other photographers I am featuring.  Here are his responses:

What inspires your works?  I love being there.  When I’m out photographing I try to become invisible. That can take time and patience, but if I can become part of the landscape a lot more natural behavior happens around me. Even when photographing eagles in an area where they aren’t habituated, it takes time to become ignored as part of the environment.  Getting to that point and capturing a good photograph is very satisfying.

Which of your photographs is your favorite?  I’d have to say the Barred Owl. It took a while to get to the point where the owl didn’t mind my presence. After that I was able to slow down, watch, and photograph the owl in a natural pose. I was careful to be respectful of it’s space and back off if it became too aware of my distance.http://fineartamerica.com/featured/barred-owl-portrait-1-gerald-marella.html

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/bald-eagle-over-ice-gerald-marella.html

Is there a photographer you relate to? And why?  I don’t know if relate is the right word, but Thomas Mangelsen’s work is amazing.  When I see his nature photos I see some similarities in style.

Do you ever feel like giving up?  I’ve never wanted to “give up”, but there are days when I think that I shouldn’t be allowed to own a camera.  That’s when I know I need a break.

How long have you been taking photos?  For many years, but for the past 15 or so with my focus on nature.

What’s the best thing about being a photographer?  I love the process.  Being out trying to become part of an environment and attempting to capture a photo that reflects a moment in time as if no one was there to see it.

What’s the worst thing about being an photographer?  The equipment can be heavy to lug around. I always use a tripod and for small creatures a long lens is necessary.

Is there a purpose to your photography?  I’m very literal. When I see a subject that I’d like to capture, I like the result to be an accurate portrayal of what I was seeing. That can be a tack sharp stop action, or the blur of a running animal. When I get the right result I feel that I’ve captured a second in time that will never be captured exactly the same way again.

How do you feel when people interpret your photos differently?  I feel great! When people interpret a photo differently it means that they’re emotionally involved in the moment of capture as if they were there when it happened.

What advice do you have for aspiring photographers?  Learn the mechanical and technical functions of your camera. You can’t effectively portray the emotion of the moment if you don’t know how your camera settings will manage the light and background. And, don’t accept OK. Your vision and style will change over time.

You can view more of Gerald’s amazing work here:

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/gerald-marella.html?tab=artwork

Unexpected Beauty….

Tags

art, Artist, beauty, faabest, flower, flowers, gift, lotus, mediation, nature, nature photography, photo, photograph, photography, sharon cummings, Shopping, tranquility, travel, vacation

I have been so busy lately with painting commissions and creating new work that I have neglected my photography. I always have my trusty Canon PowerShot with me everywhere I go (I am on my 5th one as I buy new models as they come out!). Snapping anything that catches my eye and delighting in the journey. Combing through the masses of photos, I found this gem the other day. I remember the day very well. I was on vacation with my husband and we stopped at an outlet mall. The buildings were typical and a bit run down. It was an older mall, but there was a store my husband wanted to go into. The weather was perfect so I decided to wait outside for him to do his shopping. I found this lovely little koi pond in the middle of the dirty grounds. I marveled at the fish and their fluid like movement when I spotted a lone lotus. A beacon of beauty…

Learn more here:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/tranquility-lotus-flower-koi-pond-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html