Craig Carmichael Photography

New Beginnings

2011-12-25T15:10:00.000-08:00

Who knew? New and exciting projects for the year ahead! Along with Michael Poyntz and myself we have a heavy workload, from designing posters and greeting cards to employee reward gifts... Follow along it will be hard to keep up! Next time!!! c2

Wings!

2009-02-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

From January 18 – February 11, 2009 I have the 3 pieces below hanging in a multi-media group art show called WINGS. Eight artiswits working in oils/acrylics, textiles, metal, wood and photography feature the theme of wings. The only ground rule of the exhibit - the subject of planes was off-limits! You can check it out at Kariton Gallery, 2387 Ware Street, Abbotsford. Phone 604.852.9358

ONE – Single hawk in flight over San Francisco Bay
When you come to the edge of all you know
You must believe in one of two things:
You will be given earth on which to stand
Or you will be given wings

Artist: Craig Carmichael
Medium: Photographic image enhanced via multiple manipulations in digital darkroom.
Price: $500 Limited edition 1 of 10

TWO – A pair of sea birds cruising an Oregon beach
You were born with potential
You were born with goodness and trust
You were born with ideals and dreams
You were born with wings
Learn to use them,and fly.
Artist: Craig Carmichael
Medium: Photographic image enhanced via multiple manipulations in digital darkroom.
Price: $500 Limited edition 1 of 10

MANY – Ringing of the mission bell tower startles pidgeons - Piedras Negras, Mexico
Ideas have wings, No one can stop their flight.

Artist: Craig Carmichael
Medium: Photographic image enhanced via multiple manipulations in digital darkroom.
Price: $500 Limited edition 1 of 10

Road trip down the coast

2008-12-26T20:48:00.000-08:00

Many people I know prefer hearth and home as the holiday season approaches, but the call of the open road is enough to make me pack my bags any time of the year. Besides – the weather gurus are calling for more snow in greater Vancouver in the next two weeks than I care to shovel.
My wife and I got out our well thumbed road atlas and chose a route that would take us quickly through Washington, Oregon and northern California in order for us to focus most of our attention on two areas in southern California.

About an hour north of SF the mists lifted and we saw rows of bare vines indicating we were in wine country. Taking an unmarked exit we found ourselves in a micro- environment of rolling hills. In this shot the bare branches of a California oak frame the barn. The mood is decidedly “off-season.”

About 90 minutes later the Golden Gate Bridge is right in front of us. Some people can’t resist a good sale; I can’t resist stopping to take a few pictures of the bridge. It’s drizzling and grey, giving a decidedly moody feel to the skyline.

Next day we’re on the Pacific Coast Highway/101 and travel to Malibu. Over the next 2 days we explore the coast and enjoy the sun. It’s cool for California (fleece jackets required for walking on the beach) but we’re not complaining. We found great retro-styled accommodations at the Malibu Motel. Our room overlooks the ocean and there’s an Italian restaurant that serves heaping plates of fettuccini alfredo. Does it get any better than that?
The Malibu pier is a short walk away, and I take a series of shots as the wind is crafting some great cloud formations.

On our second day we head high into the canyons in pursuit of a hike promising great ocean views. We opt for the “easy 3-mile” hike and thanks to a lack of signage manage to turn it into a 4 hour trek. The views were spectacular, but I was more intrigued by the bare and blackened California oak trees. You can see the beauty and texture of these twisted branches.

The die-hard kite boarders could be seen catching the surf in several places along the 101. We stopped to watch them, happy to be dry and warm, hot coffee in hand.

I want one of these...no one of these!!!

2008-11-07T23:33:00.001-08:00

The Candy Store

2008-11-07T20:32:00.000-08:00

When you hear the words, “like a kid in a candy store…” what do you imagine? Do you picture a wide-eyed child standing before a wall of canisters filled with brightly coloured sweets? All of it looks good.
That’s how I feel when I pick up my camera.

