Harold Davis's Blog, page 105
July 12, 2017
July 11, 2017
Coat of Many Colors and Church of Black and White
Coming up from air with dandelions, I contemplated life, art, and my color palette. What about introducing chromatics to my puffy friends? I tried a number of approaches, and in the end used flower blossoms arranged in the background, enhanced by selective and low depth-of-field.
Summer Experiment 1 © Harold Davis
Like calls to like, but also like likes unalike. A color image occurred to me, the Duomi di Pavia, photographed last autumn in Italy with my good friend Mauro Moroni. It seemed to me that this really deserved a monochromatic interpretation. The image of dandelions (above) takes black and white into color, and the view of the vast interior dome (below) takes color to black and white.
Duomo di Pavia in Black and White © Harold Davis
July 10, 2017
Photograph Southwestern France in April, 2018—Only a few spaces left!
Grab your camera and come with me on a photographic adventure to the “deep France” of the Lot River valley. Starting Thursday, April 19, 2018 (leave the States on the April 18th) and ending 9 days later on Friday, April 27, our Destination Photography Workshop will take you to some of the most beautiful and exciting locations in romantic Southwest France. (Think: ancient villages rated the most beautiful in France, French dining, architecture, French countryside, French dining, patisseries, food, wine, and great company.)
We will be hosted once again at the wonderful Mas de Garrigue near Calvignac. The Mas de Garrigue will be our home away from home, where we will enjoy the hospitality and some family-style meals. It is great to have this entire historic fortified farm as the photographic playhouse exclusively reserved for our group. For more information, click here for the Prospectus, here for the detailed itinerary, and here for the Reservation Form.
The Southwest of France is an undiscovered romantic landscape, more visited by the French themselves than by foreign tourists. In my opinion, it is by far and away one of the most beautiful regions of France.
We will be traveling as a very small group—the maximum number of participants is 10. Non-photographic partners are welcome! This Destination Photography Workshop is almost full, with only a few spaces left. If our past experience is a guide, the remaining workshop spaces won’t last long!
What do we mean by “deep France”? Deep France or La France Profonde is both an idea and a geographic place. The idea involves the France that always was, and will always be—a deeply rural sense of tradition and bucolic happiness albeit with a agricultural and low-tech lifestyle (they do still have their iPhones!). You find “Deep France” dispersed geographically, but always rural and remote and away from major population centers. The Lot River Valley is the land that time forgot, and in some ways epitomizes Deep France.
My viewpoint is that even apart from photography it is an incredible privilege to get to explore the places we will visit on this trip—Saint-Cirq Lapopie, the Pont Valentre in Cahors, and Cordes-sur-Ciel to name a few—and to stay at the incredible Mas de Garrigue! (By the way, the photography is grand.)
Please note that an early-bird discount $500 off applies for registrations that are made by August 15, 2017.
Also, please let us know if you have any questions, and we hope to see you there! More information follows below; click here for the Prospectus, here for the detailed itinerary, and here for the Reservation Form.
What: More than a week with a small compatible group of photographers in a beautifully restored 15th century fortified farmhouse in the lush countryside of southwest France in the springtime. Click here for the detailed trip itinerary and day-by-day PDF!
Where: Mas de Garrigue, a 15th century fortified farm near the Lot River in the heart of romantic southwestern France. This is an area of gardens, gourmet French home cooking, ancient medieval villages and castles, and a photographer’s and walker’s paradise.
When: Thursday, April 19, 2017 (leave US Wednesday April 18) to Sunday, April 27, 2017 (eight nights and nine days).
Group Size: This is an exclusive, small photo workshop (non-photographer significant others are also welcome) with very limited space availability (the minimum group size is six and the maximum is ten). We expect this destination photo workshop to fill quickly.
How to Register: Please send us an email expressing interest right away; a completed registration requires a $1000 deposit, the trip reservation form, and a copy of your currently valid passport page.
Mas de Garrigue
Pont Valentre in Cahors © Harold Davis
Details: The group meets at a 4-star hotel in Toulouse in the southwest of France on the afternoon of Thursday April 19, 2016. Toulouse is the fourth largest city in France, and the capital of the modern French aerospace industry. It is easily accessible by plane or train from Paris and other points in Europe. There are many photographic opportunities in Toulouse itself, and we will visit some of these with a private guided tour, followed by an introductory group dinner (included in the cost).
On Friday April 22 we will transfer by private mini-bus to Mas de Garrigue in the area of Calvignac on the banks of the beautiful Lot River. This is a region of beautiful rivers and valleys, stark cliffs with ancient clinging villages, sacred pilgrimage routes, stone bridges, churches that date from the era of the crusaders, beautiful flowering gardens, and much more.
Morning on the Lot River © Harold Davis
The Mas de Garrigue will be our home away from home for the next seven nights, hosted by Sarah and Steven. Here’s a description: “Mas de Garrigue, a 15th century former hunting lodge and fortified farm is a stunning and important historic house retaining many original features within such as vast stone fireplaces, arrowslits, a 15th century window, stone sinks, magnificent oak beams and pigeon coops. Sarah and Steven have lovingly and respectfully restored the house, with elegant taste and sometimes a contemporary twist. The marriage of Irish antiques and art with French architecture is harmonious and charming.
