Showing posts with label Flickr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flickr. Show all posts
Interview for Flickr (*)
Photographer literally draws life into his photos (You can also read the following interview on Flickr Blog or find the above audio interview on Yahoo Screen).
In this edition of The Weekly Flickr, we profile Belgian artist and photographer Ben Heine. To call Ben Heine’s photography “cool” or even “eye-catching” is a bit of an understatement. His images are mesmerizing. Ben’s Pencil Vs Camera series perfectly blends illustrations in surprising but clever juxtapositions.
Ben Heine has created a form of art that is truly all his own. Einstein once said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Ben Heine is using art to show that if you can see it and believe it, there are no bounds to creativity!
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| Ben Heine for The Weekly Flickr |
Ben Heine has created a form of art that is truly all his own. Einstein once said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Ben Heine is using art to show that if you can see it and believe it, there are no bounds to creativity!
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| Pencil Vs Camera - © Ben Heine |
“In my work, I’m really trying to interact with the viewer,” the Belgian artist tells The Weekly Flickr in the accompanying video. “I want to make them laugh or smile, and if I can, surprise people so that he or she doesn’t understand how it’s made. I’m having so much fun and I want them to feel the same.”
Portfolio Stats - 2013
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My Flickr portfolio views: +21m - August 2013
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Pencil Vs Camera - 57
Sometimes, you find the key to your problems in the dark moment. There is always a magic door and a key near you. The light and the solution aren't far. Sad events can be a source of enrichment too. The bird I drew isn't an eagle or a parrot, it's a crow. Model: Caroline Madison. See the entire Pencil Vs Camera album. The above picture is dedicated to Tina, a special person, a friend and a solution finder.
Details/zoom:
Sketch evolution (for the crow):
Other angle (sort of backstage picture, while I was
testing which pose was the best for Caroline):
testing which pose was the best for Caroline):
Ben Heine Interviewed
by Michal Fanta (*)
by Michal Fanta (*)
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Michal Fanta: What inspired you to become a photographer?
Ben Heine: I've been creating all sorts of images since a long time. I was first mainly a drawer and painter, my conception of art in general changed when I realized how powerful and illustrative photography could be. Flickr has somehow contributed in my evolution as photographer.
Who or what are your influences?
Gilad Benari, a great contemporary photographer, was my first influence in this discipline. Many other artists on FLickr have also given me insight and stimulation.
In your Flickr profile you say that you are mostly self-taught. What do you do to educate yourself?
Yes, I'm mainly a self-taught artist, I briefly studied sculpture and painting in England but Journalism is what I've been trained to do (I have a license in journalism), but I never really worked as a journalist… irony and nonsense, I know, but my passion for visual arts was always stronger. At the very beginning, it has been a little hard for me to handle all the technical devices associated to any artistic productions. But I think if you stay focused on your ideas and goals, you'll always manage to be heard in the crowd.
What has the “Pencil vs Camera” project given to you (so far)? Has it changed your perception of the world in any way?
No, it hasn't really changed my perception of the world, it has changed the way I’m working on my new artistic projects. This series has helped me being published in many countries, which is something great.
Has the Flickr community helped your photography? (if so, how?)
I would say: Yes, definitely, because the friendly community on Flickr is really helpful and proactive. When I started posting pictures on FLickr several years ago, I was sort of motivated to do each time better because I received useful critiques and feedbacks from other Flickr users. I see the Flickr platform as a huge and creative brainstorming laboratory that can lead to the most amazing experimental artistic projects…
What is more important in taking pictures: the gear (camera, lenses,...) or the photographer? And why?
In my opinion, the vision, the skills and the imagination of the person behind the camera is more effective than any powerful gear. It’s certainly true that very expensive lenses and camera bodies are often a guarantee of quality but I think photos taken with the most simple devices can also be interesting if they are creative, unexpected and innovative…
Ben Heine: I've been creating all sorts of images since a long time. I was first mainly a drawer and painter, my conception of art in general changed when I realized how powerful and illustrative photography could be. Flickr has somehow contributed in my evolution as photographer.
Who or what are your influences?
Gilad Benari, a great contemporary photographer, was my first influence in this discipline. Many other artists on FLickr have also given me insight and stimulation.
In your Flickr profile you say that you are mostly self-taught. What do you do to educate yourself?
Yes, I'm mainly a self-taught artist, I briefly studied sculpture and painting in England but Journalism is what I've been trained to do (I have a license in journalism), but I never really worked as a journalist… irony and nonsense, I know, but my passion for visual arts was always stronger. At the very beginning, it has been a little hard for me to handle all the technical devices associated to any artistic productions. But I think if you stay focused on your ideas and goals, you'll always manage to be heard in the crowd.
What has the “Pencil vs Camera” project given to you (so far)? Has it changed your perception of the world in any way?
No, it hasn't really changed my perception of the world, it has changed the way I’m working on my new artistic projects. This series has helped me being published in many countries, which is something great.
Has the Flickr community helped your photography? (if so, how?)
I would say: Yes, definitely, because the friendly community on Flickr is really helpful and proactive. When I started posting pictures on FLickr several years ago, I was sort of motivated to do each time better because I received useful critiques and feedbacks from other Flickr users. I see the Flickr platform as a huge and creative brainstorming laboratory that can lead to the most amazing experimental artistic projects…
What is more important in taking pictures: the gear (camera, lenses,...) or the photographer? And why?
In my opinion, the vision, the skills and the imagination of the person behind the camera is more effective than any powerful gear. It’s certainly true that very expensive lenses and camera bodies are often a guarantee of quality but I think photos taken with the most simple devices can also be interesting if they are creative, unexpected and innovative…
Ben Heine was interviewed by Michal Fanta in October 2010.
