Duck

This past week I encountered the best models I have worked with to date. I wasn't even looking for a model. Maybe it was the camera I had around my neck that sparked their interest. Maybe it was the possibility of a hand-out. Whatever the motivation, once these two found me I couldn't shake them. What was I to do? I walked, I clicked. When I finally left I had over a hundred pictures of this couple. And while I don't like to ascribe too much intelligence to our animal friends, I swear that this pair of ducks was actually mugging for the camera.















All Images ©2008 Greg Petropoulos

A Day At The Beach

What better way to follow up a day at the farm than by a day at the beach. Hammonasset State park is the location. It was a very sunny day and I found it necessary to punch up the color by adding a filter layer in Photoshop. This provides much the same result that utilizing a lens filter would provide. Being early Spring the vegitation wasn't in bloom so the color schemes were rather limited. As a result, I focused more on composition. I'm still working on converting some of my shots to black & white. As I walked along the changing landscape I found myself wondering how I would place people within the scenery. The variety of textures & contrasts, scenic beauty, and panoramic scope provided a wide range of options. Yet somehow I felt it would be too easy to cross over into kitsch and sentimentality. Art is never as easy as the accomplished artists make it seem.

All Images ©2008 Greg Petropoulos

A Day At The Farm

I feel like an elementary school kid who just got back from a field trip to the farm I saw sheep, and cows, and chickens, and two farm dogs... You get the idea. The farm is good for the soul. The animals seem to remind you that the pace you should be living at is much slower than the one you're currently running. Slow down, notice the sky above and the grass below. Look at the trees beginning to bud, and feel the gentle breeze as it blows across your sun-drenched face. Just knowing that I'll be eating fresh eggs for breakfast this week fills me with certain sense of satisfaction. Life is good, thanks to a trip to the farm. Thanks Pat!















All Images ©2008 Greg Petropoulos

Eat At Kristen's

I've been in a rut lately, which accounts for the gap in my postings. When I take pictures I'm looking for the one shot that is like a kick in the gut. Good pictures have that effect on me. If I'm not challenged, I don't feel like I contributed anything to the quality of the picture. The work I've done lately has been somewhat mundane, and as a result, lacking that "kick in the gut" feeling. So yesterday I took a ride to Kristen's in Deep River. I wanted to do some pictures of her milk bottles and some of the other interesting design elements in her restaurant. I always feel better after a visit to Kristen's, and this time was no different. Afterwards I visited Tia Smith at her gallery in Essex. Tia has a wonderful sense of style and her pictures are direct and without pretense. I received a few pointers and managed to get some pictures on the waterfront before leaving. Dinner was spent with a few of my favorite models, accompanied by wine and a lot of laughter. While none of the pictures I captured on my journey were especially challenging, I enjoyed taking them and can appreciate them for what they are; records of a day well spent.

<

<

Animals

Animals are a very popular subject for photographs for a variety of reasons. For wild animals the appeal resides in our sense of wonder for all that is wild an natural. I admire nature photographers who, sometimes at great risk to themselves, show us animals that we would normally never see in our lifetime. In the case of domesticated animals, the appeal is somewhat different. While the wild element may be detected beneath the surface of a household pet, it is instead our perception of a distinct personality that captivates us. The responses that I have received on each of the pictures I have posted here all revolved around the animal's personality as perceived by the viewer. For the most part, everyone viewing these animals agreed on the personality traits being communicated through the images. In some cases, however, the viewer's observations revealed more about the viewer than the animal.

All Images ©2007 Greg Petropoulos

Texture

Sometimes an image presents itself because of the textures inherent in the scene. This can occur in closeups and in shots employing a wider angle. In both cases the the image has a more direct visual impact because there is only one predominant element that the viewer must process. Social constructions are absent, and thoughts of artistic intent are are mostly irrelevant. The textures may be appealing, or not, depending on the personal references the viewer brings to the experience. In either case, such images are often compelling and deeply moving.




















All Images ©2007 Greg Petropoulos

Pregnant

Pregnancy offers an incredible opportunity to create inspiring images. It is a time of transformation, both emotionally and physically. The physical changes are apparent, the emotional ones are more difficult to capture. Social attitudes have also changed over the past few decades. Remember when seeing a pregnant Lucille Ball on TV was controversial? Now many women want photographs of this special time in their lives. As a photographer, a pregnant woman is one of my favorite subjects. I enjoy working with someone who is both excited about this new life within her, as well as her sense that she has become even more beautiful. And from a photographic perspective that's true. The curve of the belly adds a dynamic that enhances the form, rather than detracting. One of my favorite pictures is limited to the torso. The form carries the picture. If the form can be combined with the emotion, you have a great composition.




All Images ©2007 Greg Petropoulos