Noir de Gascon piglet
“Sarah and Steven provide warm Irish hospitality in the beautiful Midi Pyrenees of South West France. Sarah studied cuisine in Paris and Steven hails from the well known Irish culinary and hospitible Allen clan. Passionate about food and wine, they offer sumptious dinners of homegrown and locally sourced produce. Steve rears two “Noir de Gascon” pigs every year which Sarah transforms into delicious terrines, pates, saucisse and hams. Steven keeps the kitchen stocked with vegetables, tomatos, herbs and even Saffron.”
While at the Mas de Garrigue Sarah and Steven will provide us with three wonderful dinners and a number of lunches (these are included in the tour cost, please see the detailed itinerary for specifics).
Room at the Mas de Garrigue
We could happily spend our time photographing right around the location of the Mas de Garrigue (and if you choose to do so, no one will think the less of you!), but three extensive professionally-guided excursions are included in the workshop.
Excursion destinations by private vehicle with guide will include:
St Cirq-La-Popie, widely considered one of the most scenic villages in France, and an optional excursion to the pre-historic caves of Pech Merle.
Pont Valentre, famous from the 100 Years War, and the old town of Cahors.
Cordes-sur-Ciel and Najac, two of the most scenic and famous ancient fortified villages in the area, each in an iconic and unbelievably photographic location.
Cordes sur Ciel at Dawn © Harold Davis
When (alas!) our time in the Lot River Valley draws to a close on Friday April 27 2018, transfer by private mini-bus to Toulouse train station or airport for return to the United States or further adventures in Europe is included.
Cost: $4,995 per person (single supplement $875); $500 early-bird discount for completed registration by August 15, 2018.
Inclusions: Eight nights lodging (one night at a 4-star hotel in Toulouse, seven nights at Mas de Garrigue), all breakfasts (8), many meals, walking tour of Toulouse with licensed guide, transfers from Toulouse to Mas de Garrigue (Calvignac) on arrival, and from the Mas de Garrigue to Toulouse returning, excursions as indicated, and service charges. See the full itinerary for details. Photographic guidance, discussions, and one-on-one tutorial sessions with master photographer Harold Davis are also included.
Exclusions: Airfare and transportation to Toulouse, France (Toulouse is easy to reach by plane or train from Paris and many other points in Europe), meals except as indicated, wine and spirits (complementary wine will be provided at included group dinners), admissions except as indicated, and personal items such as laundry and souvenirs.
Assisting with air travel arrangements: We’re happy to consult and advise regarding air travel arrangements to Toulouse on request.
Travel Insurance: Very highly recommended. More info.
To Register: Please send us an email expressing interest right away; a completed registration requires a $1000 deposit, the trip reservation form, and a copy of your currently valid passport page.
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie © Harold Davis
July 9, 2017
Strength in Numbers: One more seed
For more seed and puffy-thing images, check out Suite of Seeds! These seed pods and seeds are amazing when you examine them up very close (check out the Dandelion Seed image in the Suite of Seeds story), with barbs for attaching, and a transparent material that operates like a sail to give the seeds geographic dispersal in the wind.
Strength in Numbers © Harold Davis
In answer to the question I posed—“Which do you like best?”—I continue to be interested in opinions. So far, I’ve had a spectrum about evenly distributed, with one or two “Gosh, these are all interesting” responses (to my blushing pleasure of course). A special thanks to those who took the time to respond, whether on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, or by our contact form or direct email.
July 8, 2017
Suite of Seeds—Which one do you like best?
Over the past several days I have photographed seed pods, aiming in many cases for an expressionistic sense of line rather than to capture literal form, to use photography as a tool for sketching and drawing. These sweet seeds come from a dandelion and several Godetia flowers that have formed a surprisingly robust seed pod. Some of the seeds (and seed pods) were photographed on a black background, and others on a light box (with inversions in LAB to a black background in many cases).
Seed Pod Umbrellas on Black © Harold Davis
Seed Pod Umbrellas © Harold Davis
Dandelion Seed © Harold Davis
Nucleus on White © Harold Davis
Nucleus on Black © Harold Davis
Seeds Above! © Harold Davis
Gone to Seed 1 © Harold Davis
Gone to Seed 1 Monochrome on White © Harold Davis
Gone to Seed 1 Monochrome on Black © Harold Davis
Dandelion Cups © Harold Davis
Dandelion Forest © Harold Davis
Dandelion © Harold Davis
Planet Dandelion © Harold Davis
Of course, there is hardly anything more common anywhere than a dandelion gone to seed. So I do love to travel, and like mixing it up, and putting myself in exotic places. But I’m also a firm believer that one doesn’t need to go far from home to have fun with photography. There are many interesting subjects right in your own backyard!
