Not everything that shines is... photoshop!

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"Making Clouds" 

© Flavio Martín Morante_2008

"To compliment the beauty of a flower we say it looks like plastic"_Eduardo Galeano.

This post is not about something that just happened one time, but it has happened few times on the past. It involves the above picture, but also several of the pictures that make the series "Liquid Dreams" that can be seen doing click HERE.

As a gratitude gesture to someone for the support to my work, I offered this person to take a look at the before mentioned series, in order to pick one picture for me to gift this person a print of it. During the conversation, it was politely told to me that it was not this persons favorite type of work mainly because this person was not into computer generated imagery. To that the conversation went into the fact that none of those pictures was "photoshopped" (except for some contrast adjustment only) but that actually it did involved in fact really "making those photographs" or staging them.

Now, do not get me wrong, I did not get offended by this assumption, I have to say that it does flatters my ego that I was able to achieve something for what others need to use a computer, but is that too what somehow amuses me more. The fact that we are living in a time where reality gets covered up more and more by another idea of reality, the one that is sanitized, sterile, perfect, that when we see something too good to be real, we really think it is fake, if it makes sense. (Sad examples are the infamous recent cases of well know publications that keep giving awards to superb photos, and then taking back those awards when, the real files show that someone went too much on retouching an image and the perception of reality).

Now, with this I say that I could have take a picture of the water and a picture of one of the balloons, and then at home, sitting warmly and comfortably on a chair could have used PS and make a very exact replica of this photo, but what would it have been the fun on it?

PS_The balloon flying away was not digitally generated, neither was planned, simple a "happy accident", because life still can gives us pleasant surprises.

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Me during the making of "Making Clouds" 

© Flavio Martín Morante_2008

Lost and Found

It fills me with great joy to share here today that on my recently opened show of paintings, two of my paintings have found a new home.

The painting "The Lost Buoy" will not be lost anymore! and...

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"The Lost Buoy"

© Flavio Martín Morante_2011, 

Acrylic Painting. 11 x 14 inches

In the "Horizon #2" a ship will find now a new port where to go.

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"Horizons #2"

© Flavio Martín Morante_2011, 

Acrylic Painting. 10 x 10 inches

Thanks very much to the person that bought them and also thanks to Java Dock Cafe for this nice start of the morning.

Check it out, the Cafe which is great and the paintings, which will remain there until March 30th.

Morning Flavors

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Nichole at the "Java" making tasty goodies.

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Nothing better than taking a break on this already "I am feeling miserable winter" than getting a good cup of coffee, while enjoying good bakery and great conversation. Added to that through some artwork on it and you will be already feeling good.

So, if you want all that there is one place where you can get it, the Java Dock Cafe on Grand Avenue, where as their motto says, you will find "Slinging tasty coffee drinks and serving peasant food to the masses" which will make your morning a good morning.

Also, if you stop by, make your way upstairs where I am hanging a total of 20 paintings, some of them which you can see already here on these pictures I share today. The paintings will be there until March 30, the Cafe... hopefully for a long time.

Check it out! at

Java Dock Cafe

116 W. Grand Avenue.

Port Washington, WI 53074

262-284-1600

www.javadockcafe.com

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Java Dock Upstairs Show

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

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Java Dock Upstairs Show

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

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Java Dock Upstairs Show

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

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Java Dock Upstairs Show

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

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Java Dock Upstairs Show

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Between Cups and Brushes

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Thanks to the generosity of Nichole Kloss I will be having some of my work on display at the Java Dock Cafe in Port Washington, starting next week.

Come to enjoy a nice cup of coffee, good music and nice people at a great place right in Port.

Thanks and hope to see you then and there at some point.

Best,

Martin

If you're going to...

Some more "forgotten/found" pictures printed recently. This time 3 of my favorites from the only black and white roll of film I actually took on San Francisco (I took the majority on color and before I got a digital). These ones were taken with my beloved first camera, the Nikon FM-10 and are among the last black & white pictures I actually took with that camera. The best camera I ever had, for what I learned with it and for the sentimental value it still holds for me. Good Memories!

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Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 

San Francisco, California

(Golden Gate bridge visible on the left despite the typical heavy fog in the distance).

(Originally taken in December 2004, first time printed on 2013)

Kodak T-Max 400 ISO 35mm film, 

printed on Ilford Multigrade RCIV pearl paper.

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Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 

San Francisco, California

(Alcatraz Island_ Point of entrance to the penitentiary after landing from the ferry)

(Originally taken in December 2004, first time printed on 2013)

Kodak T-Max 400 ISO 35mm film, 

printed on Ilford Multigrade RCIV pearl paper.

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Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 

San Francisco, California

(Fisherman Wharf early morning with San Francisco's fog taking over the bay)

(Originally taken in December 2004, first time printed on 2013)

Kodak T-Max 400 ISO 35mm film, 

printed on Ilford Multigrade RCIV pearl paper.

More images soon.

Where is the Scotch???

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"Untitled"_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

This is the view a I got this morning on the back of the hay barn when I went to feed the horses.

The only question that comes to mind with so much ice is where is the scotch? :)