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Cinepoet In reply to Frank-Beer [2008-10-14 15:52:03 +0000 UTC]

True enough.

Though, it is my only logo.

But, when I consider your comment and why I felt an original need to plainly state the facts in the Artist's Comments these things came to mind...

As a digital photographer the majority of my work comes together in PS.

As a Photomanipulator ALL of work comes together in PS.

As a photographer I understand that every image I make I borrow. I also understand that if I build upon that borrowed process I can craft/create something completely different that moves more into the realm of painting - digitally or nondigitally - in varying degrees.

I recognize that I am a digital artist. My Darkroom equipment has a decade of dust. I simply like the "now" moment of it. The fact that it is more eco-friendly is a boom too.

But, as a photomanipulator I see the inherent collage artist shoestrings and recognize how those tendencies lend to the images that I actually do shoot. I have a vast catalog of stock images that I shoot for myself, and I use them when the concept is applicable.

But, as a collage artist...the entire world is game. Though, in order for the world to play this game with me it has to be rendered to fit the game, ie: photo, drawing, painting, word, etc. A photomanipulator is just a collage artist that has traded in their glue stick for a PC (or MAC depending on your preference).

All photographs are concepts. Which also mean that photographers are conceptual artists.

When I photograph a landscape, like I am getting ready to due later today, I know that I did not sculpt the land and make the foliage grow. I did not set the season or pitch the light of the sun. If there is a structure, I did not build it. My act...which is immensely small...just found a spot within the scope of my own limited vision and proceeded to take a picture by setting up my tripod, my f-stop, camera, etc...and push a little plastic button.

It is by choosing my compositional elements and arranging them by perspective that I frame my concept.

The picture above....is no different than if I had shot each independent element. The end result is the same. My concept. My photograph.

But. There is a difference here. And I state it clearly and give props. The difference here is that I did not shoot each individual element. The picture is a collage. It is a photomanipulation.

The final result...the end artifact is a photograph, though.

As a photographer I create concepts in a photographic process. Now, with the advent of the digital era that photographic process has changed immensely. In fact, I would dare to say that the terminology for a modern photographer and photomanipulator could be updated.

But, in regards to the photo above I did all of the things I would have done in the Darkroom, except develop the film. As a digital photographer I never develop film anymore. I transfer my data from one hard drive to the next. That is the development.
Sad really, when ya think about it. But, that is what it is.

The above photograph and the one without the logo - did NOT exist until I created it. Conceptually, it speaks directly to the heart of me as an artist in this particular moment. So, I branded it because it speaks ideologically to who and what I am as Stavros Photography. I am a photomanipulator. I am a collage artist. A graphic artist, etc. These things I do as SP. At least...the image above is a photograph. Here are some other SP branded works that aren't even that:
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In 1993, when I first made that Graphic. I downloaded the clip art of the figure. I modified it with the help of a friend, who was teaching me Corel Draw, and I placed the borders around them and aligned them together. I originally used the figures in the cover of a monthly magazine publication. It was different then.

I reclaimed ownership of those graphics again when I created this image: [link] -I even used the original title of the images and used them in their original concepts for this new piece. But, when I say reclaimed I mean to say that I took something from my past, which I am disassociated too, and found new associations to them. I brought them forward.

Artistically, and in process, there is absolutely nothing different in how I made those images and how I made Holiday in the Sun, or any other photomanipulation. I started with raw elements. I arranged them to suit my end goal. I worked toward that end goal until I was satisfied.

The branding with my one and only self styled logo on all of these images, for me, is a redefining of what it means to be a photographer and to produce photographs.

I know one could argue that one reason the Self Inflicted Advertising do not work as "photographs" could be that no camera was involed. Well, there was one involved. In the original Corel Draw image, we got it camera ready and printed out the master. I took a photograph of one of the covers of the magazines. I extracted the Graphic images from a photograph.

So...Technically, they are photos.

But, again...in today's world...what is a photograph? I am constantly coming up against this question with different answers all of the time with DA Artist and their incredible works.....and I love them for it. I love the constant challenging and redefining and re-categorizing and reshaping of my thoughts and what I think. It is refreshing. It is also why I am here.

So....Thanks for making me think on it some more.

s.

Here's a few other SP brandings for the sheer beingness of it:

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Frank-Beer In reply to Cinepoet [2008-10-14 19:06:57 +0000 UTC]

Interesting what a short comment can do I saw both of your works. I agree with you, it's no problem using your logo there at all, as long as the resources used are stated in the credits.

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Cinepoet In reply to Frank-Beer [2008-10-14 19:32:34 +0000 UTC]

Thoughts are cast. Words are short.

...Though, explaining a thought can be very tedious.



s.

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