STILL LIFE
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Arabian Nights
This was developed using a somewhat fast and loose approach using Topaz Impressions and Photoshop layers with a dash of Nik software.
ArabianNightsfruitcopper jugwater jugvintage water potbrass vasenutsno peoplestill lifepomegranatesilver platerrod neil thomas
A Source Of Light
Saying good-by to summer in a salute to my garden dahlias! Although each day touches us as we brush up against it, with no thought and no expectations, an inner focus opens, to even more beauty. . . .
SourceLighttexturetopaz impressionsnikphotoshopflowersdahliasclothromanticromantic moodsoft lightdreamyinner glowtea cupbouquetsummer
Oasis
A romanticized still life of what it might have been like in an Oasis.
Oasiswater potislamic water potvintage water potchestfruitapplesnutsbrass vasefeatherspecock feathersscarftextureromanticpainterlyrod neil thomas
Pyracantha
Beautiful fall pyracantha berries. The robins seem to love them, the stems have the finest long sharp thorns I have ever felt. :)
pyracanthafallautumnberriespyracantha berriesorange berriespainterlyrod neil thomastexture
Fence Posts
While taking a morning walk I noticed these pods growing on the trees and thought they might make an interesting still life. I used natural window light here with a poster board as a reflector to help lighten the shadows. I first isolated the composition by placing a large white poster board behind my arrangement, being careful not to bump my camera and tripod or the compostion itself. I used photoshop for this and combined it with a mask done in Topaz. As usual, I used Topaz Impressions, Photoshop, and Nik to achieve the results.
fence postswoodwooden postspodsbottlestexturestill liferod neil thomas
Whispers Of Eternity
Still Life Of Dahlias In Vase These were grown in my garden and some of my favorites from this past summer.
WhispersEternityflowersbouquetdahliasvaseglass vaseno peopletexturestill lifetopaz impressionsnikphotoshop
Gord_Pitcher And Shell
Sometimes when composing a still life I go off in a totaly different direction for a few minutes doing something that I normaly would not do and then get back to my main project. Later, I sometimes discover that my playing around, non-serious, composition, might have some possibilites and take it into some of my software programs, again, not serious, but curious. I process things like that initally for possibilites and in a very hurriedly fashion. So much so, that on occasion I have tried to duplicate my process exactly and could not. This image is one of those, and for me a pleasent surprise.
A Cup Of Fower
Originally the table top was black, but I decided to change it to blue to help balance out the warmth of the dahlia flower and the pocket watch.
Cupflowerwatchpocket watchstill liferod neil thomasglassesreflectiontea cupcup and saucerdahliaromanticnatural light
Ephemeral
Perceived beauty fades . . . it’s essecence eternal . . .
ephemeralbottleperfume bottlecrystal ballflowertexturestill lifeno peopleromantic
Fruit Still Life II
In creating this I first created a mask using Topaz Remask 5. From there I used my various modified filters in Topaz Impressions. With the mask I am able to use various degrees of opacity in layers using Photoshop. I used Nik software in the same way, as this is my general work flow.
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A Cup Of Flower
One of my garden dahlias.
Cupflowerfleurdahliacup saucerno peoplestill liferod neil thomasbokehromanticmacro
Three's Company
Three’s company, but that might not be a bad thing with the fork standing in front of them. The value of indepence looks to be a good thing. :)
Three'sCompanyfruitapricotspewtercupplateforksaucertexturestill liferod neil thomasIndependence
A Hint Of Stillness
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A Morning In Light
I perhaps played around in the software a bit too long here, but hey, sometimes you just don’t know when to stop, right?
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A Dream Of Plenty
I’m always looking to develop new techniques that help me in the creative process. And I suppose that goes toward a particular style of a photographer or digital artist. I’m always inspired when looking at other’s photography. It’s fun for me to develop an understanding of how certain results were achieved. Many are astonishingly simple but with impact. Oh, I love impact! I’m never in a hurry to produce anything for any reason. I generally will spend a few days off and on, making slight touch ups here and there as I discover them, until I choose to leave the work and post it. I used Topaz Impressions, Nik, and Adobe Photoshop in creating this piece.
water potcoffee potforksilverwaresilver platesplatesfruitcantaloupepeachclothtexture
Three Sunflowers
For the past few summers I become excitied as the flowers bloom in the garden. When the season starts for the sunflowers, my first thoughts are what else can I do with them on a creative level? So far, my creative juices are still working, I think, and have tried to capture the energy and joyus representation that they bring to the season. I used Topaz, Nik, and Adobe Photoshop for processing. The lower part of the image (foreground) is darker which adds grounding and also contrast for the petal and leaf highlights to guide the eye into the frame. Intially, I experimented with the color of the background and choose this with a slight mix of blue and violet. I love, the various styles available to us as digital artists and photographers these days and love blending the painterly with realisim. To me, it’s about impact and visual eye candy with color and contrast. Not so much as what is seen but more of what is expected to be seen.
Cherries
A free and easy style, having fun with Topaz Impressions, Nik, and touchups and adjustments in Photoshop.
fruitporcelain bowlmetal bowlwhite bowlbowl of fruitmetal cupporcelain cuppainterly
Rose Of Sharon
The rose of sharon with it’s delicate goosemer petals. A garden veil playing with light.
