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.
ÂÂ
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 (47)
MagikUnicorn
C O O O O L
lyron
Wonderful image. Great picture!!!
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend.
flora-crassella
fantastic image! Great shot!!!!
romanceworks
Oh, this is grand! CC
lucindawind
wow fabulous .. great thoughts too ! it seems it was a dreary era
decie
lol I know i am old but not that old, when i started school it looked something like this. Wicked old places they would beat the living daylights out of you for just yawning. Great capture of the old day the school around the corner is just the same:) and a classic mood image.
magnus073
Great photo Danny and your point is well made. I think they should be involved in the studies and their views listened too. The one thing I do like about the old style was it gave the kids a discipline that is missing today
kenwas
You have a great talent to evoke feelings of another time. You are very fortunate indeed. Beautiful work!
tennesseecowgirl
beautiful!
adrie
Beautiful photoshot my friend, excellent capture.
carlx
Wonderful capture and B&W mood, my friend!!!
JeffG7BRJ
They had some children in here when I visited Danny, and I had to ask for permission from the parents before I could take a picture. No one complained or said I couldn't, the school master thanked me for asking. At one time nobody would have thought anything about it. I think this one is more atmospheric not having anybody there, like the title as in those times little children were "seen and not heard" unless spoken to that is. Superb image. Bravo!!!!!
kansas
Excellent photo. I'm not that old, but school used to be a place of learning and not social engineering as it is today. Let us get back to learning.
evensteven
Great mood. Black and white works well for this!
KarmaSong
You've captured the essence of the Victorian era in selecting this b/w postwork, and seeing this blackboard brings to mind a time when schooling meant a lot more than what it has become nowadays! Excellent work, Danny !
bmac62
Love your old time shots. Those "old" educations weren't all bad by a long shot. Here in the US there were thousands of one room schools with all classes in the same room. My mother-in-law went to one and had a better ability to read, write and communicate after eighth grade than a lot of kids have upon graduation four years later from high school today.
RodolfoCiminelli
Wonderful B&W picture my friend Daniel, fantastic lighting effects....!!!!
timtripp
this one really hits home! SUPERB!
jeroni
Splendid composition and W/B my friend
Digitaleagle
Fantastic still life and what a story this shot tells, awesome!!!
babuci
The small window let in so much light. Wonderful series of old time.
monjo71
Excellent image Danny. I really enjoy this one.
schonee
Super shot here and yes those day must have been tough...Hey I had nuns and yep a few beatings too lol...Great work my Friend!
DennisReed
Stuning capture and period rendition!
Blush
Excellent b/w render Love how the window lets in just enough light A great find here Hugs Susan~
Darkwish
Awesome pic! Very well done!
MrsLubner
Gosh, I remember those cursive lessons... ugh! :-) Really has a feeling of peering into the past here. A familiar feeling for me. Wonderful atmostphere.
tallpindo
This is not near as Spartan as the schoolrooms I have been educated and taught pre-school in. A real painting!!
MedTran39
Super!