It’s been a busy month and perusing the series of images I have created in the last fifteen years, that seems to be the case for many a June! No surprise is a wonderful month for photography. From Alaskan Arctic to the Australian Outback, take a visual journey around the globe in June!
If you’ve subscribed to become a view of the first season of Pathways to Creativity, good news – Episode 5 is up today! Though much of my instruction is designed to train your artistic eye and hone your vision into that of an accomplished visual storyteller, this episode talks a little hardware. I discuss the lenses I use most often, which ones I might consider leaving at home on a long trip, the circumstances that influence my choices – and much more! It’s a longer episode, but packed with decades worth of professional experience.
I’m back in Seattle today where I’ll be starting my 14-day quarantine – safety first!
It’s taken some time to look back over my career and select the best photos to illustrate the many lessons included in Pathways, and the feedback I’ve received so far from those who have subscribed has been incredibly gratifying.
If you’re on the fence about the series, here are a couple questions that have come up:
Q: Is there any kind of free trial for Pathways to Creativity, so I can get the gist of what it is all about before I buy?
A: Absolutely! Below and on the Pathways website you’ll find a free nearly 16-minute long preview that includes a few segments from the first 3 episodes.
Q: If I purchase a single episode, but decide I’d like to upgrade to the entire series, is that possible?
A: Of course! If you’ve purchased a single episode and decide you’d like to purchase the complete series, simply email us at info@artwolfe.com, or email vimeo through the help menu on the right side of my On Demand page and provide the name and email address of the original purchaser. We can provide you with a code to apply to the series for any previous episodes you have purchased, not to exceed the cost of the full series price.
Q: Season 1 implies a Season 2; is there a release date for the second season yet?
A: While there is no release date set in stone for S2 of Pathways, I already have the chapters laid out and ready to go, with a bit more finessing – rest assured S2 is all but a certainty in the very near future!
Back in 1975, I graduated from the University of Washington with Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and Art Education – and this is the foundation I’ve built my career upon, traveling the world and capturing images utilizing the tenets of my traditional art background. Teaching has always been a passion of mine, and Pathways is the cultivation of 45 years of these pursuits.
The feedback I’ve gotten for the first two episodes of Pathways has been wholly positive and I can’t thank you enough for checking it out. I love sharing what I do, and to be able to combine that with the affinity I have for teaching is the perfect way to share it.
If you’re looking to be inspired to take your photography to the next level and consciously create beautiful shots that artistically emphasize your subject to it’s fullest extent – look no further!
Pathways to Creativity has arrived! Actually, the first episode arrived last week – which was simply not the right time to post about it. However, we did have a robust pre-registration list and several anticipatory inquiries, so it’s time to get the word out!
“Art, what the heck is Pathways to Creativity?”
I’m glad you asked! I’ve poured over nearly five decades worth of images to bring together a collection that illustrates my various points of view as a life-long artist, photographer, teacher, and traveler. Through the first 12-episode season, I’ll cover topics like composition, using various qualities and sources of light, and challenging conventions. Along with thousands of visual examples, I’ll also provide context to hundreds of images with commentary about the circumstances of their capture, a bit of culture, and more.
“Neat! But what IS it? A book? A video? A workshop?”
Pathways is an online streaming lecture divided into 12 roughly 1-hour long episodes that can be streamed on demand ’til your heart’s content from my Vimeo channel onto your smart phone, laptop, tablet – you get the idea! Episodes can be purchased individually, or as a complete package for a discounted price. Complete package purchasers will also receive a bonus 13th episode! Episodes are released weekly every Tuesday, beginning June 2nd, 2020.
“Got it! So – who will get the most use out of Pathways?”
The beautiful thing about the lessons I’ve constructed is that the information here is evergreen, and it’s cliche to say – but there truly is something here for everyone! From the hard-core travel photographer to the smartphone user, from the fine-art painter to the nature enthusiast who just wants to see images of wildlife and culture and hear my stories and the thought process of my work – it’s ALL here.
“Do I need to be an expert with my camera to get the most out of Pathways? How do I know if it’s for me?”
The vast majority of what I have to say in Pathways has much more to do with training your eye to see than it does training you to use a camera. Although some episodes deal with things like shutter speeds and depth of field, these are simply tools to meet that end.