Life comes at us so fast it allows most people to skim only the surface with their eyes. Not everyone takes time to slow down in order to appreciate the depth and interesting detail of their everyday world, wherever that may be. I like to invite viewers to notice things they might ordinarily walk right past. My work targets elements of art in the day-to-day scenes of our lives - line, shape, colour, form and texture. I also look for movement, pattern, and rhythm. Creating compositions that compel the eye to move over the image in a certain way is often a consideration when I’m looking for subjects.
Until a few years ago much of my commercial work was for the purpose of supplying clients with visual documentation solely for their purposes. Working creatively with these images took me from “recording only” to my current philosophy of “record and play” with the image. I spend about 20% of my time shooting; 60% to merge, design and detail the image; and the final 20% on output to media. The ability to add and take away light digitally is an element I really have a lot of fun with.
Sometimes people ask me what I was thinking about when I composed a certain picture…. I like to evoke an element of curiosity with my images, leaving viewers free to draw their own conclusions. When a single image is meaningful to multiple people for different reasons I find it very rewarding.
What do I like to take pictures of? My approach is eclectic, featuring a wide variety of subject matter because there is so much out there for the taking. I keep an ongoing notebook of potential locations, and add to it whenever I have the opportunity to travel. I may find something I want to shoot and return at another time of day when the light is right. My goal is to keep giving people more reasons to incorporate my work into the spaces where they live, work and play. Remember what I said about feeling like a kid in a candy store.

I really enjoy the idea of showing off some new ideas with this blog, please, if you are looking and you like or don't like tell me! When you work alone, there is nobody else there to bounce ideas, thoughts off of, I need feedback, PEOPLE!!! :)

Glamour, how bout some fun new things

2008-10-20T17:45:00.000-07:00

A couple before and afters of two glamour shots, It takes time but don't you think its worth it? Let me know!

DeDutch

2008-10-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

Summer 2004 – my wife and I travelled to Britain and France to explore London and Paris as well as catch up with friends at their home in the south of France. We were reading DaVinci Code, along with what seemed like half of Europe. On the bus, plane and trains we saw readers in 3 or 4 languages engrossed in the book. It was kind of surreal to be walking amidst the very sites and buildings that were featured in the book.

London Eye with Bronze Sculpture
The contrast of the lines and textures and eras of these two subjects was what I was looking for in this composition. In the foreground the imposing, classic and life-like lines of the bronze seem worlds apart from the steel and glass bullets circling in a futuristic version of a ferris wheel.

Courtyard at the Louvre
The chiselled sightline of these columns naturally drew my eye to the arched doorway at the far side of the courtyard. The chipped and weathered textures caught the afternoon light on their rough surfaces, in sharp contrast to the rain-slicked stones on the ground. I really wanted to get the shot without people, so my wife kept other visitors to one side. Not that I felt any pressure to hurry!

French Café
Strolling the streets anywhere in France you are bound to come upon a scene like this. It was mid-morning and the café was just setting up for lunch. I took this image to remember the inviting curve of the street, the muted tones of the stonework and the joy of being alive to appreciate the differences between this place and the drive-through where I usually pick up my coffee at home!

Ministry of Health

2008-09-22T23:14:00.000-07:00

Legislature in Victoria
The bid and distinctive design of a previously unknown 25 year old (Frances Rattenbury) won a competition held among architects to determine who would design the Legislature. Submitting that bid must have taken guts! When it opened in 1898, Rattenbury’s ability was established and he went on to design the Empress Hotel in Victoria and the Vancouver Court House (now the Art Gallery). This presentation features 8 frames merged into a panoramic and eventually re-separated into panels. The texture of the golden stone responded well to treatments selected to increase the appearance of age. I also added grain and filtration, then converted the image to B&W and adjusted the toned.

Windy Baker
This much loved Pacific Northwest landmark is one of my favourite places to hike and is a strong visual reminder of why I choose to live in this part of the world. The sky is clear, offering a crisp outline of Baker and the surrounding peaks contrast with the dark foreground of evergreen hills. The seemingly still scene shows dramatic motion among the clouds swirling on the peak and face of the mountain thanks to what was probably a pretty stiff wind at that elevation. I shot this from a specific vantage on top of Sumas Mountain, creating a single panoramic from multiple images.

Eagle on the Coquihala
On cross Canada trip last winter I stopped at this spot, appreciating what a great view this was. As I got my gear out and prepared to shoot I thought to myself - the only thing missing was an eagle soaring through my line of sight. As my lens clicked into place and I selected my composition, I got my wish.

Science World – BC Place Vancouver Postcard
Vancouver’s skyline is an evolving blend of sharply formed, linear concrete edges contrasted against softer shapes and the rounded domes of sports venues. All of it beautifully set against the Pacific Ocean. The day I stopped to take this a caravan of movie industry vehicles was parked nearby. Members of the security crew were concerned that I might get unauthorized shots of the set so I was strongly encouraged to leave the area. I had only minutes to get what I wanted. This image was selected as “Photo of the week” and posted on the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) in August 2006. Quite an honour considering NAPP has 70,000 members.

