Photographic Expressionism

It has been a while since my last post. I wanted to share a few images I have recently created, and a few thoughts on them. There are a few specific processes I have used in these images as well as the others I have in the following Picasa album, entitled Digital Art 2009.

http://picasaweb.google.com/markrohlf/DigitalArt2009#

I wanted to include the Railroad Crossing image in my comments, as it was the creation of this image that began a trend which led to the creation of the other images in this album.

I guess I should just begin by telling you how this image came to be. The story is really not that exciting. I was browsing around with my images, and happened upon this one. The original was nothing more than just a straight black and white shot. I was living in Abilene at the time, and was staying the weekend in my small studio. I was bored, so I took the camera for a stroll. Snapped it, and carried on with life. I tucked the image away on my hard drive and forgot about it. Two years later I happened upon the image again, and began to wonder if there was something I could do to make this image more exciting. So I began applying different effects in Photoshop. Most of the trials did not do much for me. I started applying different colors to the image, and the image began to take shape. Finally, I found an effect that twisted the image, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was absolutely amazed at what I had discovered.

I am now beginning to wind down this particular style of expression with my photographs, but wanted to share just one more with you. In this photograph - Solarized Power 102 - I utilized a few of the same techniques to arrive at the final image, and again, I was very pleased with the final result. But I just want to mention, that these final results came after trying many other techniques that failed to achieve the desired result. Neither of these images were pre-visualized. They were results of experiments in digital art.

I believe these images fit into the category of Photographic Expressionism.

Expressionism in art is the notion that the artist takes a scene found in nature, interprets and re-creates the scene to express an emotion. I have found this to be true with the images I have created here.

Self Portrait

I have just been having a blast with my images in Photoshop. This is a self portrait I shot back in my Bronica days, before I sold that monstrosity of a camera. I loved that camera, the Bronica GS-1. Of the medium formats; 6X4.5, 6X6, and 6X7, the GS-1 was the largest at 6X7. The optics were top shelf, and the images were crystal clear. By the time I was finished invsting in cool gadgets and add-ons to the camera, I had about $5,000 into that kit. I thought I would be buried with that camera. Heh heh. But time caught up with me. Technology too. Before the digital camera stole the show, I had sold the kit for about half of what I had invested. Not bad actually, as digital was very close to critical mass in the industry, and I was afraid no one would be willing to invest in legacy technology.

This particular image has a bit of significance for me. I was out and about in downtown San Diego with Tom Normandeau. Tom was my mentor in photography. He is pictured (to my right) here. We were just taking the cameras for a stroll. Tom is holding his Mamyia 6X6. He liked the square format for some reason. I personally don't, as it just doesn't seem right; a square image. Plus, I don't like to crop on the final print. I would much rather crop directly in the camera.

Shanghai 1989

Here are a few images from my last deployment while stationed on the USS Blue Ridge. Shanghai was the last scheduled stop for the ship. This was an historic event, as it was the first mooring of a US Navy ship in mainland China since the end of World War II.

We were there for just 3 or 4 days, if memory serves. It was very exciting to be part of that history in the making. The day before we tied our ship to the pier, we were all briefed on the cultural subtleties of Shanghai, as we did with all ports of call. Also, we were to remain in uniform during our off duty hours, due to the significance of the trip.

One of my fellow photographer's (PH2 Hanson) and I went on a walk about one day, and he captured these images of me. The first one shows a sort of unwritten tradition. Or maybe it is written somewhere. Anyway, we happened upon our Chinese Sailor counterparts during our walk, and decided to have a photo opportunity. We traded military covers (or hats, for you civilians), and smiled for the camera. The second image was taken for the purpose of our ship's publication, however I am not sure if the image ended up being used. It shows me interacting with the locals. The booklet I am referring to is a cheat sheet of common phrases in English and Chinese.

I couldn't help but notice the warm welcome we received by the vast majority of the people in Shanghai at that time. Everyone seemed very excited to approach and attempt to converse with the American Sailor in the white uniform.

The story has an unfortunate, and historically significant ending.

When we left, we were to sail for 2 days back to Yokosuka, Japan, where the Blue Ridge is forward deployed. Between the time that we left Shanghai, and the time we moored in our home port of Yokosuka, the Tiananmen Square crack down had begun. It is my humble opinion the Chinese authorities were waiting for us to leave.

Lighthouse at Tybee Island - Savannah Georgia

Thought I would share an image with you all. I shot this while attending my nephew's wedding in Savannah Georgia. I missed out on the drama, the day before the wedding. If I have the story correct, the rehearsal was to happen on the island the day before the wedding. When the wedding party arrived, they were blocked from entry onto the island. Evidently Miley Cyrus was filming a movie on the island, and the city had blocked entrance to that area without their knowledge or consent. This whole thing got the attention of the local media outlets, and the bride and groom were suddenly on the news that night. Wow!!

Operation Daniel

I have wanted to share this image with you all for a long time. I shot this picture a few years back, when I was still working in the area. When I began working in Salina, still taking up residence in the Sunflower building in Abilene, I would pass this spot on the Interstate every day, on my way to and from work. In fact, the Lion's Den was seated on the north side of the very exit off the interstate I would take to head back to the apartment building.

