Tag: Water Lilies

Pond at McLane Creek

Pond at McLane Creek (2 of 2)

This is a re-work of a photo I took last August on our trip through the Olympic Peninsula. McLane Creek is a nature preserve some miles outside where we stayed in the area of Olympia, Washington. The trail takes you through rain forest with moss-covered trees, along muddy paths, and onto boardwalks to keep you safe and the plants safe. Here, there is a viewing platform which looks across this pond into the neighboring mountains. We came here as there are beavers rumored to building ponds – sadly, we did not see any – but the beauty of the trail made up for that! My problem with this photo is there is soooooo much green!

Art?

I cannot say that working with a computer and software is any form of art.  Maybe it is, but I don’t see it.  To me, the computer is a tool, and mastery of the tool is one way in which art can be created.  Writing and designing the software is an art – it requires a vision and a goal, and like art, software evolves and changes, sometimes for the best, sometimes for the worst.  (A lot of times, software becomes increasingly kludgy as it evolves.)

This is what I mean . . . here is an original picture, below, of water lilies taken at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Water Lilies

This next image is edited in the pixel bender filter in CS5.

Water Lilies and Pixel Bender Filter “Oil Paint”

Finally, this is the same image, with increased contrast added in CS5.

Water Lilies – Pixel Bender Oil Paint – Increased Contrast

Is any of this art?  Or is it just manipulation?  I don’t think I would ooh! ahh! over any of these, nor would I pay good money to hang these on the wall.  But, they are fun to do!