Rotorua Lakefront. Mornings results from photographic class. Lesson 1. Twenty Photographs

We went for a walk along the lakefront at 9am.
The light was a bit bright; it would have been better at sunrise but it was great it wasn't raining.



We looked at horizon lines; in particular making them straight and two thirds up on the picture plain




We looked at the importance of silhouetted vegetation for texture.





We looked for reflections and photographic opportunities in unusual places.
We were focusing on training our eyes to see patterns and textures.



Cropping of photos is also vital so that the eye is drawn in to focus on the essentials.
Or guided around the photo.





We stopped near the Pilgrim Geese, as it was their bath time.
We stayed there for around half an hour.







We waited and immersed ourselves in their gentleness and community.
 If you are taking photos of birds you have to spend a lot of time with them and be patient.
Try to get down to their level






These geese are some of my favourite subjects so I often take photos of them in the early mornings or late afternoon.
Repetition of subject matter is important as is trying different viewpoints.

The sunlight on their wings makes them look angelic



They often fall asleep after they have finished preening.
If you use your intuition you can start to communicate with them.
They are sending signals with their eyes that most people do not see.



We are not isolated from nature.
We are part of it and we are animals.
People forget this.
The more you slow down, be present and open yourself up to what nature has to offer you;  the more opportunities will arise.




I never go out with a set attitude of what I am going to take.
I don't want to always be in control.
 That way I obtain a pleasant surprise when something spectacular takes place, like the spreading of these wings.




I can always alter and manipulate my images into something surreal or different by using  photoshop and Nik software.

 But even when I'm manipulating photos in photoshop,  I will be open to the possibilities of what the technology will offer up.
Swans can look majestic as well.

 

I like to put textures on geese, I think it makes them look arty and mysterious.
They are less gentle than the geese and slightly and sometimes overtly sinister.
They are territorial.





I like to put them in invented, colourful worlds

I was doing some research on the Lochness monster and I was imagining that the Rotorua Lake had a Lochness  Goose monster

Or a Rotorua Lake, ghost goose monster  

 

 The lesson was characterised by peace and serenity and feeling what the  environment had to provide in the way of magical moments like......

 

 

Sweet Dreams  

 

Creative Quote of the day.

 

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.”
— Aaron Siskind

 

Individual Photography Tuition for Women Beginner Photographers.

Specialising in Canon DSLR's.

Get your camera off automatic and into the world of creativity and fun. 

$35.00 per hour in city limits, (minimum of two hours, maximum four hours), plus travel if out of Rotorua city boundary.

 

Group tuition of maximum 4 beginners available on request.

 Prices on application

Enquiries welcome for Wednesday, Thursday or Friday mornings.

Sunset and Night Tuition Wednesday, Thursday or Friday at dusk.  

Phone Janet  Keen 07 346 3435

027 351 3887

Email jkeen@clear.net.nz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noosa Intuitive abstracted Photographs.

I have recently arrived back in rainy Rotorua from a sun-soaked two week holiday in Noosa, Queensland.
My dream is to stay there for six weeks from the Winter School holidays onwards.
There are lots of art and writing festivals there at that time.
I would like to teach art classes over there and be featured in a group exhibition.
I am visualising this.
I'll let you know how I get on.
If you want something to happen act like it already is and be grateful for what you have right now.


Here are some photographic shots.
I hope you enjoy them.

 

St Michael's Catholic School Rotorua and our gorgeous quirky animal, bird, fish and insect Mural created with 200 different coloured Resene testpots.

 Over the eighteen years I have been a professional artist  I have designed and organised a number of mosaic projects in schools in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato
Children adore making  mosaics and schools always look brighter and happier with them. 

 I've wanted to make a painted composite mural  using Resene testpots,  featuring native birds for many years. 
 I have been visualising for seven years that a school would approach me and pay me to do it. 

 Voila..  at long last....Shelly Fitness from St Michael's School approached me. 
Wonderful a dream come true, visualise to materialise.....


St Michael's Catholic School in Rotorua  was the perfect school to make my first one. 

 From experience working with them with mosaic projects in the past, the children are well behaved, creative  friendly and well behaved. 
The other teachers are a beautiful team to work with, so welcoming  the whole school sparkles with a family atmosphere. 


Principal Shelly Fitness has artistic, creative vision.
 I adore  schools who encourage  make artistic creativity a priority.


I did my very first mosaic mural series with  former Principal Greg Day,  13 years ago so St Michael's Catholic School holds a special place in my heart.


Thanks to Creative Communities for helping to fund the project and for Julie Parsons for emailing me suggesting we apply for some funding. 


