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Published: 2009-04-29 14:12:44 +0000 UTC; Views: 17412; Favourites: 865; Downloads: 651
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Description
Sunset At The Old TreeOne of my biggest influences in art, without question, is English romantic landscape master painter J.W. Turner I discovered him while studying at art college, and I fell in love with his work. When the traveling Great Masters of Art show landed in Denver at the museum, I almost slept out for tickets, knowing that among Rubens and Van Dyck, Turners work would be there. There is nothing like seeing Turners work in person, nothing. It is simply stunning and inspiring and very motivational.
So, I suppose without question that you could certainly say that whole shot was inspired by him. I wanted a shot that would really reflect the influence he has had on me as an artist and as a photographer specifically. My painting style goes without question, but trying to capture a photograph in teh same style as a master landscape painter is a different beast entirely.
Did I succeed? You be the judge.
About the photograph itself:
Captured on the northern Colorado plains on an old country road, the old tree, though long and dead, seems to almost still hold some life as the sky paints the end of the day slowly falling behind the Colorado Rockies.
Processed in Lightroom, Dynamic Photo HDR and final output through Photoshop.
I hope you all like it!
John
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Comments: 145
Yuugata [2009-05-11 19:57:34 +0000 UTC]
Amazing!
I really like the mood, it's spooky and beautiful.
The colors are very nightmearish.
The tree is my favourite part, I love trees.
And it sure does look like a painting.
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kkart In reply to Yuugata [2009-05-13 14:14:36 +0000 UTC]
Well thank ever so kindly, I agree, with what ya have said
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FuriousEnnui [2009-05-10 08:11:02 +0000 UTC]
Turner has always been one of my favourites. The Impressionists may have said they were all about the light, but they should have learnt from Turner. He was so muh better. He even pre-dated Fauvism with works like "Rain, Steam and Speed" by a goodly margin.
My only issue with this image is the light coloured rock in the lower left that seems to take the eye away from the meat of the work.
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EmilyKPhotography [2009-05-09 00:40:24 +0000 UTC]
featured in my journal !!
if you do not wish to have your works featured, please note me and i will remove it.
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kkart In reply to EmilyKPhotography [2009-05-09 14:05:33 +0000 UTC]
heh thanks Birthday girl!
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justeline In reply to ??? [2009-05-05 09:38:05 +0000 UTC]
It definitely looks like a painting John! A great painting, very dramatic and very powerful!
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stetre76 In reply to ??? [2009-05-04 12:09:26 +0000 UTC]
spectacular view John.
the sky with the black clouds looks great and the setting sun to the left is a nice contrast!
pretty well captured i'd say
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kkart In reply to stetre76 [2009-05-04 14:54:33 +0000 UTC]
Thank you! Experimenting with a B&W version now
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LeashaAHooker In reply to ??? [2009-05-03 03:55:00 +0000 UTC]
Hi John! This wonderful work of art has been featured in my Journal here [link]
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noobkilljoy In reply to ??? [2009-05-02 03:43:56 +0000 UTC]
Amazing. Colours are brilliant and the whole mood of the picture just works fantastically.
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ladyrapid [2009-05-01 15:02:22 +0000 UTC]
Really dig this one John, love the harsh/crashy look you got going here. The low colors works in a great way.
Nice capture!
(/rob
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FreakyFeline In reply to ??? [2009-05-01 11:13:59 +0000 UTC]
amazing effect!! so picturesque ^^
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TerraRhapsody In reply to ??? [2009-05-01 09:45:46 +0000 UTC]
A wonderful piece. fantastic details and colours
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K-Boyd-Photography [2009-04-30 23:48:07 +0000 UTC]
Positively smouldering and very Turner-esque! Absolutely beautiful, the colours are wonderful
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Secular [2009-04-30 13:55:25 +0000 UTC]
Turner is amazing yes... Friedrich also, different style, but your photograph remind me of him a bit...
Very good work
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yamiyalo [2009-04-30 13:22:44 +0000 UTC]
wow this is just great love the colors and the composition the tree to the left and the fence to the right leading to the tree and then the sky is just magnificent
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tonyarama [2009-04-30 13:18:50 +0000 UTC]
Oooh! It looks so stormy.
This photo hold a lot of drama it almost forbidding.
I love it!
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kkart In reply to Fensphol [2009-04-30 12:53:27 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! ~don't but why you linked to my homepage, but thank you for the compliments on my work ~
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papertigress [2009-04-30 10:35:42 +0000 UTC]
I do see the Turner reference definitly, this is beautiful, I love the colors.
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kkart In reply to papertigress [2009-05-02 16:58:51 +0000 UTC]
Thanks sweetheart! hehehhe how is your weekend going?
