Sandy

Wishing all of my East Coast friends and family and many others affected by the incredible storm, Sandy, Health, Quick Recuperation and Small Losses.  May Peace and Ease of Mind follow in the wake of nature's wrath.   All my best, Ellen

Chelsea Market

I had never been to Chelsea Market before.  Completed in 1997, Chelsea Market has become a meeting destination for numerous New Yorkers and tourists.  Although I visited Chelsea numerous times for art exhibits, to photograph landmark buildings and to walk the High Line, I never ventured to the fabulous food court/ shopping area located in the old National Biscuit Company factory: home of Oreo cookies.  A lovely and talented young artist friend who attends SVA invited me to Chelsea Market for lunch a few weeks ago.  I was struck by the wonderful use of old machinery and industrial equipment as decor for the au courant dining establishments; shops and great get-together indoor spaces.

Chelsea Market Decor

Art genre: Sepia art photograph

Complimentary decor: Modern, Eclectic

Photography tip: Look for contrasts.  Edges can be sharpened or softened in post production.

Location: Chelsea Market: Chelsea, NYC

Influences: Margaret Bourke-White

One of my earliest influences was the brilliant photojournalist/ photographer Margaret Bourke-White.  Her work was often published in the magazines my Dad loved, like Fortune and Life.  Bourke-White's images impacted the way I saw shapes and their relationship to each other.  Her photographs of machinery in the steel mills are still among my resources for composition and design.  Her work holds up as remarkable for all the visual elements that come together in great photography.

Steel Mill: Margaret Bourke-White

Machinery: Margaret Bourke-White

Steel Worker: Margaret Bourke-White

Steel Mill: Margaret Bourke-White

Diversion Tunnel: Margaret Bourke-White

PhotoPlus 2012

Yesterday I attended the industry trade show I look forward to all year: PhotoPlus.  I love going to trade shows at the cavernous Jacob Javits Conference Center in NYC.  People from all over come together with a shared passion.  PhotoPlus, the photography industry's promotion of product, information and all things connected with photography, is an event for me to connect with new ideas, refresh known concepts and create mental wish lists.  I looked at my dream cameras, printing papers, software, equipment and spoke with sales reps and best of all, other photographers.  I stopped by to see old friends and made some new ones.  Great Day!

An Old Friend

Recently I attended an art exhibition.  It was a wonderful time: artists happy to show their new work; wine and cheese; a stunningly modernized  gallery in a great old building in Dumbo: does it get any better!  I love that type of event.  After viewing the art, which was an eclectic exhibit of printmaking, watercolors, oils and drawings, I began, as always,  to look at the space.  Off to the side, away from the art and art lovers, I spotted a grate.  Now metal grates are at the top of my list for beautiful objects.  One of my fondest memories I have of childhood is looking through the air-shaft grate into our backyard.  I thought that this grate was the portal to a secret garden that held marvels to be discovered every day.  Actually, it did.  I saw the seasons change and the natural forms in the yard evolve throughout  my early life.  So while people at the art show looked at the fine art, I photographed the old grate in the corner.  Few people noticed what I was up to, but that was fine: a secret between me and an old friend.

Art genre: Sepia architectural detail art photograph

Complimentary decor: Eclectic

Photography tip: Textures are important.  Look for contrasting textures to increase interest when photographing architectural details.

Location: Dumbo: NYC

See the Light

Frequently the eye sees light as as source of brightness.  It streams into a space.  It illuminates an object.  Light allows us to see where we are and whom we are with.  But often we don't look at the light itself.  Light has color, shape, form.  It varies in its intensity.  Light in and of itself is exquisite.  Capturing light as a focal point for an image is formidable, but I continue to be intrigued by light and its many configurations.  I especially love light steaming into a muted space.  Illuminating all it reaches. Conforming to form as it curves and bends, spreads and constricts.  Light is infinitely varied and wonderful, but elusive and challenging to capture.  It is the single inspiration why I am a photographer. www.ellenfisch.com

Art genre: Sepia architectural art photograph

Complimentary decor: Traditional

Photography tip: Capture the shape of light, but be aware of soft, diffused edges.

Location: Wall Street area: NYC

WellFurnished

Every artist expresses an aesthetic that will hopefully be shared.  Art is a form of communication that transcends time and cultural barriers to connect people universally and throughout history.  It is marvelous to create art and to share it with others. Recently I discovered a wonderful web site devoted to sharing many types of art: furniture, accessories, wall art and other expressive forms of human creativity.  WellFurnished presents beautiful items and is platformed to encourage interactive relationships among decorators, clients and artists/ artisans.  I have posted several photographs on the site.  Hope you'll get an opportunity to spend time looking through the wonders on WellFurnished.com

Metal Ovals

NYC Art Window