Brand new (not “relatively new” like the last couple have been) to the gallery is “Canterbury” an 8×8 metallic print.
The name came from the frequent use by Geoffrey Chaucer of the word whippletree, another term for a dogwood, in “The CanterburyTales.”
Enjoy!
*tracey*
"Canterbury" by Tracey Capone Photography
"Four Barrel" by lilacpopphotography at Etsy
I love art… any art, in any form. I need more walls, well and a bigger bank account, just to keep up with the amount of art I have and want to purchase. So, as I live in a city apartment and don’t have unlimited funds, I’ve decided to feed my addiction to art by interviewing other artists.
Ladies and Gents, drum roll please… introducing “Meet the Artist.”
Each month, I’ll be introducing you to a new artist. Get to know them, check out their galleries and fall in love with their work as much as I have.
To christen this new feature, please allow me to introduce you to Janna Bissett of lilacpopphotography on Etsy. Not only is she just the sweetest person around, I absolutely love her work. The pops of color, the gritty, urban feel; love, love, love.
So, without further adieu, meet Janna…
Admittedly, I’m behind on posting some of my newer creations so, no time like the present, however, perhaps I should change the title to “Relatively New to the Gallery” How about this… “Added to the Gallery Within the Last Month or So?” It’s a mouthful but it will do. Time just gets away from you…
“The Extrovert,” shot here at the Chicago Botanical Gardens is “relatively” new to the gallery and one of my favorites. It was recently purchased in a large format print and I truly wanted to keep it for myself 
(Wait, I’m the artist, I suppose I can right?)
The flower is in no way Photoshopped, it was just THAT pretty. I loved how it stood out against the murkiness of the pond it was in. Fact of the day… that’s actually one of the reasons the lotus flower symbolizes perseverance against all odds… something so beautiful can grow up from the dark, dirty waters of a pond.
Enjoy!
*tracey*
"The Extrovert" by Tracey Capone
I’m a dichotomy… sometimes a tomboy, sometimes girlie girl. I think I’ve found a pretty good balance though. Women aren’t actually as hard to understand as men like to think 
They just need to understand that we’re the sum of all of our parts… some good, some bad, but in the end, it’s what makes us who we are.
Enjoy!
*tracey*
It’s getting cooler here in the Land of Wind, how about where you’re at? I’ll admit, I’m one of those crazy people who love the cold weather and, having lived in Tennessee for the last three years, I am so very happy to be back to the crisp, cool Autumns and pending winter. (bring on the snow!) That said though, I am quite certain that some time come February or March, I’ll be feverishly wishing for some warmer weather.
“Crimson,” from the coast of Maine, one of the newest in my gallery, is a photo that reminds me of just such a day. Enjoy!
*tracey*
Crimson
tiny scallop clock in poppy by uncommon on etsy
I’m fascinated by color; both full-throttle and lack thereof. As a photographer, it’s important that I understand the symbolism behind colors and the emotions that they evoke.
You can take a photograph of the most amazing subject however if the end result is underexposed, drab and boring or worse, overexposed, too light and washed out, you’ll lose people’s interest. Beyond understanding exposure, understanding colors, their potential combinations and how the human brain reads and registers them helps create better end results.
Anyone who knows my body of work knows I love bold colors. Many of my photographs have pops of red or orange and in some cases I use selective color to really draw them to the surface. I love how certain colors play off of one another, balancing out and making a statement well beyond that of the subject. I love how even a subtle pop of color can draw a viewer in. One of my favorite photographs, “The Parking Spot” is a good example of this. As we were headed down The Grand Canal, the first thing that caught my eye was the gorgeous red of the boat against the backdrop of the green door. Would I have noticed this mansion otherwise? No, likely not.
Now, I’m not implying that color alone makes or breaks a shot; there are so many other things that go in to an excellent color photograph. I’m also not saying every shot should be so saturated with color it practically punches the viewer in the face. Sometimes subtlety is best. It is possible to have too much color; it’s your job as the photographer to understand your subject and visualize a well balanced end result.
“color theory: brick and mortar” draws on my fascination with color and will be the first in a series of treasuries exploring color theory which, in the realm of visual arts, is the guidance behind color mixing and understanding the ultimate emotions that combinations evoke.
Today’s color combination is brick red and soft gray, hence the brick and mortar title.
Red is a very emotionally intense color which is associated with energy, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love.
Gray, “the new black”, is a timeless color, considered practical, elegant and solid. it is a neutral, balanced color midway between white and black, which evokes the feelings and emotions of security, reliability, modesty, and maturity.
