Craig Bell

“What Makes A Good Photo?” by Huntington Witherill

craig — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:58:32 +0000

John Paul Caponigro’s blog posted an interview with photographer Huntington Witherill. I thought his answers to questions about what he thought made a good image were some of the best I have seen. If you don’t want to follow the link to JPC’s blog, here are the three questions and their answers:

How do you know when an image doesn’t work?

It will fail to communicate anything beyond the fact that it is a photographic record.

How do you know when an image is good?
I know an image is good when it exhibits the following three (3) attributes:

#1- An interesting and effective use of light has been captured.

#2- A visually stimulating and well-balanced composition has been employed.

#3- The technique and craftsmanship used to render the photograph itself demonstrates sufficient proficiency so as not to disrupt or distract from either #1 or #2.

How do you know when an image is great?
I know an image is great if I am brought to tears.

No really, it was funny for a while…

craig — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:57:33 +0000

Dear Mother Nature,

I like a good joke as much as the next person and I have to admit that for a while I thought it was pretty funny when you added snowflakes to yesterday’s rainstorm. It stopped being funny about three inches ago. ENOUGH ALREADY!

Your usually good-natured fan,

Craig

A Well-Oiled Machine

craig — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:19:42 +0000

I eventually forced myself to leave behind the steel ghosts in the warehouse beside the Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology and moved on to the museum itself. For those of you who are not familiar with this place, it is a huge steam-powered water pump that used to provide Hamilton with it’s drinking water. It is engineering from an era when machines were allowed to be beautiful.

Cylinder Head

Piston Rods

Connections

Steam-Punk Goggles

Steel ghosts

craig — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:06:39 +0000

I recently visited the Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology to take some photos after sunset to show how the machinery would glow under the last vestiges of daylight combined with the old incandescent lighting of the museum. Before I went into the actual museum, I had a chance to take a look inside an attached warehouse and found a graveyard of old machinery. This post is about what I found in the warehouse.

Waiting Talon.

Distant Rumble

Blue

I like frosting!

craig — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:36:06 +0000

Dark waters

Graceful Arches

Fall Colours

craig — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:04:23 +0000

Winter Blues

Fall colours and fallen leaves

King Coal

craig — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:46:46 +0000

The Atlas Coal Mine near Drumheller, Alberta.

On The Edge Of Darkness

Rattle & Shake

Rust, Tan and Black

I have a show at the Millcroft Inn & Spa

craig — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:15:27 +0000

In addition to my pieces in the Crimson Feather Gallery, I am now also showing in the Dining Room of the Millcroft Inn & Spa for the next month or so. Take the opportunity to treat yourself to a nice lunch or dinner while enjoying the art!

Mountains In Black & White

craig — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:53:27 +0000

A couple of high-contrast B&W mountain shots.

Mount Burgess

Rundle Making Clouds

Reflected Glory

craig — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:28:45 +0000

More from my recent trip to the west, these are reflections of the scenery around Canmore, Alberta as seen reflected in a pond.

Twisted Sisters

Heavy Cloud