My Art Cards

I'm taking a break from my usual posting for a bit of shameless self promotion to let you know that in addition to my print sales I sell handmade art cards which are $7.00 (CDN) each from any image you like on my website here or something from this blog. My cards are made with acid free paper, and each card features a “mini” 4 x 5 inch fine art print attached to the face of the card , printed by myself using my Epson 4800 printer with Epson Enhanced Matte paper, place name and my initials are pencilled in at the bottom of each photograph. The card includes a envelope and is protected by a clear plastic sleeve. My cards are available at Mosiac Books in downtown Kelowna, B.C. ( 411 Bernard Avenue ). For those of you outside the Kelowna area please email myself (gary at garynylander dot com) and I can make arrangements with PayPal to send out a invoice for which ever card or cards that you desire.

Roadside Photography

Here is another image of hoarfrost covered trees that I made on a quiet country road about 4 km from my home in West Kelowna, B.C. I had gone out earlier in the day looking for hoarfrost covered trees, I thought of a likely spot in the hills above Peachland, B.C. that would be a good bet for some fine images. After arriving at the area and an hour of fruitless hiking around with my 8 x 10 camera and seeing the hoarfrost covered trees so tantalizing close, high up on the hills and finding no access trails along the steep hillside, I returned back to my car without making any photographs. While loading up my gear into my car I thought of another area in the hills above my home, so that is where I went, and it was full of examples like the picture posted, it was easy roadside photography, I didn't mind though as it was relaxing and easy on my back by not having to carry the big camera for long distances. I thought the hoarfrost covered trees was kinda neat to photograph, I enjoyed making these series of images. The image posted was made with my 8 x 10 Tachihara view camera and a 270mm lens, (Tri-x film).

The Intricate Network of Winter

The winter this year around these parts of the country in the south western section of British Columbia, Canada has been one of many cloudy days and in the valley, the clouds hang low amongst the mountains, what I found interesting from a photographer's perspective is the amount of hoarfrost that I have seen this winter, especially higher up where the clouds and mountains collide during the freezing night, its really quite amazing how intricate the hoarfrost can be. This image was taken not far from my home near Crystal mountain where I go to snow shoe on a regular basis.

The Keys of Creativity

There is nothing more challenging for an artist, whether you be a photographer, writer, painter, sculptor, musician, or what ever you may be, to be faced with what to create on that so called "blank page" metaphorically speaking. Often its just getting started with those first clicks of the shutter, writing those first few words, that first stroke of the brush, even if it doesn't seem like one is making much head way it can perhaps change the direction of the creative spirit.

Personally I always find it challenging to get started on a project, usually once I get into photographing a subject I seem to fall into my 'zone' and I find the making of pictures comes much easier, often I find what I had pre-visualized to be the 'photograph', gets changed along the way and the photograph doesn't turn out to be what I thought it would be. I have found that some of my most rewarding images are the ones I was never looking for in the first place, they seem to call out to me and find me, so I try to keep my ears tuned to that subtle voice in my mind that points out the unseen and which allows me to capture images that I feel compelled to photograph.

To be honest I don't think that there is any simple answers as to how to fill the 'blank page', the creative process can be many multi-layered and not unlike climbing a mountain, it may be a steep climb and some will find the ascent tough going, but its best to just take your time, catch your breath and take in the view around you, and above all have fun creating in your own unique way.

The image of this old church organ made in August of 2003 are long past it's playing days, but it made for an interesting photographic subject, the camera used to make the picture was a 4 x 5 Tachihara view camera with a 120mm lens.