SML Synergy = See-ming Lee + Synergy;
SML Copyright Notice
Copyright 2007 See-ming Lee 李思明 SML / SML Flickr / SML Universe. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2007 See-ming Lee 李思明 SML / SML Pro Blog / SML Universe. All rights reserved.
I reprocessed some photographs from my Bear Mountain, NY / Study / SML Flickr Set into black and white as a way to focus the viewer's attention on the structure of the composition + contrast in tonal values + not be distracted by the contrast in hue.
Copyright 2006-2007 See-ming Lee. All rights reserved.
SML Fine Art = Small + Medium + Large + Fine Art;
Fine art refers to arts that are concerned with a limited number of visual and performing art forms, including painting, sculpture, dance, theatre, architecture and printmaking. Schools, institutes, and other organizations still use the term to indicate a traditional perspective on the art forms, often implying an association with classic or academic art.
The word "fine" does not so much denote the quality of the artwork in question, but the purity of the discipline. This definition tends to exclude visual art forms that could be considered craftwork or applied art, such as textiles. The more recent term visual arts is widely considered to be a more inclusive and descriptive phrase for today's variety of current art practices, and for the multitude of mediums in which high art is now more widely recognized to occur. Ultimately, the term fine in 'fine art' comes from the concept of final cause, or purpose, or end, in the philosophy of Aristotle. The final cause of fine art is the art object itself; it is not a means to another end except perhaps to please those who behold it.
An alternative, if flippant, reference to "fine art," is capital "A" art, or, art with a capital "A."
The term is still often used outside of the arts to denote when someone has perfected an activity to a very high level of skill. For example, one might metaphorically say that "Pelé took football to the level of a fine art."
That fine art is seen as being distinct from applied arts is largely the result of an issue raised in Britain by the conflict between the followers of the Arts and Crafts Movement, including William Morris, and the early modernists, including Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Group. The former sought to bring socialist principles to bear on the arts by including the more commonplace crafts of the masses within the realm of the arts, while the modernists sought to keep artistic endeavour exclusive, esoteric, and elitist.
Confusion often occurs when people mistakenly refer to the Fine Arts but mean the Performing Arts (Music, Dance, Drama, etc). However, there is some disagreement here, as, for example, at York University, Fine Arts is a faculty that includes the "traditional" fine arts, design, and the "Performing Arts".
An academic course of study in fine art may include a Master of Fine Arts degree.
美術是一種藝術，一般指除了建築藝術之外的造型藝術的通稱，一般分為兩大類，即：純美術和工藝美術兩類.
美术是一种艺术， 一般指除了建筑艺术之外的造型艺术的通称，一般分为两大类，即：純美術和工藝美術兩類.
ファインアート （fine art, fine arts）は、芸術的価値を専らにする活動や作品を指す概念。 日本語の芸術とほぼ同義であるが、とくに応用芸術、大衆芸術と区別して純粋芸術を意味する場合に使われる。芸術の中でも美術について使われることが多く、この場合、応用美術に対して純粋美術とも。
ファインアートは、ハイカルチャーを構成する一部分である。ハイアート(high art)はファインアートとほぼ同義だが、ファインアートは応用芸術との対比で、ハイアートは大衆芸術との対比で使われることが多い。
代表的なファインアートは絵画、彫刻であり、これに対するイラストやデザイン、工芸と峻別されるが、20世紀最後の四半期以降、その領域は互いに浸透し、区分は曖昧なものになりつつある。
Setup
Canon EOS 10D
Canon 17-40 f/4L
Exposure Settings
CRW_35498: ISO 100, 30.0 s at f/9.5, 17mm
CRW_35499: ISO 100, 30.0 s at f/13, 17mm
CRW_35500: ISO 100, 30.0 s at f/6.7, 17mm
Variations
Manhattan Bridge HDR (color version)
Software
Photomatix / HDR Soft
Photoshop / Adobe
When I shot these photos, I did not have a timer cable release with me. If I were to shoot these at a small aperture, I would have to set the camera on bulb while keeping my finger on the shutter release for the entire exposure. To minimize the risk of completely ruining the photos, I've decided to vary the aperture values for the different exposures instead of varying the time and keeping a constant aperture value.
Note that it is generally not recommended that you vary the aperture values for images intended for HDR (Wikipedia: High dynamic imaging) processing. If you use software like Photomatix to perform tone-mapping, for example, the varying levels of focus on the photo will create blurry results. I have had to apply a bit more USM (Wikipedia: Unsharp Mask) than usual for this image. And if you view large, you can see that the grains are quite visible.
I am happy with the HDR result though--the wider aperture gave it enough exposure to show the golden reflection under the bridge, and the small aperture contribute to the oh-so-gorgeous star bursts from the lights.
By using Photoshop's channel mixer for the black and white conversion, I was able to manipulate the the local contrast further. The absence of color united the tonal values of the two orthogonal axis of the bridge. The overall composition seems to have improved, and now looks like a giant extruded plus sign with very heavy industrial ornaments.
The result is very rewarding and I'd like to thank Moxette for her suggestion to process this as a black and white photograph. :)
Manhattan Bridge, New York City / Project (Set)
HDR Photography / Project (Set)
SML Photography (Set)
SML Collection (Collection)
Functional = Beautiful
Manhattan Bridge HDR
Photography = Composition
Photography / Philosophy
SML Collection = See-ming Lee + Design + Technology + Marketing Strategy
Theorizing aesthetics
Ideal Husbands