Tuesday, September 30, 2008

POE slide show is live!

Have you taken the time to look at the terrific work Bill, our team leader and Grand POEbah, has done on the very first Etsy photographer slide show for our team on YouTube? I would show it to you but I do not think Blogger allows YouTube videos to be included!

Here is the link
.

Individually, we have many strong images with the group, but collectively our team's images are stunning.

If you missed this month's slide show, don't worry - you can get into the next one by sending Bill two images no bigger than 5 inches at their widest points, at 72 dpi. He will whip everything up into another lovely grouping for us to take pride in.

How I Did It

Name: Susan O'Connor (Pretty Petal Studio)
Location: New Market, Maryland - field on the side of the road
How I took the shot: I was driving along and saw these huge dandelions growing along the road...but they looked bigger than your normal dandelion. So I pulled over to take a closer look and they were these gorgeous robust weeds scattered everywhere. I always have my camera with me wherever I go, so I took a few macro shots using my 100mm, 2.8 lens (Canon). When I got home, I was pleased with the photo but wanted to give it a little more interest and dreamy feel. I used Photoshop (CS2) to adjust levels and added one of my favorite vintage actions to it. That's what cast the bluish hue. Then I chose a photo of one of my textures and placed it on top of the "dandelion" photo. I changed the texture layer to multiply and dropped the opacity to get the subtle look of the texture around the edge. And voila..."Two Minutes to Twilight" was finished. I named it that because I took it right before the sun went down.



How I Did It is compiled by Susannah Tucker. Susannah is a self-taught photographer based in Melbourne, Australia. She has been fascinated with photography since she was a young girl, and enjoys experimenting with techniques, layers and textures. View the collection in her shop here.

Please contact Susannah if you would like to participate in a future How I Did It feature.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Mosaic Monday

Yellow, Red and Gold

These rich tones are normally associated with numerous football teams, but for the Photographers of Etsy they represent much, much more. It’s time to grab your camera and lose yourself in all of the beauty.


  1. Shades of Fall – ferventbutterfly
  2. Wild Pony’s Cabin – AlisonDuBois
  3. World on Fire – AriaImages
  4. Autumn Gove – saragrein
  5. Fine Art Collage on Portland Japanese Garden – mesmanimages
  6. Signs of Fall – WhiteWolfPhotography
  7. Standing Naked – jesspeterson
  8. Aspen Tree Trunk – jacquelynlee
  9. Fall – MelissaFenton
  10. Yellow Tree – TwiggyBoodles
  11. Moss grows flat – curiosh
  12. Autumn Leaves – OctoberImages
Having grown up in Colorado, this is my favorite time of the year.


Mosaic Mondays are compiled by
Patti Meyer. Patti is an award winning graphic artist who resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. See her photography collection at her shop right here.

Inspirations

Inspirations is a regular feature that includes two photographs selected by one member of the Photographers of Etsy. The first photo is from that team member's personal collection, with some insight into the specific motivation behind it. The second is from another teammate, with some thoughts on why that image is particularly exciting to them.

Title: fleeting
Artist and shop name: Allie Cavender, of allieartforchildren

On describing what inspired her to take this photograph, Allie says:

My inspiration for this photograph came from my children, particularly the way they seem to be changing every day and growing up so quickly. Everyone said the time would fly, and it is, more than I ever realized it would. At times, I feel almost panicked, and feel driven to try and capture these fleeting moments with my camera. On this day, we were taking photographs for another Etsy seller. Our oldest daughter leaned down to pick some flowers, one of her favorite things to do, and I caught it. Then, while editing, I flipped the photo from portrait to landscape, and I thought, "She's flying. Look at her beautiful hands." The photograph captured perfectly my feelings of time racing past, and my longing to hold my children closer.


Title: The Monk and The Monkey
Shop name: ancientartizen

On why this image inspires her, Allie says:

I found this photograph by Chris of ancientartizen while writing a post on diversity for my own blog. I was struck immediately by the intimacy of this photograph. Both the monk and the monkey seem very comfortable being with each other and each one appears to be very interested in the other. There is an element of acceptance and peacefulness to their relationship. The sepia tones also add a gentleness to the scene and allow the focus to be on the two main characters and their relationship with each other. For me, this photograph evokes strong emotion, which I think, is part of what great photographs do.