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sunkissed-Tuesday [2009-04-30 09:06:15 +0000 UTC]
I don't feel that a photo could ever replace a painting. There is that element of sweat and grime that is missing from photographs that are quite evident in paintings of any kind.
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kkart In reply to sunkissed-Tuesday [2009-04-30 12:51:48 +0000 UTC]
And I don't think a painting could ever replace a photograph either They are separate mediums, each with it's own merit, however that being said, I certainly do believe that one can transfer what they have learned to the other, quite easily at that too. I know I certainly do and have, on both accords.
As far as the element of sweat and grime missing from a photograph, I think one could also say the same for painting, it is the element of getting up at 4am to drive 100 miles, to be at a great location, completely lost in nature, waiting for the exact moment of perfect light.
One medium is not greater than the other medium, both require years of dedication and training, art is art, mediums are just the name of the Conte Crayon it is all drawn in
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sunkissed-Tuesday In reply to kkart [2009-05-01 05:01:20 +0000 UTC]
interesting, here in Montana there is almost a site just the same as in your photo no less than 100 miles from here. but you said it. the key concept... "waiting for the ext moment of perfect light." my apologies. some people just point and click.
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kkart In reply to sunkissed-Tuesday [2009-05-01 16:59:56 +0000 UTC]
heh ya, I know they do, no offense taken by any means, funny thing is, most aren't even aware on here that I paint lol I only showed my fine art & illustration right after I joined DA over 5 years ago, and then figured I would use it for photography. I don't even have any of it up online anywhere anymore...I adore acrylics, oils, and Tempera reliefs...but damn the cost of Oils and all their cads is a killer lol
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kkart In reply to yamiyalo [2009-04-30 16:44:29 +0000 UTC]
Thanks, it's nice when I can speak from complete experience with both mediums, hell my French Easel is right next to my desk here lol
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yamiyalo In reply to kkart [2009-05-01 11:47:24 +0000 UTC]
I did not even know you painted until this picture. I do feel the to can be used together and balance each other out in the way that one can compliment the other.
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kkart In reply to yamiyalo [2009-05-01 17:01:11 +0000 UTC]
Most haven't any idea on here that I do, but my BFA is in Illustration with minors in Fine Art...heh I love painting! Maybe one day I will upload some of it, I do have a watercolor that was a WIP in my scraps I think
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yamiyalo In reply to kkart [2009-05-01 18:07:19 +0000 UTC]
Well I can definitely see a market for a unique landscape photographer / painter in a series of work using a combination of the two mediums
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kkart In reply to yamiyalo [2009-05-02 15:57:08 +0000 UTC]
heh I actually did something like that years ago, though it wasn't nature orientated, it was hotrods and Betty Page!
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yamiyalo In reply to kkart [2009-05-02 18:17:53 +0000 UTC]
ah how fitting I can see those exhibits however I am more interested in Nature
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JGDA9RS In reply to ??? [2009-04-30 08:42:02 +0000 UTC]
it looks surreal that's for sure. definitely much like a painting. the sunset skies and the tone of the whole photo i think is what makes this picture. the tone and the exposure really reminds me of the art work that i see in encyclopedias when i used to look at them when i was a kid, that and the art gallery exhibit i saw a few months ago, though with canadian artists. it would of been better if the fence wasn't there in my view, but at the same time i think they're a good eye leading element.
you dont have a choice anyways hahaha. top notch work!!
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SenoritaRin [2009-04-30 07:11:14 +0000 UTC]
this is just amazing! that sky is surreal, but it's just so...colorado. makes me miss my home state, it's so beautiful!
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Imthenats In reply to ??? [2009-04-30 06:53:02 +0000 UTC]
Darkish in some dif. ways, but just beautiful. I like.
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mstargazer [2009-04-30 03:46:11 +0000 UTC]
Thank you for sharing your influences with us John, I like to know more about who inspires many people on here.. this is very Turner-esque, be proud my friend!
My florals are inspired by O'Keefe, the most sensual florals I have ever seen.
I always try to capture something intimate in those types of shots. I think you have touched on an intimate moment in this one. I can imagine being there, seeing those colors and thanking the sun for shining down at that moment.. great post pro
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robert-kim-karen [2009-04-30 03:39:01 +0000 UTC]
WOnderful big sky. I like how the tree anchors the piece nicely, and the sky still dwarfs the mountains out on the horizon.
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BPC73 In reply to ??? [2009-04-30 02:32:49 +0000 UTC]
I love how your HDRs turn out. Very subtle - no halos.
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lucifers-uke In reply to ??? [2009-04-30 00:29:43 +0000 UTC]
Lots and lots of love for you and your art! you make me envious at your ability to capture things in reality that the imagination has trouble perceiving. Despite the envy, you are an absolute inspiration. Kudos!
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