Author: Robin Davis

03/6/15

Still-Life Symbolism

BEING IN ITALY gives us access to amazing works of art from the Renaissance Masters, the Romans, even the Etruscans… Not just in museums and churches, but also in the private homes, courtyards and gardens we visit during my Tuscany photography workshop. Paintings are rich with the symbolisms of their age, many which have continued to trickle down into our time, and still strike a deep cord within us. One of these themes, very popular in painting as well as photography is the STILL LIFE. Beyond just being a pretty, well composed, or dramatically lit tabletop scene, the objects chosen to be represented can have a deeper, extra, or even secret meaning that is hidden within the image.

fruit, basket, bowl, cornucopia, italy workshops workshop class classes cortona center of photgraphy tuscany robin davis photographyCORTONA STILL LIFE – © Robin Davis
Cortona, Italy is the perfect setting for inspiring us, with golden light through medieval windows, and for shopping at the lush and beautiful fruit markets. However don’t touch the fruit! Just point and the vendor will bag it for you.

 

Fruit is a common symbol of abundance and the seasonal (and fleeting) bounty of the earth, like the cornucopia/horn of plenty from ancient Roman Art, that’s also found in American Thanksgiving harvest themes of prosperity. Each fruit has it’s own meaning as well.

Apples get a bad rap, considering that one led to the expulsion of mankind from the Garden of Eden, but they, as well as pears are connected to the goddess, symbols of the feminine side of the deity from ancient times. Grapes, the vine, and grape leaves relate to the bonds of family, and also prosperity, abundance and plenty. Plums represent the sensuousness of the good life.

Feng Shui uses fruit symbolism to draw peace, prosperity and good luck into the home. Apples are health and harmony, grapes are abundance and material wealth, peaches are the fruit of heaven and immortality, pomegranates are fertility, oranges and citrus ward off bad energy.

 

All of the effects in this image are done entirely in camera and are some of the techniques that I teach in my Cortona Center of Photography Italy workshops.  In fact, this shot was set up and created for my students during one of our lesson demonstrations during the Italy photo course. The assignment was to create a photographic image in camera, inspired by a Renaissance painting.

 

I’ve printed this image with archival inks on watercolor paper and also canvas for a painterly effect and it’s one of my favorites, hanging as a symbol of plenty in my kitchen.

For a limited edition archival print on 13×19 paper: http://www.thethirdeyephoto.com/shop/

 

To learn more about my Tuscany photo workshop classes that I will hold in Summer and Fall this year, visit www.cortonacenter.com.

 

 

all text and images ©Robin Davis

02/9/15

Picturesque Macon, GA Photo Workshop

Macon Photography Workshop
This is a place I return to again and again to photograph, and I never go away disappointed! Around each bend is another view, and a mood and mystery hangs in the air as spacial alignments become clear and the subjects seem to design themselves into the camera’s frame.

Every March, I look forward to my workshop here, visiting my favorite spots, and also reviewing 5 Basic Directives for creating strong images in-camera, out in the field as the image is being made.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THIS WORKSHOP

Macon’s great architecture represents many different eras and styles, from homes, to civic buildings and also industry, beginning in the early 1800’s, and can be seen from hilltop views all around the city.

Macon Georgia Photography Workshop

Macon, Georgia, Coal, loader, tuttle, railroad, train, industrialm fine art, photo, workshop, photograph, Southern, South Eastern, southeastern, south,

The COAL TUTTLE – as far as I know, this is the only one like it and the only one remaining… anywhere. The old coaling tower would release coal down the shoot to fill the waiting trains on the track below. I’ve been obsessed with it’s design and symmetry for many years now, and visit whenever I can.

Robin Davis Photography, Maconm Georgia, workshop, atlanta, Rose Hill Cemetery, monuments, graves, The Third Eye Photo,

ROSE HILL Cemetery is beautiful, not just because of the Victorian Era monuments and garden layout, but also because of the rolling lay of the LAND.

Started in 1840, multi-levels of gravestones and pathways entwine and connect 19 divisions of squares and hilltop ridges along train tracks and the flowing Ocmulgee River. We’ve made some amazing images here over the years that have a movie-like quality and often are reminiscent of European scenes, or from Eras Past!

Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, College, Campus, workshop, photo, photography, The Third Eye Photo, class

THE SPIRES of Mercer University – The old Administration Building sits on the Historic Quad.

01/18/15

Behind the Scenes

The Third Eye Photo photography workshop class classes atlanta Jekyll St. Simons GA Georgia

Here’s our shot – The very first I ever did with Georgia Blu.
Thanks to Paul Myrick for sharing these images below for a behind the scenes view.

Robin Davis Photography, The Third Eye Photographic Adventures and Workshops, Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island, Atlanta Georgia, photo, photography, workshop, workshops class, classes

From the first few brief conversations I had with her as a very young girl, I felt that Georgia would be an inspirational and highly dramatic model, and I was right!

I found that Georgia was very patient, would hold a pose indefinitely when asked, and had a clear idea of what I was looking for. She was also uncannily aware of the dappled light filtering through the trees illuminating the angles of her face and would play towards the light like a stage actress. I feel that from her own interest in film making, she has a deeper understanding of the camera’s point of view. Since this shoot she has also been in many more theatrical plays and musical stage productions.

The Third Eye Photo workshops photography classes atlanta St. SImons Jekyll Island Georgia GA

The wonderful Fascinator headpieces that Georgia wears were designed and made by her Mother, Jodi, who has limitless talent and energy and I continue to be amazed by her many ongoing projects.

This was a great day on Jekyll Island, as I am reminded here again by Paul’s photos. Thanks for sharing them!

The Third Eye Photo workshops photography classes atlanta St. SImons Jekyll Island Georgia GA

 

Top Photo and Text ©Robin Davis
Three Color Photos – ©Paul Myrick