Happenstance Crossing As people cross the road entering Piccadilly Circus , an elaborate camera movement drags colour and texture across the scene . Fortuitously balancing static and stationary with photographic and painterly elements .
Canon EOS 5D Mark III 33mm F / 20 1 / 50s ISO200
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All
Fine Art in the Streets
my photographs are created on site and in-camera . It is crucial to me that they are not re-worked in any image software . Only adjustments to light , dark and cropping are made on computer afterwards . Eavch one is made using a technique that contradicts the proper functionality requirements for High Dynamic Range imagery .”
Michael Lee is a British visual artist , living and working in London . Photography was always a passion and mainly served to inform Michael ’ s painting . Michael taught as a full time art teacher before travelling Asia and training in oil painting . He returned to the UK , working as an art and photography teacher while studying a Masters Degree in Fine Art at Middlesex University . NOOPUR SHARMA from Chiiz gets in talks with Lee . Below is an exceprt .
In what genre would you like to put your photography ? If it is street , then what is your concept of street photography ? I would like my work to be considered fine art and / or abstract photography . In truth , it probably occupies a space between those genres . My street photography is about capturing the energy , vibrancy and essence of a place rather than the telling of a particular story .
Your photographs are like a set of paintings that seem to be in motion within themselves . Is it something that you are trying to make a point with ? Drawing upon and referencing painting is central to my practice . Exploring the painterly qualities of my photographic technique has always been a driving force for me . It is the fact that the photographs are generated through real events , my performance and the camera , as opposed to on a blank canvas that I find so exciting .
What is the technique you use ? How do you process them on site ? I shoot in HDR mode where the camera automatically combines three consecutive exposures . Typically for HDR , one ought to keep the camera as still as possible to avoid peculiarities , however , I will look to perverse this by introducing elaborate camera movements and shooting moving subjects .
Something that inspired you to pick up that
Michael Lee brush and that camera ? I have an innate desire to create . I find immense satisfaction and sense of accomplishment making something I can be proud of . Originally , I had only seen photography as a means to inform my painting , however these days it is the other way round .
When a person starts with photography , it is generally the street photography . What should he look for in his pictures and why ? Typically , a narrative . I am most interested in seeing a personalised aesthetic to illustrate the narrative .
Since developing a unique technique for creating abstracted photographs , he now only paints with his lens , though painting greatly influences and inspires his photography . Michael has exhibited widely across London , the UK and Europe . He is represented by galleries in the UK and Italy .
Noopur Sharma noopur @ chiiz . com
Noopur Sharma , is a content writer whose articles have appeared in Asian School of Media Studies newspaper and others . She has worked as a Public Relation Executive for Bang On Target PR and Media solutions , and is a blogger on social media as well .
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