Torture is likely the only means by which I might disclose how many hours I have spent on this image. And the reason why it has taken approx ten hours is that in order to learn how to do a thing correctly we often first have to do it the wrong way – which quite often ends up with: “Not this way, but that way”. Whereas it suffices for the large majority of you to fail only once this thick-sculled fly-agaric-eating savage of a Viking has a eh different approach.
I am often inclined to liken photography with math. You have to fail a couple of times before you find the right path. Not few of my students give up when they fail not understanding that failing is a vital part of this process we denote learning. And I have these past six months been strongly reminded about that learning hurts. For me it is far more convenient to walk the well-trodden paths than to enter unexplored territory. But, if we are to expand our tent we have to take those steps into the wild. Learning Photoshop has been just as challenging as when I studied math 10 years ago. However, learning Ps has been ten times as rewarding and it truly has expanded my creative span.
Numerous times I have said to myself: “Phew! Now I am done with this image!” But, every week there have been things to improve. My latest edit was on Wednesday – adjusting a couple of the reflections and blurring some 2 pixel wide lines I felt were too sharp, and etc etc ad infinitum.
I notice that many both here and on Facebook call their images fine art landscape photography. I would never dare to use such fine words about my images. I am more inclined to call them Viking non-art landscape something-that-resembles photography.
This is the second LE from that evening when I ran like crazy because the sky unexpectedly exploded over my head in one of the most astonishing sunsets I have ever witnessed. The third LE is still enjoying a life of unsullied innocence on my hard drive. But, I have some evil plans for it.
2 DSA refers to one my math classes. An amazing bunch of 15 students, and each time I enter that classroom it feels like coming “home”.
via 500px http://ift.tt/1su6mFd
FSD 