Adam Sebastian West

Adam's relationship with photography began over three decades ago. Based out of Brisbane, he photographs all the things that photographers have to do to make a living (i.e. wedding, portrait, architecture, etc...) and still finds time to invent fine art through light manipulation.

In this post, I'd like to feature his more artistic side of work. Though I could only find three images built around his fine art light concept, I hope he continues to add more in the future.

Shin Ex

This week I would like to introduce you to Shin Ex from Singapore.

Ever since Shin got an R72 filter for his camera he has been hooked on shooting infrared photography. What I love most about these photos is the infrared reminds me of these Japanese paintings my mom used to own. I also love the colors combination and was immediately drawn to Shin Ex's work on Deviantart.

Since I had trouble finding out more information on Mr Shin Ex, I am going to have to let his photographs speak for themselves.

Enjoy!

Martin Blanco

This past week I attended the Downtown Los Angeles artwalk. In the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art a photo of mine hung on a wall next to the person I would like to introduce you to this week. This artist's name is Martin Blanco. I immediately jotted down his name so I could look up his other work once I got home. What I've

found online were several photo/mixed media art that I knew I had to post (if not for your viewing pleasure, so that I won't forget his name).

Martin has established himself as a master of mixed media art by combining illustrations with photos and a vision of darkness. When I look at these images, I am reminded of pictures I used to draw when I was younger. It almost feels like Martin has captured my imagination & thoughts on paper.

"Since 1998, I have been involved in the creation of dark art, developing themes like the pass of time and the unavoidable arrival of old age and death. I have always tried to focus my attention in expressing the desperation, anxiety and oppression that people feel when this time comes by creating dense atmospheres where characters are immersed. I have always liked mixing different media in my drawings and I have been finally able to explore all those possibilities when I started making digital art. Digital has opened Pandora’s box to me, giving me the freedom of combining my photographs with digital painting every time I need it and it has also increased the speed of my production. To create the atmospheres mentioned above, I use light and color contrasts, with highlights and dark shadows, since I am influenced by the work of the ancient masters like Caravaggio and Michelangelo. I also add textures and some visual noise to the backgrounds". -Martin Blanco

Abdulla Kazim

In the middle of the night, I grabbed a warm cut of chai tea and started digging through loads and loads of online photography. I came across a few photos and fell madly in love. One photo looks like an x-ray where the other two must be smoke-scapes (pictures made from smoke). Craving an entire series of these types of photos, I discovered who this 23 year old photographer was & proceeded to email harass him for further information.

The photographer's name is Abdulla Kazim.

Believe it or not, he is from Dubai, studying medical science in Sydney and has a passion for photography. When I asked Abdulla to tell me about himself, this is what he had to say; "I started photography for the purpose of recording

moments, events and family holidays... I got interested in taking pictures of animals and nature in different angles and mostly in macro mode. Later I got hold of a cell phone that has a camera and started using that until I decided to buy the Nikon D200."

Abdulla's plans for his photography future are still to be

decided. He is considering opening a studio and exploring project ideas and also taking a photojournalistic approach to addressing neglected matters in his country. On a selfish matter, I would love for him to continue photos like the ones I have featured

here.

These photos I have featured caught my attention because of their uniqueness (if that is a word) and I just had to share them with the rest of the world. Let me know what you think!

Liz Hickok

This week I'd like to introduce you all to Liz Hickok. I stumbled upon these photographs via YouTube where San Francisco, made of Jello, suffered from a strong earthquake followed by a tidal wave which desolved the city.

Notice in all the jello buildings all of the architectural details? Liz Hickok had to sculpt miniature scale model molds of each of those buildings, then wait for them to dry and finally add the liquid Jello and allow to set before constructing the entire city. Imagine how long of a process that would take considering Jello doesn't set long outside the refrigerator. But don't think Jello was the only ingredient used to make these unique photos, Liz also had to paint backgrounds and add landscape details like trees to the picture as well as lighting it all from different angles. Talk about a labor of love!

Liz made a series of photos and videos before the destruction of this Jello city by the tidal

wave.

If you would like more information about Liz Hickok, please visit her website lizhickok.com.

Diffraction Phenomenon

Diffraction Phenomenon - a way of looking at photography differently.

In this blog, I will explore photographs that I find amusing that you do not necessarily see in galleries or homes across the world. Some of these photographs will be figments of a mind lost in space and time while others might represent pure bliss through an artistic imagination.

A little about myself, my name is Cathy Immordino. I love to write poems and stories and songs as well as photograph and I've been in a couple of TV shows and films. I am based out of Los Angeles.

As for photography, I fell in love with photographing when I was about 8 years old. My mother gave my a polaroid instant camera and I was hooked. All of my allowance money went towards buying a film box (around $10 each from what I remember). I started out photographing my lovely collection of hamsters. At one point I remember having around 100 and they all lived in big blue plastic storage bins. I would only photograph humans when my parents yelled at me for "waisting" precious film. Now days I photograph everything from the usual landscape travel photo to candid party pics, animals, and dark and/or artsy images.

My equipment now days consists of a Canon 5D & 5D mark 2 with a selection of crazy lenses. A friend turned me on to the old fashioned box camera and as soon as I build one I will be making collodion prints!

I am doing this blog because the types of photographs I like to look at are simply too hard for me to find. Writing this will force me to look harder and who knows where that might lead!

These are a few of my photographs from my Festival of Lights series, which received Honorable Mention in the Lucie Awards Professional Categories for Other: Special & Fine Art: Abstract