Date Joined: 8 August 2002 Hello My name is Daniel O'Byrne, Â
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.Â
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 (78)
dragonmuse
Happy birthday and a big congrats :) This is a wonderful shot.
Jadotha
Richard, Thank you so much for this beautiful tribute to all of us friends and admirers! Happy Unbirthday (belated)!
CavalierLady
Beautiful image, Danny, all the colors compliment this lovely butterfly so well, and I love the curled position of the "tongue" or proboscis. Elegant image all around and congrats again, the best times are only just beginning!
RocksLady
excellent capture
durleybeachbum
Another perfect pic! and still a third of your life to go!
rawdodb
Congratulations on both!!!!!! And a beautiful capture!!!!
artaddict2
Gorgeous butterfly, the colours and markings are a delight, stunning macro!
kansas
WOW! A gorgeous butty. Yes, Happy Birthday yesterday. Congrats on your GOM nomination!
KarmaSong
It's the fragility and beauty of the wildlife you've rendered here at its best, Danny! It's just fascinating and perfect photography in my humble opinion! Thumbs up:-)
MarciaGomes
MARAVILHOSA FOTO,FANTÁSTICA BORBOLETA MAGNIFICAS CORES.++++++++5 FELIZ ANIVERSÁRIO .
PR0XIM0
Superb clarity Master capture
aquablue
So fragile and élégant !!!
timtripp
superior macro!
jocko500
he looks so grand as he sits there. wonderfullooking
kimariehere
What a perfect up close capture of this beautiful butterfly Danny ( lol i should have put up a butterfly for you instead) .... gorgeous !!!! top notch
RobyHermida
Excellent and very creative image, great work !!!
Sylvia
Incredibly ~Beautiful~ FABULOUS!! ^5^ Muchas Felicidades
MrsLubner
Crystal clear and a stunning gem of a shot. marvelous postwork and presentation. Happy to see you pop in and say hello. Hope your birthday was a great one.
Digitaleagle
A stunning macro of this beautiful butterfly, awesome photography!!! I would also like to wish you a happy belated birthday!!
bpclarke
Splendid capture! And, a belated Happy Birthday! Bunny
iaacf
First of all my congratulations on your birthday and for having been selected for the title Gallery of the Month. No doubt you deserved this title.. This image shows what I mean. I remember having posted an image of this creature too, but this one is much more better than mine. So detailed and crisp clear.. It is great.. Congrats again.. Oskar
MedTran39
What a super capture of this awesome butterfly!
npauling
This is a perfect butterfly capture. Happy birthday for your 60th and I hope you are enjoying life. To be able to take photographs like you do and post them here for us to see is a wonderful thing to do and I very much appreciate it. Thank you.
nongo
I'm glad you've been having a great birthday week!!!!! We all deserve at least that!!!! Congrat's on the milestone!!!!!
mizoli
Wonderful!
JeffG7BRJ
Double, nay triple congratulations Danny, for the big 60(mine was last month so I'm still senior to you) for the GOM and finally for this awesome macro of this beautiful little critter. Good enough for a plate in any reference book, superb clarity and detail and excellent presentation. Bravo young man, bravo!!!!!
ledwolorz
Amazing macro.
Gor111
Happy belated Birthday and congrats! It's a gorgeous butterfly macro photography!!!
G_Mansco
Oh thank you! This is a real beauty ;O)
Richardphotos
happy birthday and what an incredible butterfly.the clarity is awesome