Dressage at Thunderbird

A day of contrasts - a wonderfully challenging time photographing elegant, well schooled horses, followed by a visit to a fish hatchery. Both within an hour of my house - how special is that?


Walking Tall


The Dance


A Gentle Reward

Copyright 2009, Kathy Neudorf

Inch Creek

From a fish hatchery near Mission, BC.


Pastel Pond


Swept Away


Liquid Gold


Fish Fry


Patterns

Copyright 2009, Kathy Neudorf

Hot Off The Press!

Read my comment about photographic art, published in the Robert Genn Twice Weekly Newsletter:

Robert Genn's original post:

TUNE UP -- October 2, 2009

Dear Artist,

Where I live, the spiders come out in autumn. They're in my face when I bend to turn on the garden hose. Going about their sky-harvest and their devious mating-games, they spread their webs across my larger windows. In the nearby forest there's a surprise of mushrooms. The longer, darker nights bring the owl's call closer. Even by day the night birds are more active, silently moving between the tall cedars.

When painters take their paints to the forest, they feel this presence. While the hiker, jogger and even the photographer can get some of the benefit, the richest spirit is released to the ones who sit in a spot for some time. Fitting in and adapting to the scene, we become part of nature's furnishings. Alone, or with a quiet friend, with simple, timeless tools and procedures, we honour the privilege. Consistently, the surroundings that attracted us in the first place give up more secrets as we sit.

Best regards,

Robert

My Comment:

PHOTOGRAPHERS GET JOY TOO

by Kathy Neudorf, Langley, BC, Canada

I am a formally trained painter who now makes photographs. During my schooling, my 14 years as a painter, and my transition into photography, I frequently encountered the view that photography is not art, and by association, photographers are not artists. Some think we just point, and shoot, and the camera does it all. Not so.

When out with my camera, the hours melt into minutes. I frequently spend extended periods at a single location, taking picture after picture, moving this way and that, experimenting with setting after setting. This is a whole body experience - sometimes I'm perched on a tree limb, other times I'm on my belly.

Do I feel connected to my subject? Absolutely. Do I slip from the present into the subconscious, intuitive state that brings forth true creativity? Without question. Not surprisingly, I felt this way about painting too. Is my photography art? I believe so. It's certainly every bit as satisfying as brushes and paint.

Another reader writes:

From: Linda Bishop -- Oct 06, 2009

Just to let you know Kathy, that I think you are absolutely an artist. People who just point and shoot ( that would be me) are not photographers. Learning how your tool works and creating images that otherwise could never exist in reality is a true art. As a painter and someone who uses the camera only to try and record the image for later use, I can truly appreciate your chosen medium as I find it very difficult to even take a decent photo with my own camera. All the best to you.


Thank you, Linda. GO PHOTOGRAPHERS!