West Coast Native Art - Seal Bowl

[Manfred M]

I got a bit bored so took some pictures of a piece of West Coast Native Art - a carved bowl that is in the shape pf a seal.

I shot it with two studio lights on seamless white paper.

[Mike Buckley]

Nice bowl and pleasing photo of it.

[Kodiak]

West Coast Native Art…

Being, IMO, one of the most original "native art and design" in north America,
the Haida people should be named as author of this cultural asset. "West Coast
Native" is not giving them full credit. That said…

Hi Manfred,
I know you have some very workable gear and plenty of creative momentum
at your disposal, my questions:

"Is technical perfection enough?
What about mood, atmosphere…?
Why not an image showing this as an artefact coming from the ages and/or
inspired by the spirit it represents?
What about drama? …theatre? …entertainment factor for the eye!
…ultimately: WHERE IS MY EYE CANDY?"

[Manfred M]

Actually Kodiak; I believe this piece was created by a Coast Salish, rather than Haida artist. There are many West Coast tribes; and the Haida are probably the best known of the groups; but are by no means the only ones creating this type of artwork. The Haida live on Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands), an island chain that lies north of Vancouver Island on Canada's west coast

The late Bill Reid, (who was half Haida; his mother was Haida, but his father was Scottish); rediscovered his roots later in life and almost single handedly popularized West Coast Native art. His most well known work is the "Spirit of Haida Gwaii) and was featured on the Canadian $20 for many years. This is a detail of the plaster cast of this work that can be found in the Canadian Museum of History.







As for your other comment; completely fair, but I have to start somewhere. While I had a couple of heads and soft boxes for a couple of years ; I bought a lot more equipment a few weeks ago (two more heads and a lot more light modifiers and stands) and am learning to use them. Having a full-time job (not at all related to photograhy); this limits my photographic opportunities to evenings and weekends; when all the other things around the house are done.

I plan to spend a lot more time on my photography after I have retired and have more time on my hands.

[csa mt]

Manfred, I really like this image. The lighting is pleasing, no sharp shadows; reflecting the colors beautifully!

[Kodiak]

Actually Kodiak; I believe this piece was created by a Coast Salish, rather than Haida artist…

Keep going… I'm learning things. Will research that, exciting!

As for your other comment; completely fair…
I plan to spend a lot more time on my photography after I have retired

…and just when will that be! ;-)

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Manfred M]

Keep going… I'm learning things. Will research that, exciting!

I used to get out to Vancouver and Vancouver Island fairly frequently for work and found a few places that had some nice First Nations art, so I've picked up a few pieces now and then (that is where the bowl in my picture comes from). I don't think any of these were made by Haida artists but rather by Salish, Tlingit, etc. We spent about a week or 10 days on Graham Island (part of Haida Gwaii) a few years ago and picked up some more art (paintings and drawings) and these were definitely by Haida artists, from around Old Masset and Skidegate.

What one finds is that many of these artists only create their work when they need the money and are not doing something else; like fishing or hunting or just getting on with life, so you can't just show up and expect to pick up some work.

There are three museums;

Canadian Museum of History, in Gatineau, Quebec (you probably remember it as Hull),

http://www.historymuseum.ca/exhibiti...nt-exhibitions


The Royal British Columbia Museum, in Victoria, BC.

http://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/hh-collec...ology-objects/


The Museum of Northern BC, in Prince Rupert, BC.

http://museumofnorthernbc.com/


These are all places where I might direct someone interested in this type of art.


The Haida Heritage Centre (complete with carving sheds for canoes and totem poles) would be another good source of information.

http://www.haidaheritagecentre.com/P...aiiMuseum.html

…and just when will that be! ;-)

Mid-October.

[Mike Buckley]

Mid-October.

Ahhhhhhhh. That explains the upcoming two-month trip. What a great way to begin retirement!

[IzzieK]

I like the image, Manfred...simple and straightforward just showing the design of the bowl. No problem on exposure and composition but it lacks something in my eyes (just my opinion...) maybe Daniel is right that for an artifact, you should create a bit more interest by way of moodiness for your subject...??? something a bit more dramatic perhaps like another taller rounded blurred object behind but putting more emphasis on the seal bowl or change the aesthetic background. This shot looks very technical like you use of your fullest engineer brain to compose it...sorry...

