Moorish Beauty…

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architectural, downtown tampa, moorish, photo, photograph, photographer, photography, photos, sharon cummings, sharon cummings art, tampa, tampa bay, tampa fl, tampa florida, the university of tampa, university of tampa

If you find yourself in Tampa, Florida and want to see some beauty, head downtown and check out The University of Tampa. The Moorish architecture is breathtaking!

GET IT HERE!

S.I.Z.E. Does Matter!!

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Artist, cacti, cactus, cactus flower, D7000, desert, garden, gardens, learning, learning photography, macro lens, macro photography, new mexico, Nikon, Nikon D7000, photographer, photography, photography basics, plants, prime lens, sedona, sharon cummings, southwest, southwestern, southwestern decor, succulents

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/cactus-flower-1-sharon-cummings.html

Macro photography seems to be all the rage these days on online fine art sites.  And let me tell you, there are some really stunning images that I could only dream of creating quality wise.  But everyone knows I am a dreamer…..so I am going to see what I can do with my creative eye and my new Nikon D7000 with a fixed macro lens.  Thanks to a photographer friend, I also have a mono-pod on order which should be here tomorrow.  She explained that it helps with stability and better image quality.

I am not a professional photography by any definition and I have always been a point and shoot kind of gal.  I am not a person of patience….and have always enjoyed the quick fleeting shots.  I like photographing things that move and sway.  Things that disappear. Macro photography takes a certain amount of patience and diligence that I know I will find extremely challenging, but I am up for it!

I am not new to photography in anyway including macro, but it has always been more of a hobby for me.  I will be the first to admit that I do not fully understand all of the jargon…ISO….white balance…shutter speed…..depth of field, etc.  These are things I am going to learn.  

The image above was taken about 5 years ago with my Nikon D50.  I loved that camera and the zoom lens with macro capabilities was perfect for my fast moving brain.  I have sold a lot of artwork and photos with that little gem including this cactus flower here.  It took really nice photographs.  

Getting used to a Prime Lens (fixed without zooming capabilities) is my first challenge.  When I first assembled it and started shooting there was much frustration and angst.  My photography buddy had to walk away….lol.  Change is hard.

So here I am a professional painter and hobbyist photographer diving into the complex, challening and detailed world of macro photography for real.   Wish me luck!

My first offering with the new equipment:

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/baby-cactus-macro-photography-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

New Year New Friends

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art, Artist, Fine Art, fine art photography, friends, friendship, human interest, jo anne tomaselli, landscapes, life, nature, people, photographer, photography, portrait, portraits, portraiture

I am heading out today with my husband to meet a new friend that I have been getting to know online through Fine Art America.  I am excited to meet her!  Her name is Jo Anne Tomaselli and I have enjoyed viewing and promoting her photography for the past few months.  We plan on shooting some photos together today (weather permitting)…….So while I am away…..check out her work!  I am especially fond of her portrait work. 🙂

 

Click on this link to see more of Jo Anne’s work:  http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/jo-ann-tomaselli.html

Had a great time today! Thank you Jo Anne….looking forward to seeing you guys in April too!

Passionate Photography by Zina Zinchik

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art, Artist, beach, buy prints, camera, camera lens, emotional, fine art america, Music, ocean, photographer, photographs, photography, photos, pictures, prints, red dress, romantic, stunning photography, wolf, women, Zina Zinchik

 

Many people these days take pretty pictures.  Digital photography makes it easier and easier to get stunning imagery. However, most of these attractive photos do not create an emotion or make you think.  True art comes from a technical aspect and even more so from a great eye and heart.  Zina Zinchik is one artist who has both of these qualities.  When I look at her work I can “feel” the emotion behind it.  I can see that she is meticulous at setting up her shots, but also that she makes a story as she does so.

I caught up with Zina recently to learn more about her work.  Here are her answers:

What inspires your works? Photography for me opened the doors to share my fantasies, my anxieties and my emotions with people. 

Which of your photographs is your favorite? My favorite is Night Sonata which was taken quite a few years ago. This image comes directly from the camera with just minor adjustments in post-processing and it took very precise calculations of time and angles to get the picture just right. The musition is part of holidays window display at Bergdorf and Goodman and trees reflections comes from the park across the street. 
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/night-sonata-zina-zinchik.html 

Is there a photographer you relate to? And why? I am self-taught — started to learn craft of photography from online forums and discussions and it hard for me to pin-point the names. But if I must I would say that my biggest inspirations are coming from works of Annie Leibovitz and Peter Lindbergh. 

Do you ever feel like giving up? Not yet… So far the universe has been very kind to me, giving me support just when I needed it the most. 

How long have you been taking photos? 11 years for me. 

What’s the best thing about being a photographer? Being able to open hidden beauty and show another dimensions of every day objects. 

What’s the worst thing about being an photographer? Having to choose the best frame out of hundreds. 