For me, the color combination evokes a feeling of security and strength. I feel it’s an elegant and well balanced combination as the red is fiery while the gray is more neutral and understated, yet still beautiful.
What does this color combination evoke in you? What are some of your favorite color combinations?
Be sure to check out the various shops in the treasury. They have some amazing finds that are sure to delight!
Enjoy!
*tracey*
"Tomatoes" an original oil painting by Nik Shogren on Etsy
Well, Autumn is here and with it brings the end of tomato season… BUT it also brings cooler weather and…drum roll please! Tomato SOUP!
Today’s treasury is a nod to a fruit (yes, that’s right, it’s a fruit) that, honestly, I actually hated as a kid. Now? Can’t get enough of them. Caprese salads, sun-dried, roasted, smoked… sooo many good uses for a tomato, so little time.
I hope you enjoy this bright and cheery treasury filled with fantastic finds from great Etsy artisans. Be sure to check out their shops and see what other fantastic gems they have!
Enjoy!
*tracey* the tomaaaaaahhhto queen
"From the Loop" Tracey Capone Photography 2010
So, technically, tilt-shift photography is usually from the vantage point above the subject so, hence the “sorta kinda, well maybe” part of the title but I just had to try this and see what happened.
A few weekends back, on a whim, I decided to take the full Chicago architectural tour… yet again… because I love boating along the Chicago River, seeing all the amazing buildings that make up this wonderful city. The history behind Chicago’s architecture is fascinating and some of the stories you’ll hear on the tour are sure to make you chuckle.
One of the things I missed in my three years away, believe it or not, was the CTA. Yes, it smells funny and some of the people are weird but the El (elevated track line) is one of the best ways to see the city. Jump from the Red Line to the Brown and the Brown to the Orange and just keep riding around the loop taking in the mix of modern and retro buildings that Chicago has to offer.
But I digress… “From the Loop” is my “take” on tilt-shift photography. By using selective focus (hey remember that from yesterday?) and blurring out the buildings in the immediate background, the train and that beautiful red, brick building are pulled out of what was once a pretty dull picture that was basically overpowered by the Sears Tower (yes, yes, it’s the “Willis Tower” fine… it’s the big, black building in the back)
I still plan on doing some true tilt-shift photography and will definitely post it here. In the mean time, here’s a great tutorial on how you can fake tilt-shift using Photoshop.
Enjoy!
*tracey*
Duo/Hanging Bird Feeder by joepapendick on Etsy
My latest treasury, who’s alternate title is, “An Homage to my Shower Curtain” (haven’t seen it? It’s what inspired the color choices…) combines vintage yellow or ochre and varying shades of gray. I love this retro-feel color combo for both it’s softness and vibrancy.
Can you guess which item I have my eye on the most? If you guessed the awesome DSLR messenger bag by Stash, you guessed correctly. (Although that vintage yellow dress from the 60s also has me drooling… so very Joan from “Mad Men,” don’t you think?) Check out more great bags in Stash’s shop as well as the other shops included in the treasury!
Enjoy!
*tracey*
"Second City" Tracey Capone Photography 2010
One of the newest pieces in my gallery is, “Second City;” a photograph of the Chicago Theatre sign along State Street here in Chicago.Those who know State Street will also recognize the Marshall Fields clock (sorry, still can’t call it Macy’s) and the Marina Towers in the background.
I’ve used two techniques, one pre- and the other post-processing, to get the ultimate effect you see here.
First, by using my Lensbaby Composer lens, which utilizes a ball and socket setup to provide an amazing selective focus effect, I’ve blurred out the areas immediately surrounding the sign, including the clock and the towers in the back. By switching my camera in to manual focus and a combination of moving the lens on the ball and socket as well as manually focusing the lens, I was able to focus in on the sign without completely blurring the surroundings to the point where you can’t recognize them. (If you haven’t already tried a Lensbaby, check them out. The amount of fun and creativity that comes from using one of their lenses, as well as the many accessories available, is well worth the cost of the lens.)
Secondly, in post-processing, using masking as well as some creative actions in Photoshop, I’ve pulled out the amazing colors in the sign, while creating a platinum black and white effect for the remaining areas.
Moral of the story… don’t be afraid to “draw outside the lines” and use selective focus for creative results. Not every shot has to be 100% crisp and clear. Sometimes, blurring out certain aspects of the shot forces the viewer to look at the entire photograph rather than just your main subject while it conversely sets a more creative stage for the main attraction. You can find more great tips on using selective focus here.
And voila, I give you, “Second City.”
Enjoy!
*tracey*
