Scannography--Spring Flowers

I love the way a hi-resolution scanner can create photographs that resemble film in their color depth and contrast.  This was a long winter in Vermont and as soon as the spring flowers appeared I started producing images of these fleeting wonders.  I never realized how many of the early spring blooms are yellow and white until I started this body of work. The variety here is done through arrangement rather than color.  I did buy a purple pansy to add to the collection.
I also used pussy willows in a number of the arrangements because of the lovely texture of the branches.
I applied for a Vermont Center on the Arts Creation Grant to continue this work and produce a body of images for exhibit using both scannography and silhouette art.

These two are my favorite images--both simple and sensuous:

An Unexpected Almost Black and White Bonus

The animals are hungry at this time of the year in Vermont.  I still have 25+ inches of snow outside my door and today the temperature with wind chill is -25.
We have had squirrels, turkeys, deer, and now a barred owl at the bird feeders. This owl sat on the bird feeder for a long while even though attacked by smaller birds. His feathers kept fluttering in the wind and the head turning was amazing to watch up close.  A bonus picture for my "Almost Black and White" series!

ALMOST BLACK & WHITE

In February and March, when the world is still very much black and white in Vermont, I start to look for color.  Almost Black and White is the theme for this collection of photographs, most of which are based in the literal world outside at Lake Elmore, Vermont.  

All capture a tinge of color in a predominately black and white landscape.  From an ice shanty on a frozen lake to a cemetery with one green shed to a reflection in glass, I am always surprised at what you can see when you have a concept in mind.

Roger in Blue

Cemetery Green Shed

Driveway Bird

Green Window Reflection

Lake Elmore Ice Shanty

Backyard Trees

Montpelier Capitol Building

Blue Sky Mountain

Sumac in Abstract

Even though I am still participating in winter activities, I go to art shows to banish any hint of cabin fever.  I also bring spring flowers inside—they offer hope for the end of winter. Almost Black & White includes color images of plants and flowers that I converted to black and white photographs.  Uncovering some of the color allowed a unique perspective and a new portrayal of the image.

Patterns

Peace Lily

Almost Spring

A Photoshop technique—using the brush tool to paint in a color that does not live in the photograph--is something I am interested in using in future art.  My desire is to add color to an image, yet keep the original feel of the work. I think I succeeded with the purple mountain landscape in this collection.

I hope these images entice you to look for color and solace in their world even if the actuality is sparse.

The Author and the Photographer

Patricia Lyon-Surrey (photographer)

  Ron Thompson (author)

Last Sunday, the book On Cue, Managing Anxiety, Inviting Excellence was launched with a party at Lost Nation Theater in Montpelier, Vermont. About 40 people attended. Ron talked about the book and played the trumpet--a real treat for the audience.  I was happy to see my large, framed photo, Autumn in Black and White on display along with the books.  

On Cue covers the management of anxiety, the importance of skill mastery, and the cultivation of loving attitudes toward's oneself and one's performance.  I contributed the black and photos that illustrate the stories in the book.  On Cue is available from Ron's website.

A Very Personal Account

I'm taking another photo class and this assignment was to record your identity through three images: reality, representation and fantasy.  This is my identity--at least right now!

The reality is that I love doing many things and love being in the outdoors.  I felt a little foolish taking this photo with 3 feet of snow and temperatures hovering in the single numbers in Vermont.

Since I have a Slavic heritage and a Catholic background, I focused on these in my representational image.  If you have read my blog on Scannography, you know how much I am enamored with the images that result from the process.  I therefore, did a scannography of family things: my grandmother Buchta's babushka, my dad's St. Christopher medal, a St. Anthony medal and relic that my dad had given me when I traveled alone to New Zealand.  (St. Anthony is the patron saint of lost things).  I added a Russian nesting doll and a nodding babushka doll that I bought when I traveled in Slovakia.

 

My fantasy image is very personal and a lot more revealing of my life.  In it I am able to visit the past.

I can be with my husband Bob again and feel what it was like to have a family together.  I can pet my former grand-dogs who have both recently died.  I can hug my dad and my Grandmother Buchta once more. I can experience my three sons as children.  I can once again see my mother's spunk.

