I was watching an episode of Ben Fogle’s Harbour Lives and Stephen Banks was featured led me to checking out the Shed Gallery. This in turn encouraged me to upload my non-photographic efforts in amongst some truly incredible photographic images … which has led Chelsea to nominating me as Artist of the Week.Jetty by Howard Kovach
I can’t draw and I can’t take a photo so my submitted comments are not aligned to the usual structure – photography, what camera?, etc..I can code and I can use Photoshop elements (an improvement on Amiga Deluxe Paint 3 – 16 colours / 1 meg RAM, circa 1992) and feel that being creative in this medium can make a valid contribution to art in the same way that a magnificent floral display can be appreciated even though the florist didn’t make the flowers.three by Howard Kovach
Art to me is any image, however created, that I find immersive. In this respect the use of Photoshop to enhance digital images is fine. After all, the information has been captured and is embedded within the pixels; the integrity of the photograph isn’t compromised by lightening shadows, etc.. Where clarity is required, though, is where, say, a cloudy sky is replaced by a vivid sunset; as an image, fine – so long as it is stated that it is now a photo-collage!
My own efforts range across simple poster type stuff to the abstract. My favourite images are the faux-cubism takes on Monroe.MM 3 by Howard Kovach
I regularly take a trip through the gallery submissions and am constantly ‘Wow!’ed by what people have achieved and what it takes to achieve it. Even though I can’t take a picture myself, I have tried umpteen times and can appreciate the efforts and skill required to decide what would make a good photo … and then to actually take it successfully! If I am pressed for a few current favourites it would include Determination by Susan Furber (not immersive – I just want to get out of the way!), Cobb Steps by Chelsea Davine, any / all by Stephen Banks – whose work brought me to the Shed Gallery in the first place…
Determination by Susan Furber
Cobb Steps by Chelsea Davine
Cobb Steps by Chelsea Davine
Close Encounters at Durdle Door by Stephen Banks
Close Encounters at Durdle Door by Stephen Banks