July 7, 2017
Dawn on Lake Como
I’ve been in Italy only a couple of days, and already it seems like there have been some incredible adventures (but not much sleep). This morning I woke in the dark at the family villa of my friend Mauro on Lake Como. I dressed in warm clothes, and turned on my headlamp. Wandering down ancient, cobble-stoned paths I found the shores of one of the fingers of Lake Como, and photographed the lights of the town of Lecco across the water in the misty dawn.
Dawn on Lake Como © Harold Davis
[Click here for more from Italy on my blog. This is a repost from Oct 8, 2016.]
July 4, 2017
Flower Photography Workshop in Maine Coming Up Soon
Please consider joining me July 31 – August 5, 2017 at Maine Media Workshops in Rockport, Maine for a week of intensive flower photography—both on the light box and in the field. There’s nothing like a week of intensive photography at Maine Media on mid-coast Maine eating lobster with a group of fellow photographers, and eating, breathing, and living photography.
Some comments from participants in my recent flower photography workshop follow below, as well as a note on my workshop philosophy and the content of this specific workshop.
There are still a few spaces left in the Harold Davis Maine Media Workshop week of flower photography, but to avoid disappointment please consider registering right away (click here for more info and for registration). I don’t get to the east coast of the United States that often, and do not expect to be giving this workshop again anytime soon.
Flowers at School © Harold Davis
Here are what some participants in my recent flower photography workshops have said:
“Harold is unmatchable! An honor to be able to be able to have him as a mentor…. for photography and for life.”
“AWESOME!!! Harold has a great teaching style, and it was great to learn some new shooting and post-processing techniques.”
“Excellent!!! Recommend to anyone who wants to take their flower art to the next level.”
“Amazing teacher! Patient, knowledgeable, thoughtful and sharing, easy to learn from. Looking forward to many more workshops with Harold! What a total gem… “
Mallow © Harold Davis
From my welcome note to workshop participants:
My belief is that folks learn most when they are hands-on, and having fun. So we will be doing a great deal of flower arrangement and flower photography—and I think along with new ways of seeing, you will learn some techniques, and ways of using your camera, that may not have occurred to you before. These new approaches are great with flower photography, but also go way beyond subject matter, and are really applicable to almost any kind of photography.
Besides floral photography, floral arrangement, working on a light box, and various kinds of special lighting effects, we will be exploring macro photography, field flower photography, high-key HDR, post-production in Photoshop, backgrounds and textures, and LAB color, and more. As you can see, it will be a very special, busy, and creative week!
There are still a few spaces left in the Harold Davis Maine Media Workshop week of flower photography, but to avoid disappointment please consider registering right away (click here for more info and for registration).
Clematis and Poppies © Harold Davis
There are still a few spaces left in the Harold Davis Maine Media Workshop week of flower photography, but to avoid disappointment please consider registering right away (click here for more info and for registration).
June 29, 2017
2018 Photography Workshop to the Southwest of France with Harold Davis
Please consider coming with me and bringing your camera on an adventure to the “deep France” of the Lot River valley. The dates for our Destination Photography Workshop to the Romantic Southwest of France are April 19 (leave US April 18) – April 27, 2018. We will be hosted once again at the wonderful Mas de Garrigue near Calvignac. For more information, click here for the Prospectus, here for the detailed itinerary, and here for the Reservation Form.
This is a very small group, with a minimum size of six, and a maximum size of ten. There’s already been some enrollment. Early-bird discount ($500 off) expires August 15, 2017.
Please let us know if you have any questions, and hope to see you there!
June 24, 2017
Podcast with Harold Davis
Check out this wonderful interview with me in a podcast produced by Mid Century Books. Click here for the podcast, here for the Mid Century Books blog story, and here for The Photographer’s Black & White Handbook on the Mid Century Books website.
Tables and Chairs, Valletta © Harold Davis
Here’s the description of the podcast: Internationally-known digital artist and award-winning photographer Harold Davis joins our podcast to discuss his 2017 book THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S BLACK AND WHITE HANDBOOK. Davis is a professional photographer, as well as teacher, world traveler, story teller, and he is a classically trained painter. A multi-published author, his writing is as evocative as his art, and this comes through in his visual style. In fact, he values writing so much, he calls himself a “photographer as poet.” He started his career in the New York art scene of the 1980s. Later, he spent time in California’s technology industry. Now Harold Davis heads his own studio in Berkeley, CA.
Part 1, What Should Be in a Photographer’s Backpack
Tuscan Road © Harold Davis
June 23, 2017
Matilija Poppies and Mallows
You got to love the Matilija Poppy, a California native, with its wonderful huge yellow center and puffy white petals. The poppies are of the Romneya genus (so are neither Papaver nor Eschscholzia), and grow on bushes from mid-California south into Mexico. In this image, I combined a central Matilija Poppy with some humble mallows, arranged in a crescent shape to create a subconscious sense of a circular sweep in the photo.
Matilija Poppy and Mallows © Harold Davis
Related stories: Design for a Stained Glass Window Made of Flowers; Mallows.