[Manfred M]

I like the image, Manfred...simple and straightforward just showing the design of the bowl. No problem on exposure and composition but it lacks something in my eyes (just my opinion...) maybe Daniel is right that for an artifact, you should create a bit more interest by way of moodiness for your subject...??? something a bit more dramatic perhaps like another taller rounded blurred object behind but putting more emphasis on the seal bowl or change the aesthetic background. This shot looks very technical like you use of your fullest engineer brain to compose it...sorry...

Guilty as charged. I got what I was trying for; a nicely exposed piece on a white seamless background.

This shot was really taken as a process to (re) familiarize myself with the gear. It was the first real go I had with my studio equipment in around a year. One gets a bit rusty when one doesn't use certain piece of equipment and I did start off quite simply, working with my new (and old) light modifiers.

I'm hoping to spend a lot more time doing studio type lighting over the coming months.

[Manfred M]

Ahhhhhhhh. That explains the upcoming two-month trip. What a great way to begin retirement!

Exactly. As my wife (who retired last week) says: "Because we can".

Timing is set so that we will be able to get to two important festivals in Bhutan. We will be in India; in the holy city of Varanasi during Diwahli (the Festival of Lights), plus of course some other sites / activities that we've had on our "to do" list for some time.

My only real issue is the very significant weight / luggage restrictions we will have, so I can't drag along all of my camera gear. Two months of clothing for all kinds of temperatures and weather, in a 50 litre backpack means I won't have room for a lot of gear.

[bnnrcn]

Have fun Manfred , I'm looking forward to seeing your photos from your trip. But first get retired and take a deep breath

BTW, I like the image

Exactly. As my wife (who retired last week) says: "Because we can".

Timing is set so that we will be able to get to two important festivals in Bhutan. We will be in India; in holy city of Varanasi during Diwahli (the Festival of Lights), plus of course some other sites / activities that we've had on our "to do" list for some time.

My only real issue is the very significant weight / luggage restrictions we will have, so I can't drag along all of my camera gear. Two months of clothing for all kinds of temperatures and weather, in a 50 litre backpack means I won't have room for a lot of gear.

[IzzieK]

"Clean" -- that was word that I was looking for from within...it should have been what I should have written...your image is too clean -- aesthetic sounds like a hospital term...

[Mike Buckley]

OFF TOPIC

My only real issue is the very significant weight / luggage restrictions we will have

My wife achieved great strides for our most recent trip when we had to overcome the same issues. She bought Ex-officio underwear for both of us. We took two pairs each, washed one pair each night and it was completely dry the next night. Saved lots of space and weight. That's what we'll do from now on.

[Loose Canon]

Jeez Mike!

I now have an indelible image burned into my feeble brain of you standing there in your Ex Officio whitey tighties!

If you all will please excuse me I have to go kill myself now!

[Mike Buckley]

You're too funny, Terry. Sick but funny.

[Manfred M]

"Clean" -- that was word that I was looking for from within...it should have been what I should have written...your image is too clean -- aesthetic sounds like a hospital term...

I was looking for a ultra clean look (call it antiseptic or sterile, if you want); as once one hits that, it can always be dialed back. Nicely said; its harder to get a shot looking really clean as the lighting has to be bang on. Next step will be to start dressing things up.

I'm not sure when I'll have time for that over the next short while though...

[Manfred M]

Mike - it looks like we are into the same travel mode. I have one pair of ExOfficio and two pairs of Tilley ones. Washed out every night with bio-degradable detergent (CampSuds). Same treatment for travel socks; Tilly, Thurlo or Superwash wool. These take a bit longer to dry, so 5 pairs of those. Same with quick drying shirts and pants. So I can go for quite some time without having to hit a more formal laundry facility.

My wife travels the same way.

Sorry Terry, now you have another reason to "kill yourself now!"

[Mike Buckley]

OFF TOPIC

Mike - it looks like we are into the same travel mode.

I believe I can quickly dispel at least part of your thinking by mentioning the dinners each night in our rental apartment. They were made using spices and herbs brought from home and were of course perfectly paired with a different wine each evening. Our best meal of the trip was king crab legs sautéed in a light sauce of shallots, white wine and butter, a recipe passed along to me by my aunt, and paired with a Meursault.

I have a feeling your backpacking trip isn't going to offer such luxury. Another way of putting it is that though we may wear the same brand of underwear when traveling, I'm sure I'm more of a wimp.