8/14/2019 Introduction: Painting With Light -- Digital Photography

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"frozen moment in time" is marvelous, it is, in a sense, unrealistic since life isalways moving on.

Exactitude is not the truth.L'exactitude n'est pas la vrit.Henri Matisse, 1947

So the photography of motion is more than just another technique or style, more

than a method, it is a way to record on light sensitive material the stuff oflife. What more could an artist ask of a medium?

Although photographing motion with long exposures was technically possible beforedigital by using traditional methods with film and chemical darkroom techniques,it was not really practical. The long lag between taking a picture and seeing theresulting image meant that it was virtually impossible to learn and to adjust tochanging situations.

The digital camera solves many of these problems (but not all) and has newcapabilities which are not entirely obvious. For example, with the immediatefeedback of the digital camera, an artist can see within a second the results ofhis/her latest efforts and then adjust accordingly. There are a lot of variables

which must be controled such as low light, long exposure, camera movement orsubject movement. Therefore the ability to view what was just shot is critical.The "instant replay" on the LCD screen at the back of most digital cameras givesthe photographer the missing tool to achieve the rapid development of very unusualbut totally photographic work. The digital images created are a result of basiccamera controls and are *NOT* due to computer manipulation.

Photo-graphy literally meanslight (photo) writing (graphy).To "write with light" or to "paint with light"is to use the photographic process to its fullest.There are a lot of variables. The possibilities are simple and complex, endlessand mind boggling. For example, a shorter time will create sharper more

recognizable images, longer times will lead to more blurred or abstract images.There is a point where the subject can completely disappear or not berecognizable. This imagery is relative to the rapidity of movement, both subjectand camera, and its regularity.

For example, if I take photographs of dancers, they may stand more or less in oneplace but their bodies can move somewhat randomly. In this case I anchor thecamera to one spot and shoot with a shutter speed that slightly blurs theirmovements. This is a quite different from taking a photo of a speeding go-cart.The go-cart follows a predictable path at a fairly even speed. In this case I handhold the camera and pan with the go-cart making it relatively sharp compared tothe blurred background.

Figures were never for me a compact massbut like a transparent construction.Alberto Giacometti, Letter to Pierre Matisse, 1947This online exhibit demonstrates the possibilities through actual photographs,explains the technical considerations, and explores the artistic vision that ispossible.

Please look at the following essays for more about this online exhibit.

Technical Notes

8/14/2019 Introduction: Painting With Light -- Digital Photography

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Links to modern art movements and artistsQuotations from numerous modern artistsInspiration from modern artists of the pastespecially Nicolas DeStalTruth to materials

Also see these related essays by Rick Doble:

The Digital Way to ExperimentA Touch of the Savage in ArtIt's not Post Modern, it's Post StylePhoto-Expressionism