Creating Awareness
July 5, 2012 * * * * * Posted by: guest blogger 
"What is essential is invisible to the eye, we must see with our heart" Antoine de St. Exupery
My students often ask me how they can improve their work. My response is always: feed your soul. Seek beauty, excellence and divinely inspired works by others and store those memories! Why? Because they pay dividends.
The conscious act of creating awareness is the greatest gift we can offer ourselves. As artists, we'll get our egos bumped and bruised a bit...that's healthy, right? There is so much talent and creativity in this world which translates to "there is always someone better". But we will be strengthening our ability to see and to feel. We'll begin to recognize those moments when we see differently, we'll have more of those "a ha!" experiences that keep us going when we're traversing a flat period.
I am a frustrated time traveler. Borne of an intense desire to see as my favorite painters saw, or more precisely, to feel as they felt, I try to create photographs from this resonance. The images are not consciously intentional. Rather I think that because I have the images of the Masters in my heart and subconscious, I recognize the photographic possibilities when they arise.
The light, form, palette, movement and emotion live within me. And to be able to express that in a photograph is my greatest joy. The photograph of the lady on horseback says to me "Degas' dancers". The point of view, looking across the 'stage' and including the audience shares a resonance with his paintings from behind the curtain. The palette feels the same, the stage lights, though too bright, feel correct. And by panning with the movement and blurring the audience (a necessity because of the slow shutter speed and available light) we can let go of our knowledge of 'time'.
I don't know if I will ever see another Degas in a photograph. But Kline and Kahn and Van Gogh and Canaletto have all been there for me. I'm waiting to discover a Rembrandt, a Vermeer, and maybe a Bonnard!
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Our guest today is Keron Psillas from Shepherdstown, WV, and is another horse lover as well as a lover of master painters! You can check her out at We Photograph As We Are. Thank you, Keron, for joining us today as our guest.
Degas, Keron Psillas, Photography, painters
Reader Comments (18)
Before even reading your words - Keron - I thought of Degas. Gorgeous imagery!!! And - yes - I couldn't agree with you more here. It is thru our hearts and souls that we create and see!!! You clearly have the soul of a great master within you.
Thank-you so much for joining us today and sharing your art with the world!
What a great guest blog today, makes me read it over and over.
I have a feeling Degas turned over in his resting place, Keron, to take notice of you and your image today. We know at least that his ears were itching! I find this way of seeing photography as highly inspiring. Actually, some have said they see Rembrandt in a few of my photos...but it's not something I have felt is conscious. I am suddenly sitting up and taking notice...wanting to create awareness!
Thank you, indeed, for joining us today!
Yes, thank you for this gorgeous image and inspiring words ~ truly beautiful!
While looking at your photo, I could think of Dega, too, but I am used to think of Franz Kafka Up in the Gallery (1919) since I read this short story - there are always two sides of a 'thing'/situation...
Up in the Gallery
by Franz Kafka
Translation by Ian Johnston
If some frail tubercular lady circus rider were to be driven in circles around and around the arena for months and months without interruption in front of a tireless public on a swaying horse by a merciless whip-wielding master of ceremonies, spinning on the horse, throwing kisses and swaying at the waist, and if this performance, amid the incessant roar of the orchestra and the ventilators, were to continue into the ever-expanding, gray future, accompanied by applause, which died down and then swelled up again, from hands which were really steam hammers, perhaps then a young visitor to the gallery might rush down the long stair case through all the levels, burst into the ring, and cry “Stop!” through the fanfares of the constantly adjusting orchestra.
But since things are not like that—since a beautiful woman, in white and red, flies in through curtains which proud men in livery open in front of her, since the director, devotedly seeking her eyes, breathes in her direction, behaving like an animal, and, as a precaution, lifts her up on the dapple-gray horse, as if she were his grand daughter, the one he loved more than anything else, as she starts a dangerous journey, but he cannot decide to give the signal with his whip and finally, controlling himself, gives it a crack, runs right beside the horse with his mouth open, follows the rider’s leaps with a sharp gaze, hardly capable of comprehending her skill, tries to warn her by calling out in English, furiously castigating the grooms holding hoops, telling them to pay the most scrupulous attention, and begs the orchestra, with upraised arms, to be quiet before the great jump, finally lifts the small woman down from the trembling horse, kisses her on both cheeks, considers no public tribute adequate, while she herself, leaning on him, high on the tips of her toes, with dust swirling around her, arms outstretched and head thrown back, wants to share her luck with the entire circus—since this is how things are, the visitor to the gallery puts his face on the railing and, sinking into the final march as if into a difficult dream, weeps, without realizing it.
Oh my goodness! What an inspiring post -- both the absolutely breathtaking image and your thoughts about photography. In many respects, this post is a breath of fresh air to me. Love it!
I was not 'acquainted' with you or your work and trotted over to your web site. Beautiful work. I enjoyed 'making your acquaintance.'
Thank you so very much for joining us today and inspiring us with your 'vision and verb.'
Loved the comparison to Degas "Dancers"! From one Horseaholic to another, well done!
This is a stunning capture/image an d your words are reverberating inside my heart. How eloquently and succinctly have you captured your heart and shared it in words. I feel so much of what you've spoken. Thank you for putting it into words for me! A warm welcome to you my friend!
What a wonderful post and an image so full of light and movement. A joy to behold. Thank you for sharing.
as my first day back at a computer, what a THRILL to see this post, read these words from my dear friend and mentor, keron. every phrase drips of life's passion which inspires me to be more, read more, see more, and live...thanks, keron.
I love your image, both visually and in words.
Being another horse lover who loves watching horses at the upper dressage levels, I admire the beautiful movement of this horse and the artful way you captured it. I was just reading another post somewhere with advice to writers to go out and live to improve their stories which strikes me as similar to your words. It's all about expanding our vision and experience. Beautiful post!
Lovely to see your words and images becoming known and appreciated across an ever-broadening expanse. Your 'cour'-age' -- following your heart and developing your vision over the past years -- gladdens my heart, too, old friend.
What a gorgeous picture and it does remind me of a Degas painting. Thanks for sharing.
Oh yes, that says Degas at first glance, just beautiful. And what a fabulous approach to photography. I'm sure that you will find all the artists your eye is searching for!
It's so nice to know that these greats withstand the test of time - and they are great still...I love your image, captured beautifully.
I finally have a moment to say THANK YOU for all the marvelous comments from old and new friends! I am deeply moved and very very grateful that you took the time to post a comment. Photography is a source of great joy for me. But the sharing of a vision compounds that joy when the viewer has their own emotional response to an image. This is the best a photographer can hope for. Thanks for making this one of those precious moments! Keron
Hi Keron: I loved what you wrote and admired the Degas photograph. I also think about master artists a lot when I am photographing. I will see you at Sam Abell's workshop next month. Cannot write any more on my iPhone.