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Honeysuckle
The scent of honeysuckle fills the air in the garden. A heavenly fragrance that wraps around you and whispers, paradise.
flowersspoonplatepitchercreamersilver spoonsilver platetexturetopaztopaz impressionsnikphotoshop
X Factor
X- Factor Dahlias from Holland.
In processing these unusual and yet beautiful dahlias, the glass vases were as you probably guessed clear glass and very bright. They were in competition with the flowers so I decided to turn the light balance to tungston during processing. I believe the warm and cool colors work better together and the flowers are the main focal point.Dahliasflowersvaseglass vasereflectionscut glass vasetexturetopaz impressionspainterly
Grapes and Lantern
In this composition, I have used the rule of thirds as you can see and incorporated a triangular setup. If I hadn’t placed the brightly lit apple in the foreground the lantern and vase would have dominated I feel, and the eye would have gone out of the arrangement. I shot this at a 45 degree angle and used a 24mm lens setting to get the visual effect.
I used Topaz Impressions, Nik, and Photoshop in the creative process.
Bee Balm
In this composition I used the rule of thirds but within that I have used visual triangles to keep the eye from leaving the image. The red flowers at the top of the bouquet meeting with the one red flower on the table. The bouquet in general is yet another triangle leading to the table. The teapot and cup are another. etc. The cheese cloth on the table symbolizes water creating a bit more interest since the cup is lying on its side. As far as the color scheme goes, it too had to maintain a balance between warm and cool colors while not letting the white cloth overpower the composition. Although overlapping objects in a composition can give depth, often times it causes confusion to the eye and I believe each object should clearly have it’s own identity, most of the time but not always. . I used Topaz Impressions, Nik, Photoshop, and ACR. I am still learning and having fun and thought I would write a little about my process.
bee balmflowersflower arrangementbouquetteapotpewter cuppewter teapotrod neil thomas
A New Beginning
Most all of us can say we have had at least one new beginning in our lives. I have come to the edge of life where each moment is a new beginning.
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Daylilies In Black
Bouquet Of Daylilies
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A Bowl Of Plums
I had fun creating this and then enjoying a very tasty desert over a few days. Now, well, I'm just a regular type of guy! :)
bowlplumsblack plumsred plumstextureclothtableno peoplefruitrestaurant artbowl of plums
Apples On Chair
On this composition, I raised the back chair legs slightly in order to push everything forward a bit. I used Topaz and Adobe Photoshop along with bouncing back a bit to ACR ( Adobe Camera Raw).
still liferod neil thomasrodneilthomas.comfruitmasters lightlight of the masterschairgolden lightstill life setting
Flowers Of Summer
The dahlias on display were grown in my garden. It was the first time growing them and I was very pleased an excited each day as I tended them. The large yellow ones are actually white but they are eight inches in diameter! What a blast!
flowerssummer8396dahliasbouquetfloralvaseclockalarm clocktimegardenjewlery boxrod neil thomas
Morning Ritual
A teapot and cup with dried flowers.
MorningRitualdried flowersteapotcupflowersvaseshelltexturewarm glowlightingdutch matstersdutch masters lighjtingdutch masters still life
Summer Romance
A romantic setting of flowers and fruit.
still lifewine glasslanternsunflowerspitcherpeachescherrieswhite pitcherfloralbouquetwine
Autumn Grass
The ornamental grass has produced their fall fronds in the garden. My wife and I enjoy their movement in the wind going from side to side as if conducting a musical symphony. The gentle sound of the waterfalls in the background, and yet a stillness at the same time, penatrating ones very being.
autumngrassglass vasebasketstraw basketautumn themevaseornamental grasscurtainwindow lighttexturewaterfloralfloral arrangementwarmthfall
TIME WARP
My impression of time. A good tool but an extremely bad master. Great for the illusion of duality!
The Coffee Grinder
The coffee grinder, and the coffee beans ready to crank out a morning wake-up call.
ThecoffeeGrindercoffee beansknifecupcoffee grindertexturecoffee cupdrinklighting
Sunflowers On Chair
A bouquet of flowers on a chair.
sunflowerschairwooden chairflowerssummerbouquetstill lifeold mastersimpressionisticromanticromanceflorallighting
Cherries
One of my photographic images. A Still Life of cherries. I have found that like life, the cherries can be likened to our life experiences and memories, sweet and sour. And then there are the pits of course! :).
cherriesDetailredred cherriesclothtexturestill lifereflectionsside lightcanon lenscanon 5d mark IIIfruit
Red Flowers
The flowers are Garden Wonder dahlias. They grow about 3 feet in height and the flowers are around 4 5o 5 inches. Beautiful for flower arrangements and I plan on growing some again next year.
Garden Wonder dahliasdahliasred flowerscopper potteapotcopper teapotbottlecopper cupwooden boxmetal bucket
The Sewing Basket
I found this sewing basket at a local Goodwill store. When I see something handmade like this I can’t help but appreciate the skill in making it. The top to the basket is in the foreground and fits beautifully. The basket inspired me to do this still life. As you can see, we don’t have a sewing machine. :)
ThesewingBasketsig0721179443sewing basketsewing needlethreadspools of threadcolorfulstraw basketreflectionsloose threadloose endsrepairclothing repair