Pure Escape

2008-09-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

When the subject of "going to the spa" comes up in conversation, I get the sense that people are drawn to a spa experience offering high quality service as well as a warm and inviting atmosphere. After all - you go to unwind, recharge your batteries, and restore the balance between family, work and play. When spa owner Nina (Pure Escape in Burnaby) and her designer Crystal (Suite Life) approached me to provide images that calm, soothe – and still spark the imagination - we made the following choices.

Waterfall:
You can almost hear the tumbling water in this lush, secluded rainforest. The clear lines of foliage contrast sharply with the water moving so fast it takes on the form of mist and appears to have been added with smooth brushstrokes.

The Wave:
We’ve all done it – gone walking on the beach and wished each distinct moment of a spectacular wave dancing toward shore could be held long enough to fully appreciate. This panoramic series of images begs the eyes to spot the minute differences in each frame.

End of Days:
This photo was taken on the west coast around the same time that a tsunami devastated another part of the world. After the damage was done and that thunderous wall of water had retreated, I imagined the shoreline looked something like this – innocent and calm.

Rainbow:
I’m kind of glad that I didn’t get a chance to see this double-ended band of colour arching over the Fraser Valley until I was a grown-up. A child might not have understood what a rare occurrence it is. I considered myself the lucky one because my camera was within arms reach and I was granted only a few minutes to take the shot before it disappeared.

Paris Doors:
Doors and windows of any kind are like a magnet for me. I literally wonder where they lead and what lies beyond them. These two doors found while walking the streets of Paris illustrate the rich patina of age, scraped wood, and detailed the metal work. Doors open to reveal just about anything. But these images also strike a chord with people who may be contemplating what’s next in their lives. Push – and let your imagination go.

Mitch Miller’s Restaurant Collection Part 2

2008-09-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

Ucluelet Marina: The dominant colours found in urban marinas are often a uniform crisp, cool blue and white; but on a recent trip to Vancouver Island I was attracted to the mix of colours found in the village marinas. These boats belonged to people who lived in them and used them daily to earn a living. The textures and colours were rich to start with – but after enhancement in the digital darkroom they really popped.

Cowichan Bay Hulls: I was enjoying my first cup of coffee, looking out of the window towards the shore when I spotted a group of small rental boats that looked like they’d been hastily stashed safely out of the reach of high tide. I cropped the image tightly to capture the pattern of the ribs on the hulls, the curves of the bow, and left a length of chain as a clue.

Misty Beach: Long Beach on Vancouver Island showcases the power of crashing waves and the pull of the retreating surf. Like many people, I am aware of the potential threat posed by these waters and I walk carefully on the shore, shouting to be heard by my companions. I designed this image to capture the immense strength and movement of the sea, and added layers of softness to add an element of moodiness.

Mitch Millers Resturant Collection pt 1

2008-09-08T08:56:00.000-07:00

Mexican Truck: It’s not unusual to find abandoned vehicles anywhere in the world, but while travelling in Mexico; this old pickup caught my eye. I wondered how many times it had changed hands, what it had been used for over the years and how it came to rest on this property in a small Mexican town. Exposed and left to bake in the sun, the peeling layers of paint revealed a vibrant patina of colours.

Shoe Shine Counter: As I spoke to the friendly, young Mexican owner of this street corner shoe shine counter I was struck by the colourful display of supplies laid out to meet the needs of his small business. A row of curved steel foot rests permitted his customers to lift one boot at a time to be polished, and various sizes of cans and jars of polish were scattered across the counter in easy reach.

Bright lights.big city!

2008-06-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

After spending a few days with family, grandchildren, children, brothers and sisters...oh yes mom and dad too, I climbed back on Nellie and headed for the falls! The two and a half hour trip was uneventful except for the sunburn and the incredible humidity of Southern Ontario.

The falls was a great place to take some photographs, just wait until I can get to my home computer and assemble a very cool pano of both falls and a rainbow! Your gonna love it!

Round the big one!

2008-06-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

Okay! Its been awhile, internet availability was sketchy and family in Southern Ontario claimed much of my time! The last two days of the trip to Ontario took me around Lake Superior. The big lake had such blue waters looked like "swimmin"waters cept I'm sure the winter ice had just melted off...
Self portrait was taken in the most kitchy motel near Wawa, complete with rubber ducky in bathroom...Does it look like I spent the day travelling almost a thousand kms on the motorcycle?
The weather was phenomenal, I can only hope for more of the same on the way home!

2008-06-05T16:55:00.001-07:00

Day 4

Follow the Redcoat Trail!

