Browsing on Flickr over the weekend, I saw scans mixed in with photos on a member’s page. It reminded me that scanning is a great way to experiment with making images. Back in the 80’s I worked at a copy shop near Columbia University for a year. It was a busy store, but once in a while there was down time. Spending all day copying print, from flyers to graduate theses, I was drawn to experiment with the big Kodak machines. (Those copiers were temperamental and our repairman would fly in on a cocaine high and whip them into shape in no time, but that’s another story). Like many people, I first tried putting my hand on the glass, marveling at the detail. Quickly I moved on to other objects, including colorful patterned socks from the 50’s, and tiny shells that appeared as a galaxy of stars when I raised the lid up, making the background black.
Here are a few quick home grown experiments. My scanner/copier isn’t nearly as good as those old Kodaks. It doesn’t focus as well. But with processing in Lightroom and On1, I can add textures, change colors, drop borders in, and play to my heart’s content. And I never have to worry that the store owner will show up while I’m in the midst of it.
Many of you will recognize the ginkgo leaves. I pick them up now and then. They evoke my earliest days in New York, where many a city block is planted with the sturdy, pollution-resistant trees, and associations with Buddhism, because the species has been grown in Chinese temple gardens for almost a thousand years. Long-lived as individual trees (scroll down to one that’s 2000 years old), ginkgoes may be the oldest living seed plants. They shared space with dinosaurs millions of years ago. The attractive leaf shape with its many variations on the fan theme, and the strong yellow fall color are appealing. I love this tree!
(One more fact about Ginkgoes – when I first learned about them, I read that they did not exist in the wild, and hadn’t been known to grow wild in historical times. But three years ago wild Ginkgo forests were “discovered” in southwestern China! Scientists were able to determine, with DNA testing and other methods, that the trees weren’t put there by humans. Indigenous peoples’ taboos against planting or logging them apparently helped preserve a wild pocket or two of the trees.
The net-veined leaves are from a Magnolia tree at Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle. Insects eat the fleshier parts, skeletonizing the leaves. And who knew – you can buy them on the internet, and learn how to make your own.
The flower and leaf collections are from trips to Arizona. Old, water-stained paper that I saved is in the background. I made the marbled paper in the last scan by floating and swirling oil paints on water in a roasting pan. I hope I threw that pan out…
You have such an extraordinary talent Lyn with a beautiful gentle touch. Impossible to pick a fave and I can only imagine how much fun you had putting these startling images together.
Well, extraordinary is stretching it thin, but happy to hear that anyway, Patti. You’re right, it’s fun. And when it stops being fun, I go quit and go get a treat!
Wonderful and very inspiring Lynn- thanks for sharing your work!
Cool! That’s the whole point – the share. I think. Anyway, more than half the reason to do it!
What an interesting way to create works of art! Love seeing how photography and related mediums can be creatively leveraged.
It’s absolutely endless, what can be done. It’s good not to get stuck, right? Thanks Kat!
What beautiful, inspiring images!
Great to hear! I must do more. In that spare time which is so fleeting…
Oh, exactly!
beautiful. I too used to play with copying machines, and included one of them among my cameras.
I’m not surprised at all. Great to hear from you Shimon. I hope all is well.
These are beautiful Lynn! So creative. I’d be interested to hear the other story re: the copy repairman one day! Love these but then I’m a big fan of all that you do! 🙂
Nice to hear, Adrian! It seems easier to do these than to take technically decent photos sometimes! 😉
beautiful ! I found some interesting leaves on the ground with patterns on them. What it is was is they were bruised from someone’s foot (footprints) or someother object. I scanned them and got some interesting results. ha ha I too was putting stuff in the copy machine including my head! Then I got spooked and thought that wasn’t such a good idea.
Interesting about the leaves – looking down has its rewards, right? Funny about copying your head! I’ve seen people do that, but I didn’t. But it’s true that you can do all sorts of things with copiers. I’m happy to hear from you, and hope you’re having fun making something – it seems to me you usually are.
Lovely to see you having such fun. Your creativity and spontaneity is truly inspiring (as Kenneth said before me).
Well, as I also said somewhere above, I struggle with the technical aspects of photography, and this kind of work can be easier. Interesting to see how it’s received. Spontaneity is fun! 🙂
I also struggle with the technical (never would have guessed the same in your case!!!) You definitely make up in creativity what you might think you lack on the technical end. I’ve been threatening forever to take a class at the local community college to move beyond the “auto” feature of the DSLR, but finally bit the bullet and registered just yesterday. Hope it helps! 😀
Brilliant! All beautiful!
🙂 Thanks so much, Angela.
You are so creative, Lynn! I love these scans, especially with the old paper behind them. Paper and leaves are some of my favorite things. Wonderful all around. 🙂
Paper and leaves have that wonderful ephemeral, common but often unique quality. I love those, too. I have a small collection of paper and it just sits there…so I’m glad I put it to use. (One could go crazy with paper, no?) Check this out – I heard about it somewhere and have always been intrigued – http://carriagehousepaper.com/the-goldbeaters-of-mandalay-hand-papermaking-in-burma-special-edition-by-elaine-koretsky-and-donna-koretsky
I can’t believe I never thought of this use of my scanner! I’m usually all over finding almost every application of art for my tools. Thanks for sharing! Yours are so beautiful. I think they’d make a lovely set of cards and could sell well on a site like Zazzle or such if you felt so inclined. Now I have a new fun medium to try. I just have to wait until the riverwalk debris is dry enough to work with! Cheers!
Pretty easy! 🙂 Yes, cards for sure. Maybe I need to look into Zazzle. Thanks for the idea! A little drier today maybe, but still a ways to go, right?
Lynn, this is one of those posts that simply blows me away ~ beautiful and creative. There is something in the way you’ve put these all together that I suppose defines what art is about, as these pictures/piece of art are both incredible to look at but also cause me to think and wonder 🙂 Very cool…
What more could one ask for, than to make an image that would cause someone to think and wonder. To me, that’s perfect. Thanks for saying that.
A timely reminder to me not to get ‘stuck’ Lynn ! As already mentioned by many .. beautifully creative . Nice touches of found and re used materials . Simple leaf designs that are very striking in the way you’ve chosen to show them . Checking out your link …I didn’t realise how easy it looks to skeletonise leaves either .
I love that you saved your water stained /marked paper .. I’ve many little snippets / ephemera too waiting to be re-purposed .
Lovely post . Hope your week is going well … HappyThanksgiving !
Oh, those bits of ephemera – carted around from place to place…I will feel better if I keep finding ways to use that stuff. Thanks for the holiday greetings. TWO DAYS OFF! That makes four, with the weekend. Yes, there’s work I have to do, but seems like I actually have a little breathing room.
So glad Lynn x Who knows what you might come up with 🙂
I like these images very much, Lynn, you’ve made a wonderful job of them. I’ve been going to try something like this myself – and now I’m inspired! Adrian
Great – and so the web works its magic.
Another way of making photos, another piece of art. Love al these pictures, Lynn!
Way to go, Lynn. Lovely images. Textured backgrounds are my favorites, especially the marbled paper. Don’t stop here.
I will do more, I will, I will…
Your leaf images are beautiful!
Thank you – just looked at your Redbubble pages – scrumptious-looking!
beautiful with excellent textures 🙂