Inspirations is compiled by Hannah Verbeuren. Hannah is a trained photographer who resides in Cleveland, OH with her husband Dirk and their motley crüe of cats. Her passion for photography reared its head when documenting live bands, skateboarding and parties became more than just social gatherings but also the means to an image. Currently, she works in the music industry (writing, peddling and organizing) and takes photos wherever she may roam. See Hannah's photography collection at her shop and website, and say hello to her on her blog.

Please contact Hannah if you would like to participate in a future Inspirations feature.

Friday, September 26, 2008

New Works!

(Ed. Note: Many thanks to Erin Beutel aka maddoxstudios who compiled this week's New Works feature.)

I've loved fantasy since I was a child. My cousins and I used to go out and roam around the woods making up fairytale worlds for ourselves for hours! I have noticed that there are a lot of beautiful fantasy inspiring photos among our team's work. Here are a few gorgeous shots from this week that sparked my imagination!


Reflection - JKphotography


Striped Church - honeytree


5x5 Print - ValeriaH

City Crows - gothicrow

A Thing of Beauty - greenislandstudios


Equanimity - uncommondepth


Lucky Cheng - AnnWilkinson


Carnivale No. 1 - photobox

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Focus On: Orange Cat Art

"I see photography." Photographers are inclined to notice photography wherever they are. I love to look at and purchase fine-art photography, and from all the excellent work I see on Etsy every day, I know there are others like me.

I was in a gift shop in North Carolina this spring and saw a package of beautiful notecards consisting of photos of wineries in the state. Not only did I actually need some stationery, but I was also intrigued that I'd seen this artist, Orange Cat Art, somewhere else. On Etsy, that's it! So, I got a bit more excited about buying and using the cards. I also sell notecards to local retailers where I live, and I wanted to know a bit more about this artist.

Orange Cat Art is two artists, sisters, Jill Davis and Sheri Symanski. They live in separate regions of North Carolina -- Raleigh and Charlotte -- and their combined talents of photographic eye and skill, as well as studio talents and marketing savvy make up Orange Cat Art. Here's the conversation I had with Jill. I hope you find it as inspiring as I do.

Ann Wilkinson: How are you and your sister able to work together in an artistic manner?

Jill Davis: My sister and I are both photographers. I've been interested in photography since high school, but it took some training from the School of Journalism & Mass Communication at UNC-Chapel Hill and a foray through the world of commercial photography before I decided to see if I could make a living shooting what I love. Sheri's background is in public relations, and she is currently a full-time mom. She's always had a great eye, so when I began making prints and notecards to sell in local gift shops and galleries, including her images was an obvious choice.

AW: Do you work at Orange Cat Art on a part or full-time basis?

JD: Orange Cat Art is almost full-time. I still do some freelance work for a few commercial shooters, including stock management, marketing and production, and assisting, to help make ends meet. But since we started in 2004, our business has been steadily growing. Keeping up with our Etsy site, our primary website, about a dozen retail locations and 8-10 festivals per year, is pretty close to a full-time job. Oh yeah, and shooting new images!



AW: You mention your start in commercial photography before trying it on your own. What jobs did you have after college?

JD: My education was actually in journalism and editorial photography. The focus was more on capturing the moment, or storytelling, rather than on the technical ("f8 and be there"!). My first job was as photo editor for Reuters News Picture's North American desk in Washington, DC. When I followed my husband to Louisville, KY, for graduate school, I found a position as a studio manager for a wonderful photographer who did a variety of work -- magazine editorial, advertising, catalog, in-studio, and on location. Due to my comfort with computers, I quickly became a digital image editor, retoucher and all-around geek. Over the years, my husband and I have moved several times, and I've been able to get this same type of job with a number of photographers, as well as freelancing as a producer, photo assistant and digital assistant. It's given me some terrific opportunities to see so many aspects of our business from the inside.

AW: And how did this lead you to where you are now?