Is there a purpose to your photography? Open another world to the viewers and stop time forever. 

How do you feel when people interpret your photos differently? We all are different and I am delighted when someone finds another meaning in my photographs, for me it means that picture ‘hit the spot’ for someone else. 

What advice do you have for aspiring photographers? Don’t afraid to experiment and push your limits. 

 

You can see more of Zina’s amazing work here:

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/zina-seletskaya.html

Gerald Marella Patience To Perfection Photographer

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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

We Do Not Forget…

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911, art, Artist, city, landscape, new york, new york city, photo, photographer, photography, planes, remembrance, September 11, September 11th, sharon cummings, terrorism, terrorist attack, towers, twin towers, United States, us, usa

It is interesting (and tragic) that human minds can remember horrors in such vivid detail….I was at a local Mall doing Senior Mall walks for UCH Hospital….We had not even finished our first lap when someone came by and said a plane had hit a building in NY. I remember thinking it must have been a small plane that got off course somehow and that it was terrible. Then someone else came by at a very fast pace and said that two had gotten hit. I instinctively knew this was no accident. I ran to my car to turn on the radio….as I listened…long before we knew what actually happened…in my gut I knew it was really bad…I just wanted my child (she was in kindergarten at the time)….so I rushed to her school to get her…me and 1000 other parents frantic to find our kids…One of the most poignant moments for me was when we all took our kids back to school a few days later…one of my daughter’s friends was Muslim….me and her Mom chatted often….when we got there, I spotted her…she was not wearing her head coverings…her husband had told her not to because he was afraid she would be targeted for violence…we just hugged and wept….I wept for all of the victim’s families and friends…I wept for innocence lost….and I wept for everyone who had to hide their beliefs for fear of violence.

 

Deb Benoit Florida Fresh Photography

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animals, art, Artist, artwork, beach, beaches, benoit, birds, bradenton, buy art, buy prints, daytona beach, deborah benoit, florida, hawks, miami, nature, ocean, pelicans, photographer, photographs, photography, photos, sarasota, sea

I have had the great opportunity to see some amazing artwork and photography since I started participating in groups on Fine Art America.  One shining star from my interactions is Florida photographer Deborah Benoit.  Being a native Sunshine State girl it was such a delight to find her fresh Florida photography.  I can relate to her images for sure, but it is more than that.  She captures the moments and then makes them shine.  Her work draws the viewer in.  You feel as if you are “there”.

I caught up with Deb recently to ask her to share some insight into what moves here.  She answered these questions for us:

What inspires your works? 
Nature is a big inspiration to me. I feel it is important to everyone`s life.
Which of your photographs is your favorite? 
Wildlife, especially birds for some reason are my favorite. I do not have one single favorite.
Do you ever feel like giving up? 
I do have moments when I feel like giving up, but it never lasts long. The best part about photography is you never know what you are going to see.
How long have you been taking photos?
I started in 2006 I think. I bought a Canon XTI and started taking pictures. I was not very good in the beginning and still feel that I have a lot of work to do. My weekends are spent going out and shooting when the weather permits so that I can keep perfecting my craft.
What’s the best thing about being a photographer? 
Being out in nature to me is one the best things. Also having people comment and enjoy my work is another nice thing about being a photographer.
What’s the worst thing about being an photographer? 
I am not able to come up with a worst thing other  the cost of equipment.
Is there a purpose to your photography?
My purpose is to have people see things through my eyes. To show the beauty in this world and how amazing it is.
How do you feel when people interpret your photos differently? 
Everyone sees things differently so to me I am fine with that. I do what I do for me and if someone else likes what they see then that makes me happy.
What advice do you have for aspiring photographers? 
Go out and shoot and never give up. practice, practice, practice.

You can enjoy Deborah’s extensive portfolio below.  Please have a look at all of the wonders she has to share!

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/deborah-benoit.html

Beer and Bears….

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art, bar, bears, beer, Beverage, chocolate, clowns, coffee, coffee shop, Collecting, funny, happy, happy hour, home brewing, photographer, photographs, photography, Recreation, Shopping, sock monkey, story telling, Stuffed toy, Teddy bear, teddy bears, Toys, United States, whimsical, wine, wine advocate, wine bar

I’ve always loved art and photography that combines contradicting images into a believable finished product. I also love work that “tells a story”. I discovered this great photographer and creator named William Patrick recently. William’s photography work combines imagery for the child and adult in all of us. Some photos tell a sad story….some make you laugh. And some you can totally relate to (i.e. Allegory Of The Coffee Drinker). You will find teddy bears, clowns, angels, sock monkeys and more involved in a variety of activities. Wine, Beer, Vodka, Espresso, Coffee….all of the food groups!  Oh and chocolate! He does heavenly things with chocolate. 🙂 Enjoy more of his work here:  http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/william-patrick.html