Date Joined: 8 August 2002 Hello My name is Daniel O'Byrne, ÂÂ
The belief that a good photograph is the result of a good camera places the importance upon the equipment rather than upon the photographer. It emphasizes the machine rather than the man, the tool rather than the artist, the technology rather than the artistic intent. It is as if Monet had been told that the reason why his paintings were so beautiful was because he had such good paintbrushes. Or as if Paul Bocuse’s culinary excellence was explained away by his use of superlative pots and pans. Or again if Yo-Yo Ma had been informed that his Stradivarius was solely responsible for the stunning quality of his music.ÂÂ
One can be inspired and have an idea, be very creative in making this idea into a work of art, have developed the required level of craftsmanship, without the outcome of one’s efforts being motivated by the desire to follow a vision for one’s entire body of work. Vision is an overriding envelope that encompasses both inspiration and creativity. It is a blanket that covers the entire artist’s work, a blanket that often comes later in the life of an artist, after one has perfected one’s art and moved beyond the commonplace outcome that most artists have to go through. For this reason I placed vision as the third step of this process. I placed it there not because it comes necessarily at the end of the process but because in life it is often something that artists discover later on.
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Certainly, a master needs a masterful instrument, be it a camera, paintbrushes, pots and pans or a violin, as in my examples, or other tool, since this list can be expanded to include many other professions. But to say that the quality of the art is caused solely by the quality of the instrument is to miss the point altogether about the importance of the artist. It is missing the point about the human factor, about the man or the woman that actually made use of this instrument. After all, art is made by artists and not by tools. Tools are inanimate objects that need someone to set them in motion. And to set a tool in motion so that art is created through the use of this tool, an artist is needed.
I am now retired from working as a Mental Health professional having worked in the Royal Air Force and National Health Service, giving me more time to persue my photography and artwork. I am a Semi Professional Photoghrapher. Here you will find a collection of my photographs and a selection of Digital Art, Traditional Painting and Sketches that I have also used the digital medium to enhance. Please feel free to pass on any comments. My Camera Gear
http://www.renderosity.com/news.php?viewStory=13527 Here you can find my personal website: DIGITALARTZONE Contact me: E-Mail Artwork for sale: My work Tips and tricks: Nature and wildlife Photography Tips and tricks: Bird Photography
Comments (29)
Zacko
Oh wow! That is one amazing capture!!!! So crisp and full of details. Perfectly exposed as well. I saw the weirdest pelican-shot the other day btw....i think it was from a brittish newspaper actually. A pelican with its bill...beak?..open and a pigeon jumped into it.....after a while the pelican closed and ate the damn pigeon. HE ATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!! #:o/ So freaky! Anyhooo....have a great night. #:o)
aangus
Not to mention the barrel and a half of Guinness for lunch! Anyway the shot was worth nearly breaking your neck for! Strange big things Pelicans, I watched the news the other night, it showed you the video of a Pelican in a park in London (I think) as it scooped up a pigeon standing on the grass next to it, and swallowed it whole....lovely jubly....It fought and flapped and struggled all the way down its throat for ages ....yuk! Cheers Anthony
valdimar11
wooooowwww!!! this is so beautiful!!! aaaaaaaawsome capture! love it!!
_Guffi_
Very unique birds, and this is one great shot. Well done.
Flannelman
Excellent detail and a great fence story. thanx ;-)
kenwas
I am always impressed by your ability to find a pov that reveals so much about the characteristics of your subject. This fine shot is another example of that great ability. I am very likewise impressed that you did not drop the cameras!
mps
Nice shot. I'm glad neither you nor your camera were injured.
mermaid
He looks so thoughtful... great shot... and lucky you, that all is well despite your little stunt ;))
monjo71
Another excellent wildlife capture. I love the composition and clarity. Wonderful work!!! John
busi2ness
Excellent detail, especially on the feathers as the texture can clearly be seen on its back. The lighting is also extremely good. Glad you did not damage your camera equipment.
Sekadhar
...and again fantastic bird and so beautiful! Superb shot!!!!
nongo
WOW, amazing clarity!!!!! I'm trying not to laugh too, cause the thought sounds funny, but I'm more amazed that you kept your cameras in tact!!!!!!! Bravo Danny!!!!
Loloe
Wow! stunning capture!!!! superb!!! Bravo!!!!!
nattarious
WOW Daniel!! This is really interesting shot and Pelican! Love the POV and all those details my friend.. Also the DOF is perfect! Thank you and regards JOE
BorisB
What an amazing portrait, perfect, wonderful, really great!!
Valerie-Ducom
woww, fantastic picture !!! I liek this bird!!! Excellent photo Dan!!! I hope you will pass en excellent week, hugs :)
sharky_
Ok...that's good. Blame it on the equipment, lol. The shot came out really beautiful. Love it! Aloha
Margana
Beautiful capture,Danny.The sharpness and detail is wonderful.Glad your ego was the only thing that got damaged,lol.-M :^)
vlaaitje
FIRST, what a gorgeous shot.....SUPER DETAILS..... Look at all those gorgeous feathers, and its beak....super..... and YES, it was worth it....haha.... O my if I think back on that moment I start to laugh again.... remember last evening we where in tears when we talk about it again......lol...... I scared me to dead when all cracked........... I was wondering why you came so near to me !!!!! And in one second you smash backwards.....with your legs in the sky.... O MY O MY......MY belly is shaking again here....... and the first thing I asked you....are you CAMERA'S OKAY????? You lay on the top of the hill and I thought....... ooooooooooooo....in a minute he will roll downstairs in to the water!! thank God somebody catches my arm, before I hit the ground...lol.... imagine if I felt on you...THAT WOULD BE FUNNY ....... I'm glad neither you nor your camera were injured.....thank GOD...... but it was funny I can tell. I knew your thoughts where also MY CAMERA'S !!!!! And Ger was laughing as well.....what a day !!! But it was splendid, we had a lot of fun together.....no doubts
kansas
A marvelous capture. Very fine detail. So sorry you took a tumble, but glad you saved your camera gear.
gradient
awesome shot, crisp with lots of detail....glad the camera equipment is OK!
pjaj
Excellent capture Danny as always!!
GiMi53
He he, I'm laughing too, like Ilona and Ger... Excellentissime portrait of this special bird, Danny ! (as is your portrait taken by Ilona and seen in the Forum, here: risks for a GOOD shot !!! ) I wish you a lot of fun with your Dutch friends ! :~)
babuinodeoro
Is a cute portrait of this bird. Very interesting the color of his bike.
madame
Another superb capture with very fine details... the neatness is incredible ! Excellent !!
RodolfoCiminelli
Fantastic photo Daniel....!! Have a fantastic detail and lighing.....!!!
Littlejock
Great photo again, the details and colour is beautiful and very crisp and Cleary the plume.
gs1953
Che spettacolo!
iaacf
Those pelicans show a strange way of beauty.. they are stangly shaped, therefor funny in humans minds.but they keep being what they are.. a very beautiful wonder of nature.. and that is what your picture shows very good.