JD: All along, I've continued to shoot on my own, but I realize that for my own photography, capturing what appeals and reveals itself to me out in nature was much more desirable than shooting at the request of an art director or a mother-of-the-bride! So, when we moved to Raleigh, I decided to start focusing on my own photography and see where it would lead.



AW: You and Sheri have done so well with local retail and festival sales. How has your internet presence enhanced your business?

JD: Our internet presence definitely strengthens our business, but I think it's a long way from replacing it. I love the fact that people from all over the world can view our work, and it helps me to have an on-line portfolio when approaching new venues.

As comfortable as our society has become with online buying, we find that people still love to hold up a print, touch the cards, or most importantly, talk with us about where the photo was taken. It seems that personal connection, the story, goes a long way with art and craft buyers. In fact, most of our web sales come from customers we have already met at festivals. Etsy is wonderful because it raises our visibility with people who already value art and that personal touch, no matter where they live.



Thank you, Jill!


A world traveler and self-taught photographer, look for Ann wandering around city streets and tromping through woods and hiking trails with her camera. After owning an international transportation business for many years, Ann has found her creative spirit again through the lens. See more at Ann's shop and her website.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Welcome New Team Members!


Footprints in the Snow - stepintooutworld

There is something fabulous afoot here on the Photographers of Etsy team. More and more people join each week and bring additional fresh perspectives and points of view to our already talented, dynamic group. Let's extend a laurel and hearty handshake to some of our newest members...

  1. Ocean View - CalliahPhotography
  2. Parisian Trees - Mylittleeye
  3. Angkor Wat - CuesPhotography

Spice Souk - WorldTree

Floating Reflection - dewindesigns


  1. Mini Print from the Flowers ATC Collection - BustedKnuckle
  2. peppered - andeesigns
  3. Passionate Poppies notecard - 2ofakindphotography

Writing on the Wall - urbanBasement



The New Members feature is compiled by Gigi Leonard. Gigi is a Chicago-based bon vivant and self-taught photographer whose camera lens automatically turns toward the poetry of the everyday. She is currently working on a black and white landscape series, buying too many pairs of shoes and enjoying the beginning of Autumn. You can see her work here and view her latest finds from the world of art and decor on her blog, the roadside scholar.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Good Taste


Cupcake Sprinkles - ScarlettBeautiful2

I don't care if they are trendy or girly, I am all for cupcakes. I love everything about them: the ritual of collecting all the ingredients before preparing a recipe, the color of the batter when you are stirring it up, the lightness and spring of the freshly baked cake tops, the fluffy sweetness of the frosting, and of course the artistry and effort that goes into decorating them. Most importantly, I like how it is a more manageable sweet treat than a big ol' piece of cake. I need all the help I can get.


Spoon - ValeriaH


  1. Let's Bake a Cake - BrandyShay
  2. Baking - brownrose
  3. Candy Explosion - ara133photography
Apparently I am not alone in my sugary ardor; just check out the fabulous carb-free morsels some of our fellow Etsy photographers have captured to set our senses reeling...


  1. Hey There Cupcake - saranorris
  2. Raspberry Lemonade - ELBfoto
  3. Cherry cake - ellemoss
  4. On Her Birthday - weberphoto
  5. Sand Delight - AMomentAMemory28
Seriously, even that sandy one looks pretty tasty to me right now...

Inspirations

Inspirations is a regular feature that includes two photographs selected by one member of the Photographers of Etsy. The first photo is from that team member's personal collection, with some insight into the specific motivation behind it. The second is from another teammate, with some thoughts on why that image is particularly exciting to them.


Title: Sunroom (transfer)
Artist and shop name: Hilary Hitchcock, of curioush

On describing what inspired her to take this photograph, Hilary says:

This photo is a Polaroid transfer of one I shot several years ago, when I lived in my old apartment. I recall lazing around on one sofa with my camera, noticing how pretty the light was that was falling on my friends across the room. I still miss that room. Babies have since been born, etc., so get-togethers are less frequent. Even though this was only a few years ago, it still gives me a bit of nostalgia for a time that seems to have passed us all by. The Polaroid transfer process is super fun and I recommend you try it if you can get your hands on some Polaroid film before it all disappears!




