Posts

Posted on

Photo Tip for Photographing Sunsets

Make sure to always do this when you are out shooting a sunset.

It is a simple thing to do but many people miss some spectacular photographs by not doing this – and it is not at all technical. Keep your eyes moving, scanning your surroundings. Pay attention to the entire sky – not just the setting sun. Look to your right, look to your left and always, always look directly behind you. That’s it.

Excalibur Condominium in an Ocean City Sunset
Excalibur Condominium in an Ocean City Sunset

You should always be on the lookout for the “big picture” – looking all around you. There are changing light conditions throughout the sky and the area whenever the sun is rising or setting. Some of those changes are not remarkable but some can prove to be quite dramatic. Don’t fall victim to missing a shot by becoming fixated on the main event, so to speak.

Snow Geese? Some comments received on this photograph indicated there appeared to be a flock of snow geese flying over the Excalibur Condominium. The white “lights” in the sky are actually a reflection of ceiling lights in the restaurant where we were dining when this special scene lighting appeared against the dark sky. We were seated by a large window at Albertino’s Brick Oven Eatery, a wonderful Italian restaurant in Ocean City at 131st Street, bayside.

For more photographs of Ocean City and the beach resort area be sure to visit the Ocean City Gallery online.

Posted on

Dangerous Passage

Exploring a bit of artificial intelligence text-to-image creation…

The title may be a bit of double entendre considering that is also the title of the image used in this brief, introductory (teaser) article about the use of “AI” in the creation of art.

difficult passage - ships on a stormy sea
Dangerous Passage by ships on a stormy sea.

A possible “caption” for this image might be…

Sailing ships have always been a symbol of a bygone era. Ancient mariners faced the unpredictability of the sea each time they set sail, and this is particularly true off the coast of Cape Hatteras. With its strong winds and unpredictable currents, being caught in a storm off this notorious cape could spell disaster for even the most experienced sailor. The treacherous waters of Cape Hatteras have long been a challenge to sailors – especially in the age of old sailing ships.

Exploring Artificial Intelligence

I’ve been exploring a bit with AI image creation – but in the above piece, “Difficult Passage,” there was a good bit of post-processing involved. The original concept was text-to-image generation, for sure, but the final look and feel took extra work in Photoshop and Topaz Studio2 and the addition of the “torn apart” border framing the image.

dangerous passage framed sample
Here is how “Dangerous Passage” may look in a frame with a colored mat presentation.

Is it fair to use AI in the creation of art?

Some people claim that this is not art. At all! However, is this any different than a creative person wandering through an art museum and then going home and creating a piece from the inspiration acquired during his museum visit? Or how about a photographer visiting a popular scenic overlook and capturing a landscape or seascape similar to what he saw on a calendar? There are all sorts of “arguments” on both sides of the Artificial Intelligence issue but I believe it is up to the individual to decide…

  • Is it Art?
  • Is it not art?
  • Is it blasphemy?

Yes, it is up to the creator of the piece and each individual buyer/customer to decide.

Yes, “Dangerous Passage” is offered for sale as wall art and on a variety of home decor and apparel items. Click the image above or one of the links below to learn more and to begin shopping.

Link to: Dangerous Passage

Link to: Bill’s Gallery at Fine Art America/Pixels

What do you think about the “torn” edges? They would make it work better on a shirt design – but what about as wall art?

artificial intelligence art
Posted on

One Cat Eye Looking Directly At You

Have you ever experienced the feeling of having a cat eye looking directly at you?

Being “stared at” by a cat can be both an unsettling and fascinating phenomenon. Cats have a mysterious quality that is hard to explain. Their piercing gaze often draws us in and holds our attention as if they are trying to convey something we don’t understand.

Cat's Eye
Cat’s Eye Staring Directly at YOU

Not surprisingly, this bizarre experience of being scrutinized by a cat has been explored by some of the world’s greatest thinkers, from ancient philosophers to modern psychologists.

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle was the first to wonder, “Why do cats have such a penetrating gaze?” In his book On the Soul (De Anima), he wrote, “Why is it that a cat’s eyes appear more intelligent than those of dogs and all other animals? Is it because cats’ eyes are more similar to our own in shape?” Aristotle also noted that dogs and other animals have a “lower soul” than humans, but cats seem more like people. Thus, by the time of the Renaissance, cats had a reputation for being sneaky, malicious creatures. And unlike dogs, they really didn’t have any use for humans—other than using us as food dispensers, that is. Cats would be seen more as a source of entertainment, rather than an actual pet.

cat's eye expressionism
Cat’s Eye Staring Expressly at YOU

The Cat and Religion

Cats are not mentioned in the Bible, but they were known to have been kept as pets during the time of Jesus. In Egypt, cats were considered sacred. Cats believed that they were the protectors of their gods and goddesses. Consequently, the killing of a cat was considered a crime punishable by death. In ancient Egypt, when a cat died, they were mummified and buried in the same way as humans were. The funeral processions were elaborate and included thousands of people. In the Middle Ages, cats were kept as pets and also used for hunting. They are believed to have been instrumental in helping to keep down the rat population. In England, cats were not considered a domestic animal until about 1660.

Flat Earth and Cats?

Hey, cats also help disprove the “Flat Eart Theory.” Sure, they do – if the earth were flat, the cat would push everything off of it, right? (Sorry. Not sorry.)

The Cat’s Eye images above are available on prints, framed, prints, canvas wall art and on a variety of home decor items. Click an image above or a link below to learn more. Click now.

Link to: Cat’s Eye at Bill’s Fine Art America Gallery

Link to: Cat’s Eye Expressionism at Bill’s FineArtAmerica Gallery

Link to: Bill’s Gallery at Fine ArtAmerica/Pixels