Guardians of God's Creation. 56 components to make up a seven piece mural.

1. Sam the Saddleback by Hamuera.

 Giant Green  caterpillar eating bird walking towards  a feast of red berries while dropping some eggs.


2.Tama the Tuatara by Campbell.

Galloping Tuatara, wonder where he is off to?

 Artistic expression  is a gateway to the power of possibility. 
 A picture tells a thousand words.

3. Monique the Monarch by Phoebe

Monarch butterfly with her caterpillar babies

4.Campbell the Canadian Goose by Rangatahi

 Plucky, Clucky Canadian  Goose. Canadian Geese  at so much grass on farmers' land that they are considered pests. In 2011 the Canada goose was declared an unprotected species. Sad because they are so graceful.



5. Kevin the Kakariki by Tamzyn

 Apple Eating  Kakariki with insect friends.


6. Fishla the fish by Ranni

Gregarious ( Mother)  Goldfish with Agonising Octopy and tantalising Turtle.


7. Briana the Butterfly By Reilly.

Admirable Admiral  Briana Butterfly flying over lilly pads towards a bright and shiny day

8. Kate the Kea By Grace.

 An over enthusiastic, Kea wrecking a raspberry bush by mistake.  Tiny her best owl friend sits nearby on the lichen covered fence  hoping he's not going to be showered with raspberries.

9. Frank the Fantail by Ayva.

  Food, friend  or foe Frances the  Fantail is too young to know , which is why he looks so worried.
10. Still unidentified

Grumpy Tui trying to spear a berry?

11.Bianca the Butterfly by Phoenix

Monarch Butterfly chasing a Ladybird

12.Ruth the rainbow trout by Maddy

Rainbow Trout blowing Bubbles

13. Mike the Mallard duck by Harper.

Duck meditating while looking after  his eggs

14. Willow the Waxeye, by Hana

 Hana Waxeye  in a field of daisies contemplating a butterfly on a happy , sunny day.


15. Bobby the Black Robin by Tama.

16..Mitchell the Moa, by  Toby T.

17.

18. Daphne The Dragonfly By name to come

19. Bella the bellbird, by Francis.

20. Katherine the Kokako, by Tara.

21 Tommy the Tomtit, by Lincoln.

.

 22. Tony the Tuatara, by Cohen

23. Fiona the Fantail and Rosie the Chihuahua by Lincoln Eviarn and Ruby.

24. Walter the Wasp by Jack

25. Bernie the Bee by Teagan

26.Wrinkly the Weta by Luke

27. Kerry the Kiwi, by  Hamish and Lincoln, name to be confirmed.

28. Shelly the Saddleback by Annabell

29. Fred the Frog by Alyssa.

30.Blake the Blackbird by Rowland.

31. Hannah the Huia by Kate.

 32.Seb the sparrow by ?

33.Queenie the Quail by Jade W.

34.Olivia the Owl by Sammy

35.Koby the Kakapo by Blake.

 36.Chloe the Caterpillar and Bob the Beetle by Madison and Isobel.

 37.Izaeha names to come.

38.George the Gecko by Theo.

39. Sarah the Saddleback by Teoriwa

 40. Bruce the Black Backed Gull by Richi.

41. DJ the Dragonfly by Rebekah.

42. Paul the Pheasant by Andrew

43. Matt the Morepork by Justin.

44.Goldie the Goldfish By Alisha

45. Tim The Takahe, By Nicholas

46. Peter the Praying Mantis, By Niwha

47.Freedom the Falcon,  By Koby

48. Lilly the Ladybug, By Ruby

49. Smith the Saddleback by Jack P.

50. Harry the Hawk, By Dylan

51.Polly the Pukeko by  Keita

52. Martha the Mynah Bird, By  Honor

53

54 Olive the Owl, By Anna

55.

56.Lori the Lorikeet, By Bianca.

Creative Quote:
Every child is an artist the challenge is how to remain one once you grow up. Pablo Picasso. 


Endorsement from Shelly Fitness Principal of St Michael's Catholic School. 


“A few of our children are now considering careers in The Arts as a direct result of working with Janet. The project exposed them to arenas of possibility that hadn’t occurred to them before and they loved learning about Janet’s life as a professional artist.

 I would definitely recommend working with Janet if you have an art or mosaic project to complete at your school.

We have several more projects in mind and will definitely be working with her again in the future. Shelly Fitness St Michael’s Catholic School “

 Principals of  schools or organisers of community projects  please contact me at 07 346-3435 or email jkeen@clear.net.nz or text to 027 3513887 if you would like me to organise a painted or mosaic mural  project  for your school.