Hummingbird, 2 views

mike_p

This is the hummer I use as my avatar. I took this picture in the Bonsai Society of San Francisco bonsai display at the San Francisco Landscape and Garden Show,about 3 years ago.
I've been experimenting with Photoshop, with the idea of creating an image I could use on a scroll. The first pic is the original, and the second is Photoshop modified to resemble a watercolor.
Comments?

Mike

Attached Images

	hummer-dinger1.jpg (63.1 KB, 71 views)
	hummer-dingerartsy.jpg (68.6 KB, 89 views)

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Carl_Bergstrom

Sure, Mike, but they'll be completely unfiltered.

I think I've commented on the first before. It is one of the nicest bonsai photographs I've ever seen, in part because it shows bonsai "in action" as a living organic being interacting with the rest of the world, instead of as static art in forml display. (Both are great, but I see more high-quality photographic examples of the latter).

The second looks like someone played with photoshop in an effort to make a great photograph look artsy.

-Carl

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mike_p

Hi Carl
You're correct, Carl. That was the idea. Photos don't work on a scroll. I think that this will, and it opens up possibilities in this vein. As you know, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I printed it on a tee-shirt transfer, and ironed it onto a 9 1/2"x10 5/8" scroll card, and it worked. Resembles a painting on the card.
Next, I'll find some fabric to make a scroll from, iron the transfer on it, and see how that works.

Mike

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Bonsai is not a hobby.
Bonsai is a way of life.
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mike_p

I mounted the card on a scroll for a quick picture. I'm pleased with the progress, as I just "dreamed this up" last night when unable to sleep for awhile.
I'm certain that "tradionalists" may have problems with this concept, but that's OK. In these situations, I'm often reminded of my friend, the late Bobbi Burr. She would say to me,"But Mike, that just is never done". And I would reply with irefutable logic, "But Bobbi, everything that is now done, was once never done". She had no answer for that.

Mike

Attached Images

scroll.jpg (59.4 KB, 61 views)

__________________
Bonsai is not a hobby.
Bonsai is a way of life.
MP@BBB Studio

There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way
Gautama Buddha

Adam_MA

Mike,
2 comments from my opinion. When this becomes the finished product I think it might look better if the unprinted parts of the page are trimmed off (not sure if that was your intention. The second thing that I noticed was that the eye looks a bit strange, just a big white spot.. Maybe touching that up a little would help break up that void.

Great idea, thanks for sharing it with us.

Adam

pootsie

Mike:

I love this picture. What a lucky break!
When I saw the modified version, the first thing I thought of was L.C. Tiffany -- it looks like a master work of stained glass.

hmmmmm ... maybe I could do a glass version? (Tiffany I am not!)

I agree with trimming the white edges on the scroll.

pootsie

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mike_p

Adam and Pootsie
This was the first experiement. I agree that the picture should cover the card. The reason it doesn't here is because of the 8.5x11 paper that won't cover in the horizontal. My printer will take paper up tp 13x19, but the paper trimmer I ordered to handle large paper hasn't come yet. When it comes, I can print on paper larger than the card, and trim it to the exact size.
I think this opens up new vistas. Like Yogi Berra says,"When you come to a fork in the road, take it".

Mike

__________________
Bonsai is not a hobby.
Bonsai is a way of life.
MP@BBB Studio

There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way
Gautama Buddha

Attila

Mike,

Just for fun's sake, why don't you make two scrolls. One with the original picture and one with the fake one (just kidding).


Then, post a 3point display with each scroll and lets see which one is more successful.

It would be a very interesting excercise in my opinion and would shed some light on why one scroll works and why the other of the same subject won't. I am sure we would learn something.

mike_p

Attila, that could be interesting And, easy enough to do. However, I don't think a realistic photograph works as a proper part of a classic three point display. Maybe if the "bonsai" was 5 gallon nursery stock, the accent was a flat of flowers, then a photo as the scroll would be appropropriate.
In the case of bonsai, artistry (we hope) has been applied to the tree, and some degree of artistry should be applied to accent and scroll.
Maybe what we need is a display seminar conducted by Hideko Metaxas and Willi Benz. Not just a 1 or 2 hour presentation at a convention, but a full day excercise in display.
I would attend. I wonder how many others would?

Mike

__________________
Bonsai is not a hobby.
Bonsai is a way of life.
MP@BBB Studio

There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way
Gautama Buddha