Title: Super Fries
Shop name: Tiffany Teske

On why this image inspires her, Hilary says:

This photo is one of my favorites of Tiffany’s, although pretty much anything she does is spectacular. I had done a few Polaroid transfers before I encountered her work, but she has definitely inspired me to think differently about the possibilities of this medium. I just adore Super Fries. It’s so familiar, even though I don’t think I’ve ever seen a truck selling fries! But it’s every truck from childhood – the ice cream trucks, the man who used to drive down the alley when I was a kid, selling vegetables and fruit and candy. I love the soft muted colors. And with its timeless feel it’s just perfect for the Polaroid transfer process.


Inspirations is compiled by Hannah Verbeuren. Hannah is a trained photographer who resides in Cleveland, OH with her husband Dirk and their motley crüe of cats. Her passion for photography reared its head when documenting live bands, skateboarding and parties became more than just social gatherings but also the means to an image. Currently, she works in the music industry (writing, peddling and organizing) and takes photos wherever she may roam. See Hannah's photography collection at her shop and website, and say hello to her on her blog.

Please contact Hannah if you would like to participate in a future Inspirations feature.

Mosaic Monday

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose….

Or so the saying goes, but I think the Photographers of Etsy know a rose is more than just a rose. When you get up close and personal is there anything more beautiful to photograph?



  1. Candy Coloured Center - BeckagatorPhoto
  2. Pure Beauty – thepurpleshamrock
  3. Yellow Rose - AMomentAMemory28
  4. Rose – KellyK17
  5. Pink Rose Fine Art – photoamato
  6. In the Garden – JoannasPhotography
  7. Soft Peach Rose – ArtyAllSorts
  8. Rose/Signed Fire – barefootphotos
  9. Purple Rose – octoberphotography
  10. Radiant Rose – organicstills
  11. Sweet Home Alabama – MuddyRiverGirl
  12. One Sister - SheShoots

Thank you to all of our “Rose Photographers.”



Mosaic Mondays are compiled by Patti Meyer. Patti is an award winning graphic artist who resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. See her photography collection at her shop right here.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

How I Did It



Name
: TeaPhotography
Location: Los Angeles County
How I took the shot: Looked in my view finder to see if everything looked good, then I snapped it. Threw it into Photoshop, opened my branch photo. Where did I get the branch photo? Well, I “found” the branch in Angeles National Forest and took it home as a souvenir. I placed the branch against a wall and photographed it. Threw the photos into Photoshop and worked the magic, then added vintage texture to it. That’s basically it. And the model is my older sister. Also dressed her up and forced her to be my slave for the day!


How I Did It is compiled by Susannah Tucker. Susannah is a self-taught photographer based in Melbourne, Australia. She has been fascinated with photography since she was a young girl, and enjoys experimenting with techniques, layers and textures. View the collection in her shop here.

Please contact Susannah if you would like to participate in a future How I Did It feature.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Photographer's Favourite

Photographer’s Favourite features two specially selected images from a Photographers of Etsy team member, and their personal thoughts about them. The first photo is from their own collection, and the other is from a fellow teammate.


The photographer selecting the images this week is a personal favourite of mine, so it's a kind of photographer's favourite's favourites. The images have been chosen by Barbara Carter who is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

This is what she has to say about her own style of photography:

"My painterly or pictorial style developed out of an exploration of Polaroid image transfers and digital manipulation. Initially I was attracted to the Polaroid transfer process because it creates a particular mood and texture, an impression rather than a literal expression. To create archival pieces I started scanning the transfers which lead to compositing images from multiple captures, and eventually to adding texture from captures of texture rather than from Polaroid transfers."


Here is the image she has chosen from her own work:

Barbara's comments on her own photograph:

"This 8x8 image is part of a my BIRDS series. Its printed on Hahnemuhle Smooth Fine Art paper with Vivera (pigment) inks.This sandhill crane was captured at Bosque del Apache, a wildlife refuge in central New Mexico. The image is a photomontage. The crane was captured at first light. The background is from the Bosque, but from later in the day. Also part of the photomontage are several layers of texture and TTV edges to give the image a vintage look."


