The Art of Architectural Photography

Art is as old as humans.  Some of the first evidences of art are the cave drawings, which depict the human desire for self-expression: to tell others, or perhaps his/her own feelings and perceptions about life.
Architecture is as old as human life as well.  Shelter was sought from environmental conditions, such as heat, storms and animal predators.  The "architecture" may have been provided by nature, i.e. caves, but it was architecture nonetheless.
Photography is the capture of light to produce images.  This very basic personal definition has given me the foundation for my life's work.  Light imaging is the third in the trilogy of the art of architectural photography.  As old as art and architecture, light imaging has given humans a way to particularize their lives, ideas emotions.
Expressing my own point of view through the three oldest art forms is challenging and infinitely rewarding!

Photograph of Flower Architectural Detail in Black and White: Water Street, NYC

  

To Be Continued

I have not abandoned my blog by any means.  I have been thinking about the direction the blog should take in order for me to express my passion for photography and to appeal to readers who love photography, too. 
I have a plan and will begin blogging again soon.
Meanwhile I have the honor and delight of sharing my thoughts through the venerable and stellar photography publication Black Star Rising:

http://rising.blackstar.com/connections-to-the-photograph.html#more-17969

I hope you enjoy!
Ellen

Capturing Exposures

My photographer/fine artist friend Matthew G. Beall has created a marvelous new web publication: Capturing Exposures http://www.capturingexposures.com/  Capturing Exposures features wonderful photographers and insightful information about photography.
"Capturing Exposures’ mission is very simple: to showcase quality photographs by photographers who make them.  Capturing Exposures subscribes to the idea of quality and consistency over quantity."
Enjoy!

Art, Antiques and Luxury Design Blog

I was given a wonderful opportunity by Elliot Lee  to contribute an article about photography to the marvelous Art, Antiques and Luxury Design Blog.  AAD articles are most informative and a very enjoyable read.  The contributors to the Blog are knowledgeable and their essays foster thought and appreciation for the arts.  Here is a link to my article: http://art-antiques-design.com/2013/07/12/the-fine-art-of-photography-in-the-1800s-by-ellen-fisch/

I hope you also have a chance to look at the rest of the site.  Art, Antiques and Luxury Design Blog will inspire you!  http://art-antiques-design.com/

Worship

For the past year I have been working on a photography essay about religion as presented through photography.  Since 1975 I have been spending time in the small New Hampshire town of Bethlemhem.  For many of the residents of Bethlehem, integral to the their New England way of life has always been Worship.  There are a number of Houses of Worship in Bethlehem.  I am most familiar with the Bethlehem Hebrew Congregation and the Durrell United Methodist Church, having attended events and services at both.
As an architectural photographer, my orientation to communicating my subject through my images is architecture.  Through this lens I perceived how the Durrell Church and the BHC offer their congregants a place to practice religion and the objects contained within each place that are  symbolically profound to religion.
It was a serious undertaking for me.  And a labor of love and respect for two Houses of Worship that I hold dear.  I am honored to be able to exhibit my Worship photographs in August.
For more about my experience in photographing for the exhibit please click on this link:
http://rising.blackstar.com/presenting-religion-through-photography.html#more-17910 

 To see the Worship photographs use this link: http://www.ellenfisch.com/worship.html

 

Limitless Possibilities

Walking around with my camera presents limitless possibilities.  I see a building or an architectural detail and I begin to frame it in my mind. The endless array of architecture I am drawn to gives me inspiration.
No matter how many times I see NYC on my rounds, sights there always foster creativity.
I frequently walk up 6th Avenue in midtown Manhattan.  Beginning my trek at at 34th Street, where I always glance and/or stare at the Empire State Building, I continue up to the 40's where I usually give nod to Grand Central before I go into one of the buildings where I have meetings or an activity.
One day last week I looked across 42nd Street and thought, "Who moved the Empire State Building!"  There it was: reflected in a glass building eight blocks away.  I had never noticed it as a reflection in just that spot. What a treat to see it as a reflection.  And what an inspiration for the limitless possibilities prompted by the icon shimmering in all its majesty.  www.ellenfisch.com

The Inspiration

 Empire State Building: Reflected

As Is

The area of Hell's Kitchen has transformed itself from a dangerous and seedy place into a slick, trendy neighborhood.  Now referred to as "Clinton,"  the streets of Hell's Kitchen (West of Times Square in midtown Manhattan) are lined with chic restaurants, upscale boutiques and pricy vintage shops.  I walk here frequently.  I have seen the many changes wrought over the last decade in Hell's Kitchen.  Occasionally I see something that smacks of the neighborhood's past life.  This iron grate is on the side courtyard of a brownstone close to 9th Avenue.  The building is slightly run-down, like a tired chorus dancer from the near-by theaters.  The grate is artfully fashioned from a time when craftsmanship was lavished on so many structures and their accoutrements throughout the City.  I love the design of the metal grate: swirls, spokes, ribbon-like flowers.  I thought to "clean it up" in post production.  Give it a polished look.  But I realized that some things are best left As Is.  Flaws, chunks of plaster, cracks and all bespeak of survival, age and the struggle to preserve the beauty and history that is New York City's heritage.