Inspired by Quietness - Water Photography

This summer season I have decided to follow the theme I started last year. I mean water and its lines and rhythms inspirations. My focus on this theme is because of being tired with more and more busy and speedy life we all seem to live. Scientists have invented computers to help people do things easier and faster. I guess they have thought their invention spare our time on doing things we must to be able do things we love.

How it is in reality we all know. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc. - constant buzz, noise, talking, commenting, liking and actually do not caring at all.  That is why I seek for peace, which is a must to be creative.  Stillness inside us is a must to hear our inner voice. Observing water makes me really calm and actually very happy.

I want to share with you some images of water I did this summer, which sadly comes to the end in my country. I will be garteful for any comments you leave on my blog. Thanks in advance.

The Energy of Trees Photography Show

Opening Reception, February 12, 6:00 PM

Bydgoszcz University Library, Szymanowskiego 3, 12 February - 14 March, 2014

I have a great pleasure to inform that tomorrow there is an opening reception of my solo exhibition. The venue is new and very modern building of huge library that has been built in my hometown for our university. I highly value showing my works out of brick and mortar galleries in a spaceswhere normal life is vibrating each day. I feel that my works have become a small part of someone's life at least for the period of the show time.

I cordially invite everyone who is happen to be in my hometown and would like to participate in the show.

Inspired by Quietness

For a person, like me, a kind of introvert loving peace and harmony, it is not easy to live nowadays, when everything seems rushing and speeding up each day. A human being can't perceive and wisely comprehend the world in which he/she lives from an Intercity Express train. But our live reminds such a speedy journey. And worse, we seem to accept it.

I often raise a question how to protect myself, my own personality,

A Gift

Roses, Photo: Danuta Antas, 2013

Beautiful roses my Andrew gave me recently. I couldn't resist to shoot them and share the photo with you. More images of the roses I will publish soon.

And below there is another flower photo I did this summer. Being so very busy with my web design work, creating new website for the presentation of web and graphic design projects I did for my clients I do not have so much time for photography I used to. I know, it needs to be changed soon.

If you like the images, just leave your comment below:)

My Photo Blog Featured in Shutterbug magazine

El Paradiso Mio series, Botanic Gardens Myślecinek, Bydgoszcz - Danuta Antas, 2010.

I have recently received a very nice comment on my photographic work by San Francisco based photographer Thomas Hyman. Thanks to this comment, which I let myself to cite below, I have learnt that my photography blog has been featured The Blog of The Month in March issue of the Shutterbug magazine.

Tom's Comment

Solo Photography Exhibition at The Museum of Photography

My speech at the opening reception of my solo exhibition. The Museum of Photography in Bydgoszcz, POLAND. February 14th,2013

This year Valentine's Day was very special to me. I had an offcial opening reception of my photography exhibition at The Museum of Photography in my hometown.This exhibition, called Towards Light - Mystic Landscapes, is exclusively devoted to my landscape and trees photography. It covers the period of 2010-2012. Below there are some images from the event. I am so appreciative for the very warm feedback I have received from people, lots of them I have never met in my life. That is really nice moment in photographer's life:)

Being Designer for Yourself

Invitation Card - in DL format

On February 14th there is scheduled my photography exhibition opening. All the promo materials such as invitation cards, trifold brochure cataloques, posters I have designed myself. As the exhibition title is Towards Light I tried to convey the idea in all the printed materials, too.

Dancing Lady Triptych from Ciechocinek

Dancing Lady Triptych was taken in Ciechocinek, 2012

This year Spring I was in Ciechocinek, well-known spa town in Poland. Ciechocinek is famous for its uniquesaline graduation towers of extreme value for many serious diseases treatment, i.e. cardiovascular, respiratory, orthopedic, traumatic, rheumaticand other diseases. My stay in this town has also been connected with health curing after my accident in Summer 2011.

International Photography Awards (IPA) 2012 - 2 Honorable Mention awards for 2 series PATH and SEASONS

Path and Seasons two series of 5 works each, submitted to this year International Photography Awards IPA 2012 were awarded with Honorable Mention award. Path was submitted in Non-pro Fine Art Landscape category and Seasons in Non-pro Nature Trees category. This very special 10-Year Anniversary Edition of the competition attracted more than ever photographers from all over the world submitting 10 000 works. The jury panel comprised of over 80 international photography professionals.