I had visited with a few of the locals in Abilene about the store and the sign. They told a very interesting story, and it prompted me to look up the news stories.

Evidently, in 2004, a local man by the name of Phil Cosby, was the first to protest the opening of this store, which sits a mere two miles from Abilene city limits, along the interstate I-70.

He then spoke with his church friends, who spoke with their church friends, who spoke with other church friends in other churches, and on and on, until a protest was born. It was dubbed Operation Daniel. apparently the name was derived from the pioneer protester, Cosby, who explained to a reporter that, "The Daniel is someone who would stand and make a difference in society, where he's at."

Operation Daniel had a specific battle plan, which was to rally the troops to set up a 100 day stake out of the store, and report to their employers, the patrons who would frequent the establishment. They would turn in DOT numbers to their respective corporate headquarters.

Operation Daniel did have a fair amount of success in turning customers away, but their success was short lived. This was back in 2004. The Lion's Den is still open as I type this in 2009. In fact, I believe there is another action being taken against the store. I believe it has to do with the proximity of their sign to the Interstate. Hmm ... looking at this image makes you wonder if the Lion's Den should file a counter suit.

Woman at Market

This is another image taken from Pusan South Korea circa 1987.

Hiroshima & The Peace Park

These last two are photographs from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

Photographing the Buddhist monk made me a nervous wreck, as I remember it. I felt I was in a place very different from my own, and in a sense, I was witnessing a man on a spiritual journey; though at the time, I was not consciously aware of it. My experience and knowledge of the Buddhist culture was very limited. My anxiety was enhanced as I took in the exhibits. It was a sobering experience. The building you see behind the monk is referred to as The A-Bomb Dome. It is so named because it withstood the blast and is still standing today. That fact alone does not seem so extraordinary until you consider how close it was to the center of the blast. It stood 160 meters northwest of the hypocenter.

Pusan South Korea

Just wanted to share with you all four photographs that I think are very special to me.

For as long as I live, I will never forget these two children. As I was positioning for just the right shot, they just followed the gaze of my camera through several different positions, until I had settled on just the right angle. Their expressions seemed so poignant.

Both photographs were from the same day. For the local citizens of Pusan, South Korea, it was just another day in the market place. For me, however, it was a brand new experience, as it was one of my first trips to this country. I was a young American sailor of the United States Navy, experiencing cultures which were far removed from the one I grew up in. I had made it my mission to document what I was experiencing at that time.

More Photoshop Fun

Just a little more fun in Photoshop with a few images. These two buildings have a bit of significance in my recent past. The Sunflower building is an old hotel, built in the early part of the 20th century, in Abilene, Kansas. It was a favorite stop for President Eisenhower, when he would make protocol visits to his home town. They converted the building into an apartment complex, keeping all of the original decor. It has been placed on the historical registry. The owner's run a very nice operation there. The rent is cheap, and the building is kept clean, and in excellent working order. I enjoyed very low rent there for the nearly 3 years I spent working in that area. The distortion in the image was just for fun. There is a ghost in the machine, er something like that. The other image is of the United Building in Salina, Kansas. I worked on the 6th floor for about a year and a half. The United Building was built around the same time frame as the Sunflower Building.

Photoshop Fun

Here is a throw away image that I had a little fun with in Photoshop.

Inspirational Photographer

Ok, last post for the day.

I just wanted to share with you all a photograph that, in my opinion, is one of the most inspirational still images I have ever seen. The photographer is Sebastiao Salgado. I was first introduced to this inspirational photographer when I served as a volunteer docent for the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego. To me, this man is an icon of still photography. The reason I believe him to be the best of the best, is because his images go beyond artistic expression. They tell a story, and at the same time, the images are truly beautiful. This image, in my opinion, epitimizes that quality.

Mark's Bio

Mark Alan Rohlf has been affectionately dubbed "The Accidental Geek." He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations in 1996. His passion for Journalism and Still Photography took root early in his career during his four year tour in the United States Navy as a Photographer's Mate.

Mark published several articles and photographs for both local as well as Navy wide publications within the Navy community. Later, Mark noticed the swelling wave of the World Wide Web in the early 90s and began to focus his attention on the technologies that allowed for digital communications. This, in turn, led Mark to an interest in computer networking, which began his right turn from Communications into the world of Information Technology.

Mark completed a Master of Science degree in Instructional Technology in the summer of 2000. His research project focused on a strategic plan in teaching non-technical workers to create, deploy, and maintain content in digital format using client/server http technologies.

Currently Mark is serving as Seward County's Information Technology Supervisor. He has logged several years as a technician in the hospital setting, and he has served a few years in the Wireless Internet Service industry.

Mark achieved his first Cisco Certified Network Associate certification in the same year he completed his Master's degree. A few years later, he served a term as FHSU's Kansas Cisco Academy Program Specialist.

As Program Specialist, Mark was responsible for managing the Cisco Academy’s quality assurance program. FHSU’s academy is a regional with several local academies subordinate to the regional. FHSU's role in the Academy Program has grown in stature since then. He also made annual quality visits to the local sites, and provided training and curriculum support.