The past is in black and white while I am in color. 

A Multi-Post: Photos from Chandler Exhibit, Book Launch Announcement, and New Work: Scannography

The "Art of Place" exhibit at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 71-73 Main Street in Randolph, Vermont, continues until March 8. If you haven't seen it, it is worth the trip.  The art is truly varied and thought provoking and includes hanging art, sculpture, and even a bedroom scene.  Unfortunately the hours of the exhibit are limited to Friday 3-6 PM;  Saturday & Sunday Noon-3 PM .
The art center is also open during the Chandler's frequent performance acts. You can check the Chandler website for information about when they have performances scheduled.

Here are a few photos from the show.

BOOK LAUNCH

Many of you may not know that I was contracted to take black & white photos for a book by Adlerian psychologist and musician, Ron Thompson.  His book, On Cue, Managing Anxiety, Inviting Excellence, covers the management of anxiety, the importance of skill mastery, and the cultivation of loving attitudes towards one's performance. Ron inserts personal stories within the chapters in order to illustrate the concepts, and to add humor. This is where my photos come in.  He and I met regularly at La Brioche Bakery (always indulging in a pastry, of course) to discuss upcoming photo ideas to go along with the stories and occasionally we went on photo shoots together. Although he knew what he had in mind for each photo, he granted me considerable creative leeway in producing them. This was a very different and fun photography project for me, and working with Ron was a joy!

I was also very pleased that Ron chose my photo, Autumn in Black & White for the cover art.

The launch party for the book is Sunday, February 22 from 4-5 PM at Montpelier City Hall, Montpelier, Vermont.  Everyone is welcome!

NEW WORK: THE ART OF SCANNOGRAPHY

I am so excited to be learning a new form of photography called Scannography which uses a high resolution flat bed scanner as a camera. The exquisite images that can be produced often look like they have been taken by large format film cameras. Joanne Urban is considered to be one of the experts in this art form.
She emphasizes the need for patience and a sense of composition to be successful. Her website displays the beauty as well as some haunting effects that can be achieved.  
The flat bed scanner has minimal depth of field so only those objects lying on the glass of the scanner will be be in complete focus. This can create challenges as well as benefits to the finished image.  Here are  my first images.

I started my process with organic, natural objects that I already had around my house and that I find so very beautiful in their simplicity. I now have many, many ideas for future concrete images, and I am formulating thoughts about creating scannography art that displays more ethereal concepts such as identity.

Art Opening: Chandler Center for the Arts

The Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph ,VT will host the Art of Place from its opening reception on January 17 until March 8, 2015. I am pleased to say that two of my silhouette photographs have been accepted into the show.

Death

Starynka

 

 

 

The call to artists was for art that depicted a sense of place and space without suggesting a literal translation of the words but as a starting point for inspiration and creation. The work of 20 artists will be at the show.

My sense of place was the past, remembering and honoring my father and my paternal grandmother as well as my childhood in an ethnic Slovak community. 

These two pieces came about when a silhouette photography class I was taking coincided with the sixth anniversary of my father's death. Although I didn't consciously work to achieve a feeling of loss, what I created in "Death" clearly depicts the loneliness I feel when thinking of never seeing my dad again.

"Starynka"  holds more nostalgia than sadness though here, too, there is a touch of wistfulness.  My grandmother Buchta was the typical starynka in that she wore babuskas and loose dresses, believed strongly in her catholic faith, baked the traditional kolachki and zazvorniki from her home country, Slovakia.  She holds a special place in my heart, for she took care of me as a baby when my mother and two brothers visited my dad who was stationed away from home in the Navy shortly after World War II.

I will be at the reception at the Chandler on Saturday, January 17.  Here are the details of the show.

Chandler Center for the Arts

71 - 73 Main Street, Randolph, VT  05060

Office phone:  802 728-9878

   

Art of Place

January 17  6 - 9  opening reception with food, music and cash bar

January 18  11am moderated artist panel discussion 

March 8 closing

Gallery Hours: 

Fridays 3 - 5,  Saturdays and Sundays  12 - 2, open during performances