Hiding.
Beneath your shadow.
Rocks and water. Mosses and Lichens.
My friends. A soft light now. Illuminates my Becoming. ~Ally.
Frozen flowers.
In her article How to do Photography of Frozen Flowers Megan Kennedy illustrated how she creates and photographs her 'frozen flowers.' Megan's method is much the same that Mo Devlin, a master in the creation of 'frozen flowers' also employs.
My methods are different again to those employed by both Megan and Mo, as I design my ice works the right side up.
Mouses a light box when photographing his work whereas Megan describes how she uses the natural light from her apartment window. My method for using backlighting is similar to Megan's: Which as you might imagine, is quite challenging.
The visual effects of flowers that have been frozen are 'out of this world' stunning. My Sony hadn't come into my life at the time I was working with 'frozen flowers.' Never-the-less some of the images I managed to capture were fascinating ~ Making up for the lack of clarity.
Following on from my work with collage, flatlays and assemblage, I wanted to create mini-environments in ice: Replications of nature. And so it wasn't long before this 'branch' of my work started to evolve in its own direction.
Instead of freezing fresh flowers, I began to freeze layers of inorganic bits and pieces, stones and lichens etc as backgrounds and then placed the live flowers/plants on the surface.
Secret space.
Secret space is an example of how I create my water and ice mini-landscapes.
This image was initially shared in black and white for @brumest's MonoMad Photographic Contest.
The background was very simple to construct:
• A bottom layer of crystals and small white quartz stones and pebbles was arranged, covered in water and frozen.
• Muted blue-green lichens were then positioned on top of the ice, submerged in water and frozen.
• Stones and pebbles were then arranged around the edges of the 'rockpool.'
Source: Garland of Pale Pink.
Adding another dimension.
- A thin branch covered in lichen was balanced over the top of the arrangement.
Looking down through the 'forest.'
- Two thicker branches also covered in lichen were positioned over the top.
- The thinner branch twisting. Now resting upon both the ice and the thicker branch.
- Removed the jonquils and nestled some small pink flowers into the lichens.
Final stage.
- Lichen added to the larger branch.
- Small pink flowers added to the lichen.
Photographing Garland of pale pink.
These photographs were taken with the piece held at a slight angle, rather precariously against the window of my north-west facing studio on a bright and sunny morning.
Back-lighting on the ice created intriguing imagery effects: A gentle light being shone on this Secret space. The submerged lichens, becoming more visible: The denser lichens providing shadowy effects and adding depth.
Ten Days of Reflection Challenge.
The rules of this challenge are simple and can be found HERE.
Thank's so much @ilovedietcoke for creating this inspiring #tendaysofreflection challenge where the beauty of reflections: Whether they be in nature or the 'material world' can be highlighted for all to enjoy.
I'd like to nominate @stillwatersart or anyone else with an eye for reflections to join the Ten Days of Reflection Challenge.
Ten Days of Reflection.
Ten Days of Reflection: Challenge Day 1. Frozen.
Ten Days of Reflection: Challenge Day 2. Bass Point Marine Reserve.
Ten Days of Reflection: Challenge Day 3. Tidal pools at Shellharbour.
Ten Days of Reflection: Challenge Day 4. Roses in Ice,
Art and Photography: ©Alison Lee Cousland.
Camera: Sony Alpha A7 Mark II.
Processing: Lightroom.
Oh so delicate those little flowers surrounded by beach pebble beads and mossy chains. Very pretty @allyinspirit.....very very pretty.
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Thanks so much @countrygirl.
I usually save the small delicate things till last. They appear even prettier against the rather motley and dull coloured lichens and old branches. Love working in this way to highlight beauty: In both the accepted and generally non-accepted forms of beauty. 🦋
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That is soooo beautiful.
Loved the description of how you created it too.
I can't wait to see more. 💚
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Thanks so much Gillian.
Each stage is unique ~ With its own beauty. I love the simplicity of the early stages, but I keep adding, sometimes removing elements until the whole arrangement starts falling apart.
Some of the images of the 'frozen landscapes' that I've already shared at Steemit, I'll present in the one article. Will take awhile to do but after that I'll share some of the others. And then: Hopefully create some new 'Infinity' ones. 🦋
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Ally ~ each article you share with us is truly like taking a stroll through the most Divine & BeautyFull Sacred-Space-Scape.
Loveeeee & Healing is always felt & facilitated.
Your peacefull vibe emanates pure patience. You have a way of walking me into stillness that I appreciate so much! and am learning to apply during my own creative processes.
Thank you for Being You SiStar <333 Reiki Hugs & Bright Blessings
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Love, love this one @allyinspirit! it's such interesting thing to see your complex work process, like preparing theatre stage for some play ..
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Thanks so very much Dunja.
I love the parallel with preparing a theatre stage so much. I hadn't thought of my ice works like that before, but in making the backgrounds first, they become like the stage props, that the foreground flowers inter-ACT with. 🙏
Backgrounds have always been important for me in any sort of art work. I tend to pay as much attention to them as the main subject/s ~ If not more, as in these pieces. ⚖️
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Waw!!! I love this post so much!!! The photos are magnificent and magical! They transported me to paradise!!! Congratulations dear @allyinspirit.
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Thanks so much Ginga.
There can be so much 'magic' in how we perceive microcosms. My concept has been to give the illusion of these little environments being larger 'worlds' than what they actually are.
I love the idea of this one transporting you to Paradise. 🦋
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My dear Alison, you always put so much attention to your work, no wonder it turns beautifull every time.
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Thanks so much Maya.
Each separate layer is like a mini-artwork ~ Taking into account what lies underneath it, as it's being created.
Even though these works are relatively small, I've always loved detail and tend to pay a lot of attention to it as well as the relationships that start to form. Similar in many ways to working on a painting. 🦋
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Hi Ally, I'm really impressed not only by what you are creating, but the way you present it through all the stages and how you create beauty out of ordinary pieces using your imagination. I feel tenderness and warmth when I read your posts!
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Hi Isabelle,
I'm so sorry that I missed your response here. Yes, there can be so much beauty in the 'ordinary' ~ We just need to see 'ordinary' things with 'eyes of wonder' ~ Like a child ~ And it will be everywhere for us. 🦋
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