To find out what Pathways is all about, check out the free 15-minute long preview below, with excerpts from the first 3 seasons of Pathways to Creativity. Enjoy!
Instead of going for the same ol’ landscape shot that everyone has on their “bucket list”, why not try to change your perspective and create your own original surreal landscapes? By simply changing my elevation and considering both my foreground and background, I get the results I want – you can too, and it’s as simple as changing your point of view!
Crouching, kneeling, or even lying down – if you want the shot, sometimes you’re going to get dirty to get it! That being said, sometimes finding a new perspective is as simple as taking a step or two in any direction. Finding interesting ways to ensure your foreground is equally as interesting as your background and vice versa is key.
In case you missed it, Tequila Time #8 is in the books. It wasn’t without some technical snags, but I’m doing my best stuck at home! I was told there were a lot of messages relaying how much everyone’s been enjoying our weekly chat, and that means a lot!
If you missed the episode, here were some of my top travel moments and some photos to illustrate:
1) 1972: Ptarmigan Traverse
2) 1983: Everest Ultima Thule
3) 1992: Emperor Penguins
4) 1994: Baltoro Glacier
5) 1993: Yanomami,
6) 1995: Omo River Valley
7) 2001: Kumbh Mela
8) 2001: Mount Etna eruption
9) 2016: Nyiragongo Volcano
Next week I’ll be taking a deep dive into my top ten images. I’ll be giving away a print of one of them to a lucky watcher, so tune in for your chance to win!
Another understated but very big deal is that the first episode from season one of my new online streaming series, Pathways to Creativity will be available for streaming this coming Tuesday, June 2nd! Check out the free 15 minute series preview below for a sneak peak at the first three episodes. Nearly five decades of experience experience and travel along with a traditional art background and approach means I have a lot to share! Pathways to Creativity can be purchased on a per-episode basis, or own the whole first season for a discount and two free bonus episodes. Visit the events page to pre-register to be notified when it’s available!
Happy Technique Tuesday – I shot this one down on South Georgie Island a while back, but good design is good design! Technology and style may change – what captures the eye does not! Staying on the topic of learning and teaching, stay tuned over the course of the next week or so to my social media and the blog, some exciting announcements about my new streaming lecture series, Pathways to Creativity are coming soon!
Here in Seattle, the days are getting brighter and longer so I figured I would share a quick tip on maximizing that bright, direct light that can be difficult to deal with – but can in fact be turned to your advantage. Enjoy, get out of the house if you can, but by all means stay safe!
Happy technique Tuesday! Hopefully everyone is healthy and using their time to practice their photography at home. While I’m currently working on my Pathways to Creativity series of lectures, I figured it couldn’t hurt to give some tips for those of you looking to pass the time.
Photographers of all levels know just how useful a tripod can be. Myself and others have touted the necessity of choosing a good brand and not skimping on a cheap one. That being said, sometimes you need to ditch that thing. While the stability a tripod offers is essential for many shots, it’s not always the most maneuverable tool to use.
In this video, I illustrate that by losing the tripod and getting down low, I can capture these chinstrap penguins in such a way that enough background is included and in focus to give true context to their environment. This is an angle and perspective I wouldn’t have been able to achieve without the spontaneity and maneuverability gained by freeing myself from the tripod.
Use your body, the ground, and objects around you to stabilize your shot – don’t forget, any three points of contact, not just tripod legs, will make for a steady shot. Now, unless you’re super lucky, you don’t have penguins in your back yard – that’s okay! Get down low and photograph your familiar surroundings from a whole new perspective.
I spent some time in Utah this past November, and was struck by the colors of the directional light and shadow on the rugged buttes looming over the landscape.
Artists of the Renaissance period would work on a medium-toned colored paper and used light and dark paints, inks, and other materials to build depth within the image, adding form and dimension along the way. The term “chiaroscuro” has come to define images in which there is a strong contrast between light and dark areas that help inform the shape and form of a subject.
Renaissance artists often painted by candlelight, which provided it’s own harsh directional lighting. With photography we are painting in our own way with natural light we’ve been gifted, or our own artificial setups.Obviously it helps to have strong directional light when the sun is low on the horizon, but still high enough to illuminate your subject.
It’s Tuesday – that means a new episode of 