5 Tips for Beginner Artists & Photographers

Nostalgic Landscape, by Danuta Antas, 2010

Go beyond an ordinary vision

One of the most basic yet important tips I would ever give a beginning artist and photographer is just Go beyond and ordinary ... whether it is landscape, flower, still nature, portrait or any other field of your interest. When you will experiment with composition, perspective, light and try to show things different, it is likely you will develop your own, unique style. When I have worked as an Art teacher, my students always were encouraged to experiment and make their own approach to common themes they were supposed to draw or paint. The most extraordinary ideas that appeared in their creative minds, even such as drawing a picture with a dotted pink elephant, met with my greatest joy, as I knew that imagination has

El Paradiso Mio Colour Version Canvas Print Sold

Yesterday, I sold another print of my photographic work at Warsaw based online gallery where my works are respresented and promoted. This time it is landscape above, called El Paradiso Mio, one of my favourite images. I love the place depicted in the image for its special atmosphere and magic light that comes as if from within the scene itself. Whenever I look at the scene I am enthralled by its beauty.

I would love to hear about your magic photographic spots, or better to see your shots taken there. Share with us!:)

Spiritual Journey Through the Language of Art in Pictures

Mystic Wood, Fine Art Photography by Danuta Antas, 2010

In December 2010, I published a photography book on Blurb. The book, called El Paradiso Mio, was meant to be my spiritual journey through the language of Art in pictures. The majority of shots in the project was taken in Botanic Gardens in my hometown Bydgoszcz. The point of the series was to create my inner paradise that will exist in me forever. One of the ways to do this is by looking for the beauty where nobody sees it, or creating it with my imagination.

How to Stir Your Imagination with 360 Degrees Perspective

'El Paradiso Mio", Fine Art Landscape Photography by Danuta Antas

In Summer 2010, I participated in a family picnic or gathering that was organised in a rural area some 40 minutes drive by car from the city I live in. As nice as the day and the weather were, we as a family, spent wonderful day. Taking advantage of out-of-the-city trip, I took a camera with me as I always do that. It's better to carry some additional bags in a car's boot than to get frustrated for loosing opportunity for great shots.

Each shooting spot carries countless opportunities

When our Children Become Our Clients

My Daughter and Me at Various Stages of our Life, Photo Collage by Danuta Antas

Not so long ago, ... in fact I feel as if it was yesterday, I taught my daughter Monique to discover the world marvels and enjoy all the miracles around us. Now, I was asked to design a business card for my child, who is now a lawyer, which I actually don't know when it happened. I miss the time, when she was small and even being a working mother, I always had a time for walks, plays, book reading, etc. with Monique. We mutually enjoyed our company and truly, now from some time perspective, I think she gave me more than I did for her. Even all the time and effort I devoted to her can not compare to how much I gained from Monique's incredible passion for learning new things, her enthusiasm, intelligence, fantastic sense of humour and strong character.

Looking for Meaning in Life - Isolated People in a Crazy World

Isolated People, Fine Art Photography by Danuta Antas, 2010

Today being in a mood  for sad reflections on human nature and our crazy life on this world, posting one of my poems and photographs I did in 2010.

Inspirational Music, Images, Poems for Today

'The Path' taken in Ostromecko Garden by Danuta Antas, 2010

For today, just a few images of my colour collection of pictorial photography and some music I love listening to as well as a few words of my writing, which is too much to call poetry. These are my reflections on life and human nature jotted down quickly to keep them for my memory.

If you get inspired at least a little bit, let me know in the comment below:)

Nature Inspired Story Telling Photography

Two Worlds, pictorial photography by Danuta Antas, 2010

My photographic interests so far go in two directions. One of them, it is black and white photography where mood created by means of light serves me for expressing my feelings, reflections about life, mystic of nature and generally to show my awe at the immense beauty of the world we live in.

The other path I follow, I would call Story Telling Photography, is for expressing my inner child nature that needs to live in an imaginary world of fairy tales and good spirits. This kind of photography is made in colour or not so rare, it is a mixture of colour and b and w photography. I know, I know! specialists advise to specialize:) in one kind of work as it is easier to build your brand. But ...

How to Make Money on your Fine Art Photography

Sample book cover design based on my landscape photography - it took up 15 minutes to do

One of the major problems that emerging fine art photographers encounter is how to make money on selling their art and be able to upgrade their gear, buy pro lens, promote their art, do website, submit works to photo contests, etc. All things that need to be done to build our photographic presence, both, on-line and in a real world require quite a big money.

What if you are not a well-off artist and you can't rely on family, expect any legacy or any other support, yet you are a gifted person who has something to say to this world?

Language of Art - Colour Relativity

The concept of colour relativity in Visual Art

is one of the most important, yet very complex issues. Thus understanding this should be priority for beginning artists and photographers. This article is devoted to only one aspect of colour. I mean colour relativity. As much as colours are important for visual communication, they are pretty unstable. Their quality, tones, brightness, etc. change in relation not only to light but also to surrounding colours.

How to Find New Inspirations for your Art?

Jewel by Danuta Antas, 2011

All artists need new inspirations for their creative work to develop

and sometimes, when our life situation makes us somehow limited by lack of time, lack of money or any other lack:), we, creative souls may feel anxious, disappointed or even depressed. I can only say that since Summer 2011, I have been limited by ... Oh! ... how many things,