As Mark was transitioning out of the Program Specialist role, he noticed a need for a local academy in Salina, and began communicating with the Faculty at Kansas Weslayen University. He then went on to help KWU implement the local academy under FHSU's leadership. KWU is currently stepping up their efforts to increase their presence within the Academy community, as a result of Mark's foresight.

Currently Mark is teaching two INT courses through the Virtual College.

INT 291 - Internetworking I
INT 300 - Foundations of Information Networking & Telecommunications

Word of the Day

Well, I suppose the title of this should actually be, “Word of the Year”, as it has been about a year since I last posted to my shiny new, four year old blog. Why has it been a year since my last post, you ask? A lot has happened in the last year, but do you really care? Ok, fine – I’ll tell you. I recently changed jobs, and I am now living (temporarily) in my brother-in-law’s basement. This does not set well with me, because it does not fit my routine. I am, in some ways, still living out of a suitcase. I don’t like living out of a suitcase. Uh oh. I just took a right turn, and strayed off topic. Well, not really, as the temporary rant actually fits directly into the topic. The topic? Word of the Day. uhh …errr…I mean… Year.

The word is neophobia. The dictionary has a very concise definition. It is the fear of new things. Wow. Where do I begin? Well, I suppose the logical answer is to Google it. But that only gets you results other people have written about the word. You get results about the dysfunctional eating habits of children, among the many other results. You know, the way kids will rant, “I hate onions.” Or “I like hamburgers, but only with ketchup, and only from McDonalds.” Surely the dysfunctional eating routine of a child is a fascinating subject, but it has no impact on my life, and thus, I don’t really give a shit.

So, I suppose a better way to begin, would be to think about some of the different ways the word could be used to describe me. Hmm, self-psycho-analysis - A lovely romp into your own mind. It keeps the brain sharp.

Ah, the noise of humanity.

How can I be described as a neophobic? I suppose it would be prudent to start with my comment in the first few sentences of this write up. I don’t like living out of a suitcase. I don’t suppose that is entirely true, as I love travelling, and experiencing the world around me. I love learning about new cultures, and how they differ with the culture I grew up in. For example, I am now living and working in Liberal, Kansas. Liberal has a significant Hispanic population. In fact, it may be possible that the Hispanics outnumber the white “majority”. Please don’t quote me on that, as I am not referring to the census here, but rather, I took a comment I heard from the daughter of a friend, who is a high school student, and interpreted it as a microcosm of the general population. The comment she made was, “They outnumber us.” Of course “They” are the Hispanic population in the high school. Wait. Before I go any further, I think it’s important to note that she was not making any derogatory or racial comments about Hispanics. But rather, just pointing out some of the cultural differences between them and us whiteys.

Where was I? Oh, right – trying to describe my love of learning new things, but my hatred of learning them from a suit-case. Or maybe it could be better described as a love of learning new things, but a hatred of learning them from someone else’s basement.

Believe me; it has nothing to do with not feeling welcome, or not having enough of a buffer zone between myself, and my in-laws. They have been nothing but gracious, welcoming, accommodating, etc. I would have been in a world of hurt if I would have had to find a place on my own, and in such a short period of time between jobs. I am eternally grateful for their willingness to give up their basement, so that I would have time to look for the right place, and not just the first place. In fact, their knowledge of the town, and the people in it, helped find me the perfect place. I have nothing but kudos to Marybettie (sister-in-law) for that. But regardless, I just want my own place. I want things to be set the way I set them. I want the bathroom towel to be where I set it. I want the toaster to be on the counter beside the fridge. I want the temperature to be where I set it. I want to have silence when I am writing, and I am not getting it right now as I type this. Grrrrr!!!!!!!!

It could be argued that this is not an example of neophobia, as it is not the fear of new things. But rather, the grizzled disdain of OPRs - Other people’s routines. Maybe that’s true, and true in the sense that their routines are actually not new. But they are new to me, and I don’t like it. So I guess you could go either way on that subject.

Ah, the noise of humanity.

Maybe this is all just an exercise in control. And I’m not in it. Maybe, it’s not really a fear of new things, but rather a fear of things I am not in control of. Ouch, that hurts. Is that a bad thing? Am I a closet control freak? Sheesh, I just opened a can of worms that I don’t want to dissect. Let’s put the lid back on that one. LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA .. I … AM … NOT …. LISTENING … TO … ME!!!!!!!!!!

I think I will just wrap this up by pointing out the obvious, although it’s not really obvious to most, until someone (and I’m usually that someone) points it out.

Neophobia is the opposite of Neophilia. Those two words are used to describe the two extremes of human interest. The first used to describe the fear of new things, or novelty, and the second with the absolute glee for novelty. Balance in all things - All things in balance. The Eastern wise man is eternally the centrist, but not because he’s riding the fence, but rather because he knows that we humans cannot fit our lives into a cookie cutter. Sometimes you’re in control, sometimes not. Sometimes you live in someone’s basement, and sometimes you have a guest in yours.

Ah, the noise of humanity.