Leaving at the crack of first light, okay, 8:30 am, which to me is awfully early to start travelling on Nellie! Its cold at that time of day even with my leather gloves couldn't keep my phlotography finger from going numb! The day proved to be a day of waits and decrepit barns. Lets start with waits, look above, yes its the same train and its taken from the same place looking left and looking right! Incredibly the train had to be over 4 kms long. A bunch of vehicles and I were waiting and waiting until a Rail employee came along and said.."uhh... you do know we are going to be at least another couple hours." Wonderful I thought. So turn around and back track to Manyberries Saskatchewan and head north. It was only a loss of around 2 hours but I'm not on a schedule! I love old falling down barns and homes. I was not dissappointed, there was so many opportunities. Seriously one day over the next few years I am going to take a week and just do backroads of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, its a paradise for photography.

2008-06-01T22:16:00.000-07:00

Day 3

Foremost Alberta to Weyburn Saskatchewan .

Staying in Foremost last night was the ultimate scene out a movie, the motel I stayed at was right beside the "You all come back now!" Saloon. As I sauntered up to the door, it flies open and out come three young men, 2 fighting and the other trying to separate them. Lots of yelling and a few punches thrown but like real men, they all got in the same pickup truck and sped away! :) Truth, I swear!!! Okay, back to today it was a strange day to be on the road with a motorcycle, with some bad weather early in the day forcing me to head north after Manyberries Alberta to the Trans Canada from Medicine Hat to Moose Jaw, I don't know how a guy can be going around 120 Kph on a motorcycle and barely stay awake, it was so boring. The weather improved after lunch and I decided to go down Hwy 39 to Weyburn, where I will be spending the night. The subject of the day seemed to be old deserted churches, don't know why but I saw and photographed several, they all seemed to have their own personality and character. I also found the home of CBC televisions Corner Gas, a very interesting location with the dressing rooms behind the Cafe with the police cars and others behind a fence! :) Please feel free to comment on the prints, I'd like to hear what you think.

2008-06-01T21:56:00.000-07:00

Days 2

From Creston BC to Foremost Alberta.

From striking mountain ranges to the plains of Alberta my motorcycle held up well, not once did it groan as I stopped to either take a picture or take a stretch. It was beautiful weather the whole ride, not as heavy as day 1 but still put 500km of pavement behind me! The second day of the journey resulted in some fabulos photographic opportunities, I'll post 3 prints, one being a 6 photograph panoramic with a few added touches??? Feedback would be appreciated, there is more to come.

Craig Carmichael

Day 1

2008-05-30T20:39:00.000-07:00

Wow what a day! Up and down, hairpin turns, and big ugly bugs, but spectacular views. The motorcycle held up better than I thought it would, its not a big bike, but it sure is a lot more comfortable than some Touring motorcycles I've had in the past. The gas mileage is incredible, I am getting over 50 mpg. I'll add a couple shots after I find my favourites. I found some empty places, always enjoy deserted buildings for the questions they ask the viewer. I was right, I AM DOGGED TIRED! Tomorrow off to Alberta to see some great new places! 734 Kms travelled in just beautiful weather.

Anticipation

2008-05-29T19:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my first attempt...Its Thursday night and I'm all packed, and loaded! I'm a little nervous about the trek ahead but very excited! The day has come up so quick I can hardly believe its now tomorrow! I should be on the road by 8 am and hoping to make it to Cranbrook by tomorrow evening. My complete route is as follows:

Leave Abbotsford on Hwy 1 to Highway 3 exit in Hope
Follow Hwy 3 to Lethbridge AlbertaEast side of Lethbridge take Hwy 4 STo Milk River
Turn East on Hwy 501 in Milk River
Saskatchewan Border it turns into Hwy 13
Follow to Robsbart Turn South (East) on Hwy 18 Short distance on Hwy 6 (18) Then back to 18 To Estevan
18 Turns to Hwy 3 at Manitoba BorderFollow to Winkler then Hwy 14 East
Follow to Hwy 75 South to Hwy 201 East to Letellier
Ends at Hwy 12 Follow for Short Distance to Hwy 308 North308 ends at Transcanada
Transcanada becomes hwy 17 in Ontario,East side of Kenora take Hwy 71 south to Hwy 11 East
Follow Hwy 11 East to Hwy 17 and Thunder Bay
Follow 17 for days!!! Until Hwy 6 south near Espanola, Cross Manitoulin Island take Ferry and then back on 6 SouthTurn to Westmount Rose, then to Kitchener Waterloo
Take a few days break. 3 days?
Follow Hwy 8 from KW through to Peters Corners Turn South East on Hwy 52Ends at Hwy 2/53 East
Stay on 53 until end which becomes Hwy 20 which ends at the falls.