Barbara's choice comes from Canadian artist Roberta Murray who trades as uncommondepth on Etsy.

Broken Wings

Barbara's thoughts on Roberta's work:

"Roberta's work is always an inspiration to me. She catches images with a haunting tenderness and then, through artful post-processing and the judicious addition of texture, creates stunning, gorgeous, evocative imagery. I particularly love her birds (as I have gone to the birds myself), but her landscapes have the same quality. "Uncommondepth" is an apt name for Roberta's work. Thanks, Roberta, for ongoing inspiration.

Of this specific image, Roberta herself says:

"Broken Wings represent the fragility of the world around us, and how easily nature can be broken by society's ignorance and selfishness."


Photographer's Favourite is compiled by Rhiannon Connelly. She’s a professional portrait and fine art photographer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Most of the photographs she currently shows on Etsy are what she calls “Polaroid Paintings” – using the nearly extinct SX70 Polaroid film to create dreamy images halfway between photograph and painting. One of the best things about this technique is that after taking the photograph most of the work is done in a cafe! See more in her Etsy shop , her website and her blog.

Please contact Rhiannon if you would like to participate in a future Photographer's Favourite.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Wanderings: I Spy


Echo - ClayGiraffe
(Bologna, Italy)

Etsy photographers travel the world in search of a unique viewpoint. I suspect you can find them patiently waiting for just the right light, just the right moment,


Saving Face - elephantdreams
(Ayuthuya, Thailand)


just the right time to be alone with their subject,


Arcadia Wind - pfeifferphotos
(North Oregon Coast)


or when the wind blows just gently enough,


FirenzeII - evesimone
(Florence, Italy)


or when the Holga says it's having its own fortunate fun.


City of Love - thrivestyle
(Paris, France)

And when a photographer is just like a spy on the world.

Great moments from great places, captured for all time.



A world traveler and self-taught photographer, look for Ann wandering around city streets and tromping through woods and hiking trails with her camera. After owning an international transportation business for many years, Ann has found her creative spirit again through the lens. See more at Ann's shop and her website.

New Works!

What a beautiful world we live in. From tall sailboats in seaports to silos and barns, it surrounds us everyday, everywhere, even if we don't always see it. I am always amazed at the amount of talent our photographers have for finding beauty in everyday places and things. It motivates me to grab my camera and plan a day of discovering something simple and lovely in my own little neck of the woods. Take a look at this week's picks for some inspiring images.

Seaport Village - mjrojasphoto


The Lighthouse at Sunset - gigileonard


River Rock - octoberphotography


Red Barn - kbastin


Butterfly - ValeriaH


Silo and Barn - MelissaLund


New Works is compiled by Pam Hardy. Pam lives in beautiful Alberta, Canada. She has always been fascinated with cameras and has been taking pictures most of her life. Her favorite things to photograph are flowers and animals, and she enjoys experimenting with new subjects and techniques. See Pam's website here and her shop right here.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Tips and Tricks: Sepia

The following is a tip that Jon Sienkiewicz, a photographer and avid professional writer and photographer, contributed to the 100 in 100 feature on the Adorama website. We've peppered Jon's points with a few fine examples from some of our team members.


Abandoned - JMcGuinness


Lone Tree - jenniferdennispotter

To give photos an old-fashioned appearance, use the Sepia Mode. All of the colors will be replaced with varying shades of sepia (sort of a dark brownish-yellow) that’s commonly found in some antique photos. Choose your subject carefully. Old barns, antique furniture and city skylines look great in sepia, for example, but people, food and pets generally do not. Vary the exposure to alter the outcome. Slight underexposure will exaggerate the effect. Some cameras--Sony models, for instance--favor brown tones, while Casio and others are a bit more orange.


City Serenity - AriaImages


solitude - rainwolf

Be careful when you edit your images. Some editing software attempts to counterbalance the sepia coloration, especially if you are using any type of Auto Fix setting. Those Auto Fix results will be a boring black-and-white monochrome. The same holds true when you have your digital images printed. Whenever possible, inform your printer that you used a special effect so they won’t try to “correct” the colors by removing the sepia.


The Golden Days - SusannahTucker


Untitled - houseofsixcats