(*) Michal Fanta is a photographer from Czech Republic.
(*) Michal Fanta is a photographer from Czech Republic.
Slideshow of the Week
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Some of my photos that have a strong blue in the sky...
sometimes with one or two little clouds ^^
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Some of my photos that have a strong blue in the sky...
sometimes with one or two little clouds ^^
- Pencil Vs Camera -
Selection of Online
Publications
Selection of Online
Publications
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(Click on the image to enlarge it,
136 screenshots, 8500 pixels wide)
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136 screenshots, 8500 pixels wide)
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This is a non exhaustive selection of the first websites that featured my "Pencil Vs Camera" series a few weeks ago. It is almost impossibe to gather all the references because more than several hundreds thousands of websites and blogs have featured these images (with texts in various languages: English, French, Dutch, Chinese, Russian, German, Polish, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian, Indian, Arabic...). Many thanks to all of them!
I'll soon share with you some of the printed publications in worldwide newspapers and magazines.
I'll soon share with you some of the printed publications in worldwide newspapers and magazines.
Slideshow of the Week
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I could have called it "Drawing Vs Photography"...
All the graphic elements shown in this set (and in my Flickr stream) come from my own production. I drew the sketches, took the photos, edited them...
If you wish to have any more information or simply want to download and own the original version of one of my creations, please contact info@theartistery.com
All the graphic elements shown in this set (and in my Flickr stream) come from my own production. I drew the sketches, took the photos, edited them...
If you wish to have any more information or simply want to download and own the original version of one of my creations, please contact info@theartistery.com
Slideshow of the Week
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"Digital Circlism" is a new technique I'm developing. I'm gonna make many other portraits in this style.
You might ask, what exactly is Digital Circlism ? This is a modern artistic expression, a mix between Pop Art and Pointillism. It is made with digital tools (this is just a personal definition).
In my opinion, the most important thing to focus on before starting that kind of project is to understand the dynamic movement of someone's face. I usually paint each circle individually on a black surface with a sharp round brush in Photoshop CS4 (it could be any other graphics creation software).
It is also essential to pay attention on the aspect of each circle (changing slightly the size and color for every circle is always better). That's the difficult part, because there can be several thousands circles in a single portrait. It has to be done with harmony, according to the main lines and dynamism of the subject represented.
I usually make bigger circles in the lighter areas of the subject and smaller circles in the darker places. This gives more volume and a 3D illusion. There is no limit, it's a new technique and I think there is much more to do with it.
You might ask, what exactly is Digital Circlism ? This is a modern artistic expression, a mix between Pop Art and Pointillism. It is made with digital tools (this is just a personal definition).
In my opinion, the most important thing to focus on before starting that kind of project is to understand the dynamic movement of someone's face. I usually paint each circle individually on a black surface with a sharp round brush in Photoshop CS4 (it could be any other graphics creation software).
It is also essential to pay attention on the aspect of each circle (changing slightly the size and color for every circle is always better). That's the difficult part, because there can be several thousands circles in a single portrait. It has to be done with harmony, according to the main lines and dynamism of the subject represented.
I usually make bigger circles in the lighter areas of the subject and smaller circles in the darker places. This gives more volume and a 3D illusion. There is no limit, it's a new technique and I think there is much more to do with it.
Slideshow of the Week
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A composite Image is a picture that is made from the combination of multiple images merged into a single surface.
The photos in this set are "constructed" creations. This technique often generates interesting and weird surreal effects. Call this "manipulation" or "montage" if you wish.
I made them with elements from my own stock accumulated over the years. For example, a crazy cloud from Holland, a nice looking animal from Africa, a tree from Canada, any object or subject worth to be seen and combined into a brand new and original composition. There is no limit to creativity, everything is possible.
Of course, there are different levels of difficulty when you start making composite images. In the past I often used only 2 or 3 different photos that I merged into a single creation (let's say a cool sky and a cool land). I'm now rather interested in making more complex images made sometimes from more than 10 elements coming from different photos I took in various places around the world. I sometimes even paint some whole parts of the images I'm working on.
In my opinion, the important thing to focus on when you make that kind of project is to merge the visual elements together in a natural way and make all the added shadows, painted light effects, enhanced perspectives, etc look good and "spontaneous". Depending on your final goals, this can be time consuming.
The photos in this set are "constructed" creations. This technique often generates interesting and weird surreal effects. Call this "manipulation" or "montage" if you wish.
I made them with elements from my own stock accumulated over the years. For example, a crazy cloud from Holland, a nice looking animal from Africa, a tree from Canada, any object or subject worth to be seen and combined into a brand new and original composition. There is no limit to creativity, everything is possible.
Of course, there are different levels of difficulty when you start making composite images. In the past I often used only 2 or 3 different photos that I merged into a single creation (let's say a cool sky and a cool land). I'm now rather interested in making more complex images made sometimes from more than 10 elements coming from different photos I took in various places around the world. I sometimes even paint some whole parts of the images I'm working on.
In my opinion, the important thing to focus on when you make that kind of project is to merge the visual elements together in a natural way and make all the added shadows, painted light effects, enhanced perspectives, etc look good and "spontaneous". Depending on your final goals, this can be time consuming.
Slideshow of the week
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This is a selection of my older traditional drawings made with ballpoint pens (not pencils) on large paper. I just scanned the final drawings and colored them digitally... I used this simple cross hatching technique several years back, it gives some interesting effects, the only thing is that it's harder to make corrections when you make mistakes... I have now switched to 100% digital. I still make full drawings and paintings on paper/canvas from time to time but I rather prefer to work with real brushes then. :)
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