The camera as an artists tool - Kathy Shell, Artist.

The camera as an artists tool 12/25/2009

Today's photo opportunity. White Australian Ibis.

No one knows what artist was the first to use a camera obscura. Aristotle described the technique in the 4th century BC. and in the 15th century AD Leonardo da Vinci wrote a description of the camera obscura, though it is not probable he used such as an artist. It has been suggested (though not proved) that 15th century Flemish painters used it. Some claim, the camera obscura was not invented until the 16th century. We do know that Jan Vermeer and other Dutch artists used this early version of the camera, in the 16th century.

I love to have my camera with me to take advantage of those moments when birds and wildlife come on the scene, moments you rarely can pre arrange. When this happens, an auto focus, with a zoom lenses, compact camera that you have on you, right then and there, like today, when coming home from Christmas dinner, my neighbours the White Australian Ibis were a few meters from my home, presenting a great photo opportunity and a good subject for addition to one of my photos.

All my photos are of course copyright to me as art my art images, I show them for your viewing enjoyment and to illustrate post and encourage artists who wish to have birdlife to add to art works to get themselves a camera that will do the job well. My choice was a Cannon IXUS 990 and I love it.

I don’t personally use a camera as an aid for subjects I can post, like people and flower studies nor for my en plein air, (on location landscape painting work.

The latest postcard I have made from four recent paintings completed using my photos as a guide. The originals and the postcards will be available to purchase direct from artist, during my 2010 tour.