Wendy Blomseth: PhotoPoet: 2013

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Red Roses for the Holidays (Light and Shadow series #5098)

Red Roses for the Holidays, #5098

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Black and White still life, 2013

Black & White Still Life, 2013

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Figurine in Shadow and Light 2013

Cooking with Homegrown Carrots B&W

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Light and Shadow series begins, 10/2013

Light and Shadow 2013

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Look at Everything As If For the First Time

Floral Bouquet for St. Patrick's Day 2012

As much as I loved this image in color with a blue background, I've fallen in love with black and white imagery all over again.

I've always been a "seeker of light, still seeking." This is a perfect example of how the spirit of the image comes alive and more 3D with the light as the main focal point instead of the colors.

I feel the need to reconnect with my photography and reconnect with the light source that guided my photographic journey.

"On each and every one of these 365 days,
I will look at everyone and everything
as if for the first time,
especially at the smallest things."

Paula Coelho
Chronicle - As If For The First Time

Friday, September 27, 2013

Floral Portrait #1, 2004

Another exciting journey begins on the world wide web. Have you heard about The Art Stack? A new social media site to view the classic "master" photographers, painters, sculpturist and endless more.

My husband, Karl, appears to be all excited about it. Is it the next shiny object, or something that may have some longevity? The founders are following 30,000 artists so how much attention does any one artist get, or need. That's an interesting question all by itself. How much attention does any one artist need? I'll think on that one later.

But since Karl is generously encouraging me and my photography series I should give it a try. He just started uploading a couple of my Floral Portraits so I might as well get on board, too. However, being the eternal businesswoman and entrepreneur and taskmaster, I'm going to upload the photos here as well because this is my blog and I have some control over what I have here and where it's going. So, drumroll please....


Floral Portrait #1, 2004, B&W HandColored

Thank you Rebecca Pavlenko for the hand coloring weekend workshop I took from you "back in the day."

Floral Portrait #2, 2005

In 2005 our photography business, InBeaute Photography purchased its first digital camera that we thought would be a good professional quality camera that we could use for weddings. So, being the former girl scout I started to practice making portraits.

As our mentor, Monte Zucker said, "you don't practice on a paying client."

I found flowers/floral portraits the best subject for countless reasons and so the journey into digital portraits began. I started making photographs on the front porch of our home. Little did I know that I would come full circle and arrive back to the front porch studio in 2011 when we left our 1,400 sq. ft. studio in St. Paul, MN.

     “We shall not cease from exploration
     And the end of all our exploring
     Will be to arrive where we started
     And know the place for the first time.”

T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets

Floral Portrait #3, 2005

In March 2005 I still had a lovely collection of hand made papers carefully wrapped in plastic that I would use to create laboriously crafted, multi-layered greeting cards, often with my BFF Karen Bryan. On long winter nights she would gather her card stamping materials, inks and hand made paper materials so that along with my paper collection we could create some awesome layered greeting cards.

When I created this floral portrait on the front porch, I didn't have a selection of professional photography backgrounds so I thought I'd try the heavy black paper with the thin gold threads in them. It would be perfect practice for a floral portrait.

Floral Portrait #4, 2005

Floral Portrait #4

Homage to an Edward Weston Crafted Black And White

Yes, the lily on the black hand made paper was beautiful (Floral Portrait #3) but when the sun started to go down and the long shadow was created, I had to make the black and white version. It looked like something my favorite photographer Edward Weston might have made on a long exposure black and white film camera.

As I often say, half in jest, half serious, "the sun made me do it."

This is almost picture perfect but of course, I'll always wonder, "What would it have looked like created on black and white film and hand printed on Kodak fine art fiber paper?"

Well, I'll never know. And I'll just stay content with this lovely little digital black and white portrait.

"You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved." Ansel Adams

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Pink Roses x 3, 2013

Pink Roses x 3

Flowers.... yes again.

I don't expect anyone else to enjoy these floral studies like I do. But that's just fine.

I have no desire to become an actual florist. There are plenty of extremely talented people who do that much better than I do. But since I'm in Minnesota in early March and it's not too colorful outside at the moment this is the next best thing to being outside enjoying Mother Nature.

I get the total joy of receiving this bouquet as a gift from my husband, Karl, and documenting it for my everlasting enjoyment.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Straw - A Natural Art Form

After visiting The Russian Art Museum in Mpls. my friends and I went for a fun and delicious lunch break at the Wise Acre Eatery. While lunch was filled with lots of giggles and yummy Moraccan Squash Soup, we all had lots of fun photographing the environment inside and out.

I was caught up photographing the straw formations that were on display in the front of the building; quite interesting all the twists and turns the straw was shaped.

Oil and Vinegar, 2013

Oil and Vinegar

Don't usually do "product placements" but I had a really good experience at a local store called Vinaigrette MN. I came in with a bottle of Olive Oil from Palestine that was a gift from our friend Dale Stuepfert.
The friendly staff and owner tasted the sample and helped me find the olive oil that had the most similar quality and taste.

In fact we even went on to do additional "fun" tastings that included the most delicious combination of Orange Oil Olive and Fig Vinegar. yummy yummy. I recommend it, if you haven't tried it before.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Winter Morning View

Up early in the morning and felt like tackling the morning snow fall.

When I was finally finished I just had to look up and enjoy the view.

Snow topped branches and trees and lots of birds flying overhead.

ahhh the beauty of winter in Minnesota!

Valentine Greeting Card

Tulips for Valentine's Day

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Visual Poetics, 2013

Visual Poetics

"How do I love thee, let me count the ways"

As I was photographing this arrangement I was thinking of two totally different things:

*My niece, Kristi, who LOVES tulips might enjoy this image reproduced for herself.

*"Sabbath" a favorite book of poems by author Wendell Berry. His book centers around his poetic meditations on the Sabbath day from the perspective of his landscape, farm, crops, people and weather.

Many of my favorite floral portrait sessions are created on a Sunday, which was the Sabbath day in my family of origin. I'd like to think that they are my visual poetics on the Sabbath.

My floral portraits are not random snap shots since I do work hard at creating the best possible image with lighting, equipment and the arrangement of the piece. To me they symbolize a specific person, place, holiday etc and are more than what simply meets the eye.