I have got myself into a bit of a downer. It all started when I read that Chas and Dave are about to release a new album. It is twenty seven years since they last produced a record and at least two years since they stopped touring. They are a pair of very accomplished musicians. ‘Sideboard’ is my favourite and I find it impossible to work out how they can perform it live. I hope the new album is a real belter.
I watched the Grand Prix qualifying, the grid order is predictable but Mark Webber has gone out on a limb and could do well.
For some inexplicable reason I then started listening to ‘Back to Black’ by Amy Winehouse whilst trying to be creative in Blender 3D. She had me in tears. I couldn’t focus on the monitor. She is one of two singers that affect me this way. She was an addictive person but so is her voice and artistry, she could have had me anytime. She was just gorgeous but maybe a bit young, far too bright and lets be realistic unattainable. I don’t like cities and detest London, I couldn’t imagine her moving to somewhere sensible. In my dreams, a bit of rough may have done her good. God only knows what I would have done to her. More than likely it would have ended in the same way. It is just sad. Very sad.
I then popped on a really old album, one of the few I had copied from vinyl, by Head Hands and Feet featuring a guitarist called Albert Lee. He is just perfect, still alive and picking, a whole street better than Hendrix. I was then going to listen to Clapton Unplugged but resisted the temptation. I had been moved enough for one day. I was fast running out of kitchen roll.
I have had several very kind comments on my posts and thought I’d show you…..not before and afters exactly…..but how much I rely on Photoshop.
These two images come from the same single exposure image shot at –2/3rds EV or 2/3rds of a stop under exposed. The left one has clarity pushed to zero. I prefer it but I never rated these pictures until a couple or four of you all enjoyed them.
I really will have to stop messing with images. There is a Latin saying ‘Ars est celare artem’…..True art is to conceal art. I think I’m doing a fine job. I really must try harder and make my art invisible.
Grudging congratulations must go to the Aussies they beat us today in the Rugby League World Championships. I’m told it was a good match. I'm away to watch it now.
Have fun and be happy.
The blues masters, brilliant. Great pieces and how engineered them.
ReplyDeleteThey are the masters of the blues Bob.
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ReplyDeletePete. You talk as an angry man. Your spelling mistakes put you in bad light. We put our work out for critics. It's is going to attract adverse comments if the poster relies on the viewer to edit crap. Sorry if your mate can't come back herself. I can't nail a jelly to a ceiling.
DeleteWhat I said was that I didn't want to edit her dross whilst reading her post. We all take crap.
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DeleteYou can't hide by deleting Pete. I value opinion. I half rate Pete. He can let rip but then is a jelly man and deletes his own comments. I don't rate him at all because he didn't delete them properly so here they are for your edification. What a plonker.
Deleteadrian you make me laugh. the first pic on here is out of focus. honestly whether you took it or not i'd never want it associated with me.
my typos perhaps put me in a bad light where as you sir come across as a nasty vindictive little man.
Pete said. you have gone a friends blog and described her pics as dross. what a nice man you are. hope you fell proud of yourself.... bit odd that you like nice comments but yourself come across as sad man sat at his computer
adrian you make me laugh. the first pic on here is out of focus. honestly whether you took it or not i'd never want it associated with me.
my typos perhaps put me in a bad light where as you sir come across as a nasty vindictive little man.
Pete, you have given me the best laugh today. Sign up to my blog. I was not feeling good till I realised what hell I could have been lumbered with.
DeleteGlo, you have a go the first image is your art. Tell the silly sod. I would but it's nowt to do with me......your image of me has my approval. I'm vain and like how I look. Out of focus? how dare he.Get at him girl.
DeleteWe went to see Albert Lee live at the Sage Gateshead a few weeks ago - just brilliant. Have seen him half a dozen times now and each time he gets better.
ReplyDeletePhil, As a musical numpty I'm envious I last saw him ten years ago. He is an underrated musician but the best guitarist I've ever been privileged to see. He makes a guitar sing. He must be topping seventy now. I wish I'd got more of his music.
DeleteHis 70th. birthday concert is at Cadogan Hall in London March 1&2 2014 - the first night is already sold out. http://albertlee.co.uk/home
DeleteI kept looking at the bust thinking that the person was vaguely familiar. Sometimes I wonder about me I really do.
ReplyDeleteThe optical allusion of the two side by side pictures is absolutely unreal.
ReplyDeleteGraham, it's not an illusion or an allusion.
DeleteWhen you land back in the northern hemisphere we'll settle down with proper software and I'll learn you. I can't nail into knots it may take a while but both of us are old so have to be learned quick
Well it's certainly not an allusion. Don't know what came over me, me supposedly being a wordsmith and all that. When I get back I'll be even older so the time you'll have to learn me these things will be even less. Sorry. We really shouldn't joke about grammar: it's a serious subject.
DeleteGraham, I've got in enough bother today, I quite enjoyed the illiterate Pete . If you are friendly then we will agree on illusion. Pete was good value an idle sod its only one keystroke to write his name proper like.
DeleteI like writing...it's easy to get muddled up. I write replies to Laura in Spanish but who knows what I've written or wrote.
You maybe should get Mark up at the same time next summer. We can then all sit down with a giant spliff and learn proper like. Be learned to do it proper..
The bust is magnificent. If you can have it done on a 3D printer then by all means do so and send it to your son in the U.S. He can put it on a side table in the foyer. Not outside. Pigeons will roost on your head.
ReplyDeleteI love music too. I listen to it everyday. For the last year I've also tried to play some on the piano. That's when the cat meows to go outside. It brings tears to his eyes. You have taste in music. I admire that.
