Interviewing pieces of art /doux-amer

The story behind the artwork.


We will try to show the story behind the artwork.
Many times all of us we are wondering how a piece of art was created.

Here is a good chance to learn some informations about techniques, the artist's feelings who is being interviewed and many more.

We will be picking one artwork,and the selected artist will have the chance to choose 3 of his own works to be featured.

If you want to be interviewed,send a note to /Litavis or /JurgenDoe . We will be happy to give you an interview about your work.


It is our honor to present the seventh artist of our article.

doux-amer

The chosen piece

1.What is special about this piece?

The context… I just bought a Canon macro lens (100mm),a few days before taking this photo (October 2010).
I don't manage very well the technique of macrophotography. I would like, but with no success.
I read many tutorials, I spoke about the technique with friends photographers… I was learning, I always learn!
This piece was the first which had good feedback (but, if I had to take this photo again, it will be with different settings).

2.Did you choose, or were you chosen to create this artwork?

I am an amateur, so, I choose what I want to photograph. Nobody asks me some work. I like this freedom, I have no pression.
I only have the chance to own a good material… And to practice photography since I was fifteen. As I like rainy days (sunny too!) and raindrops,I take my camera when it rains.
It was more easy this day, the leaves are in my garden… and I shoted it from my house.

3.Tell us about your techniques.

I've always had a preference for aperture priority.This allows me to manage the depth of field.Or try!
I know I have much to learn about it. Generally, I put a 400 ISO sensitivity, and an aperture between 7 and 16.
I use a calculator depth of field.I work freehand, but I use a tripod when necessary. Natural light, reflections and water drops attract my eye. When I load the pictures on my computer, the work of image editing begins.
I try not to "kill" the pictures of nature. I work only the levels and curves, I add a sepia filter, and in general, that's all. I refuse to post-processing in HDR, except in exceptional cases.
I keep HDR for scapes shots, or pictures I find missed.

4.Where did you found your inspiration about this artwork?

Any photographer will tell you, just look around on each side, but also in the air, towards the ground, to find a thousand little things to photograph. My training ground is my little garden (20m2).
I find lots of beautiful things: flowers (roses, daisies, Osteospermum, honeysuckle, green plants, herbs ...) and a little jungle (bees, ladybugs, ants, spider…).
That day it was raining, I opened my window and saw the drops of water on the leaves of honeysuckle. I took a couple photos, I cropped it square format (my preferred format) and I gave it a title.

5.How do you feel about the feedback and the response you received? Do you care? Or do you like to figure it out all by yourself?

Tough question!Answer difficult ...
To be honest, the critics are never easy to accept.But that's how we progress.If the criticism is said with kindness,it is better received.
I accept everything about the technical choices, advice to progress, the image processing. When a friend told me that my subject is blurred, even slightly, I accept it.
And I try to repare, if possible!The only thing I refuse is free criticism, and sometimes nasty (this happened to me on DA).I never forget that I am an amateur, and my work is not perfect.
I forget to say I like the nice comments! Hehehe…

6.What is the strangest or funniest comment or question you've ever gotten about this artwork?

I don't remember funny or strange questions about this artwork.
The only kind thing that comes to mind, about my galleries on DA, is a demand for tourist information from a friend Slovenian DA.
She had decided to come on holiday with her husband, in Brittany, Saint-Malo, because I had photographed the landscape had pleased him. I found it very pleasant.
We made an appointment and we spent the day together. A great souvenir!

7.What are your biggest doubts (assuming you have any), about your artwork?

Which person has no doubt about his work? These are the doubts which we are advancing.
I am convinced that the amateur photographer, like many other artists,has a message to pass, to transmit an emotion, a precious moment to capture ...
My biggest question is not being able to share my emotions. I try to link the pictures and titles,I would like my work makes you want to write a story,feel emotion,share a smell ...
Every picture I submit, I ask myself whether I did it successfully...

8.Share with us 3 pieces of your gallery to admire.

Feb 3rd