The left picture with clarity pushed to zero looks like an oil painting. I rather like it but it is how the world looks to me without my glasses. I like the warmer colors on the castle better than the bluer one. That must have been when you were listening to the blues.
David, my son is back home now. Glo who takes the piss...sorry does does these works of art...I wish I could go to Vancouver or wherever so she could snap my good side.
ReplyDeleteI love music. Amy Winehouse was the best. She only had to open her mouth and I'd cry.
I can push, pull or do anything with an image whether I improve it is in the lap of the gods.
For the life of me I do not understand why you must alter the photographs. Are not the photographs art in themselves? Think very carefully before answering, and remember that Ansel Adams is somewhere listening.
ReplyDeleteFor the life of me I do not understand why you must alter the photographs. Are not the photographs art in themselves? Think very carefully before answering, and remember that Ansel Adams is somewhere listening.
ReplyDeleteBob, photographs can be art but mine don't fall into this category.
DeleteI enjoy post processing. Most digital images require some sharpening. The sensors have filters which soften the image.
Ansel Adams, Cartier-Bresson were really into post processing. The latter could be considered the inventor of HDR.
Blues? Some of my favorite music. I'm amazed that you can always use programs to find something to work. I'm sure you find many surprises as you try different things.
ReplyDeleteRed, surprise, shock, horror. Yes that about covers it.
DeleteHi Adrian... I just love your bust , well that doesn't sound right !!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Glo did with what she had to work with .... made you look very distinguished , in fact at first I didn't realize it was you (maybe that bit of out of focus was the problem) what nerve this Pete has! At least it made your mood better,
I too like Amy's music , ya a tragedy her death!!
Adrian I know fiddling with your photo is what you like, an I think they are always wonderful !! Each to his own I say , I know you have fun with them !!
Grace
Grace, Glo always makes me smile. I must be a bit daft but enjoy her work.
DeletePete is refreshing.
Beautiful photos, Adrian!
ReplyDeleteGreetings, RW & SK
Your friend Glo did an excellent job as usual. Nothing wrong with a bit of vanity as long as you manage to keep a sense of humour at the same time... ;) Interesting to see your different edits of the same photos; I do that a lot too, even though I use both simpler camera and simpler editing software.
ReplyDeleteMonica, I love play time.
Delete"God only knows what I would have done to her..." If you can't think of anything to blog about please write a fantasy blogpost titled "When Adrian Met Amy". It could be set in a Premier Inn. Amy invites you into her room to snort some coke and share a bottle of Jack Daniels and it gradually turns into a night of wild passion with your dogs barking like dervishes. "Oh, Adrian!"
ReplyDeleteYP. I could have been so lucky. I don't think so.
DeleteThe dogs barking is as near as I get to a dream like this.
HI Adrian I have to say, like Grace I didn't realise the bust was you and I would not dare say it was 'out of focus' as I have read all your coments with Pete!!!! I still ike the right hand trees best. I love your experiments and editing. Anyway, it is your blog and you can post whatever you right (within reason). Hope you are having a great weekend. I was goin to make a cmment on your 3 buildings but don't want your wrath on me!! Hope you are having a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, feel free to say what you like. I don't mind.
Delete...and the bass player in Heads, Hands and Feet was none other than Chas Hodges later to become Chas of Chas and Dave fame.
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ReplyDeleteI learn something every day. Thank you.
DeleteI just read his autobiography on holiday. You would be surprised at how many Rock 'n' Roll and Pop greats he played bass for BITD considering he became the piano playing half of the duo...
DeleteI have also been using that "clarity" slider a lot ofter; I agree the left one has more dreamy and moody effects.
ReplyDeleteMaria, I noticed it ages ago but have only just started using it.
DeleteOnly one female singer has brought me moist eyes; Sandy Denny. The voice of an angel; and she most likely is now.
ReplyDeleteCan't agree with Mr Lee being a street ahead of Hendrix, he's good, but James Marshall was a god in my eyes. Lucky enough to see him three times.
Nice bust, and the second shot of the building is the one I like too.
Keith, yes, I admire Hendrix and really wish I'd seen him. You are a lucky chap.
DeleteFirst the fireblade's and now Amy, funny how we perceive some. Right about the GP too plus did you see all the smog, yuk!
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting comparison, and I like the edit and the oddily the original too.
Douglas, many people consider me a bit odd. that is being polite. Barking mad is probably nearer the mark.
DeleteGo. ADRIAN, have a great sculpture :))
ReplyDeleteNo long retouch my photos. Just a bit of brightness and contrast sometimes.
A hug.
Laura, I love playing with images.
DeleteYour pictures are fine as they are.
Reading a post like this is like being a row of coconuts in a shy - unclear what's coming next.
ReplyDeleteLucy, my mind does hop about. The worrying thing is it does it on it's own.
DeleteAdrian Earl of Carlisle … love it. With regards to the "tree aisle". art is in the eye of the beholder and the more you look at it …..
ReplyDeleteFor me anything with a vanishing point demands respect, it comes from my Art lessons in school when I was 13. I considered myself quite good at that kind of detailed stuff until they gave me a paintbrush or a clay pot !! … It was time to play with cameras instead.
I digress … back to the trees, both images have their own merits, the one to the left as an art project and the one to the right with the sharpening kind of effect giving detail to the leaves which works in a different way.
I'll just quickly check my typos and anything else I'm embarrassed about what I said :-)
Jay no typos. Non that I noticed.
DeleteI have started using the clarity slider quite a lot. I like the soft focus effect.
I was embarrassed admitting I cry over Amy Whitehouse.