I love a clean landscape photograph. One with beautiful colours, interesting lines, and gorgeous light. Or a clean wildlife image with startling detail and a soft background. Those have always been the types of images I try to make.
In the past year or so, I’ve found myself attracted to a different type of image. Perhaps one that is more conceptual and planned rather than one that is discovered. Often one that involves photo composites where multiple photographs are combined into one.
I started playing with adding different types of elements to my images like handwritten words, handwritten music, geometrical shapes, textures, paint splats, blobs of light, rain, leaves – all sorts of unexpected things!
I know the purists might not consider this photography anymore, and that’s fine. It’s digital art, and it sparks my creativity in a way I haven’t experienced before. It has opened the doors to what is possible and takes all the “rules” off the table. What’s more … it’s fun!
Not that “straight” photography isn’t fun, of course it is. This is just a different kind of fun and there are few things better than finding a new kind of fun.
Plus, now that my mobility problems are limiting my opportunities to make new photographs, this is one way I can express my creativity with images I already have.
I feel a bit like I’ve been hiding this side of myself. I’m a little afraid to let it out in case the purists feel the need to tell me that photoshop is cheating or some silly thing like that. But these are not pure photographs. They are digital art – and it’s time to release them into the world.
All of these images were made with my original wildlife photographs, many of which I love in their original form. Some of them, however, had something about them I didn’t like that prevented me from putting them in my portfolio. Usually the problem was a cluttered background. Sometimes these things can’t be helped in the field. But now I can take such an image, extract the animal, and use it in a digital art piece. It’s very satisfying to perform a rescue this way!
For example, the image below is a composite of two separate images – and an unforgettable experience that I am so happy to have an image of now. I was watching this mother elephant and her days-old newborn when suddenly the baby came out from under the mother and started running towards me. The mother quickly used her trunk to retrieve her baby! As this happened, both elephants moved quite a bit closer to me and I found my lens too long to get both elephants in the frame.
At the time I was disappointed that the mother elephant’s head was cut off. But years later, I found a way to merge the two photographs, piecing the mother elephant back together and removing some distracting background trees. With a new background and a few more elements added to the scene, I now have a piece of digital art that I love.
I hope you enjoy this new pursuit of mine. I’d love to hear what you think about digital art and if you are interested in learning more. I’m considering creating some videos showing how I make these images, what goes into them, and the different techniques I have discovered along the way.
Prints are available in my portfolio here.
Dreamy and fantastical. What a beautiful collection. Thank you for sharing your newborn project!
I absolutely love all of them. They are stunning. I find myself just contemplating the subject even more because there are no distractions. Beautiful work, indeed.
I have loved textures and the like since I started in 2008 with my Nikon D40, but when I discovered that I couldn’t them without PS, I gave up.
Welcome to a new world of unleashed personal creativity.
You are making wonderful photographic art – don’t stop!
I find the subtle maps the most intriguing as nature’s animals are spread all over the world. The map gives a sense of location, like it just stepped into the picture for our appreciation. I don’t get the same feeling with ones with formulas in the background. No connection I can make there. Others were ok. Keep up the good work. The animals themselves were awesome.
I love your digital art collection and am very interested to know how they were done. This is something I’ve been wanting to do with my flower and bird images.
Hope you are feeling better these days and are on the way to healing.
Anne, I have been enjoying your photographs and blogs and and videos for quite a while. I’m so sorry that you are dealing with health issues. You have an inspiring positive spirit. I think your new work is beautiful–it has the power of poetry.
OMG … this is truly stunning work. I love it. What a truly unique way to “repurpose” your photos. I truly love the backgrounds and the photos. Especially loved the mama elephant and her baby. Thank you for sharing. Beautiful work. I love your First Digital Art Collection and can’t wait to see what else you come up with. So very creative.
Outstanding, Anne! I love your new digital art! I consider myself a purist, but why your images are very compelling is that you left those smaller, realistic elements a part of the theme. You left the strands of grass, the hard surface of the rocks and then you complimented and expanded the image with the other images of lines or words. For example, your mother elephant is expanded with the concentric rings, and the written words behind the zebras emphasize their community. Keep it up! These are awesome.
Oh Anne, I absolutely LOVE your digital art and I would be really interested in learning more! These shots are gorgeous and with the textured background it really makes your subject pop. So beautiful! Do not be concerned with what the purists might say, just go with what feels right from within and follow your heart!
These are outstanding. I like them even better than the unadorned photographs. My favorite is the water buffalo. The contrast between dark and light provides such atmosphere.
Very creative and beautiful. I especially like the elephants and how the background effect curled around the mothers head. Well done!
Those are nice, Thank you for sharing.
Hi Anne, I have been an avid nature photographer for over 50 years. At one time before 2000 a photo was “Verbatim”, it was an actual representation of the subject.
When digital arrived it took me about 3 years to slowly move into “digital art”. Now I only have one rule, I’ve taken all components of a composite or collage. I absolutely love the doors that this “art” has opened for us.
I think every single image you have produced here is a gorgeous piece of art and I would be very proud of every one. Awesome work.. keep it up.
Ted..
I love these photos. They are inspiring. An I would love to learn how to do this kind of editing/creating of digital art.
love the photos ,most certainly would like to know who you did it .
I’m not too dad in light room but very limited in PS
I appreciate it as an artform all its own. And very nicely done!
I love them all and would really like to learn how to do that. I’ve never used textures but I have a lot of wildlife photos. So I would be interested in videos on “how to do” them
I love them Anne
Congratulations
Anne, it’s a great new era for you and more uniquely you. I love them.
Well done! Love all the textures! Good use of previously existing photos! They are very inspiring! Thank you!
Lovely images! All of them have a lot of emotion, feeling and beautiful light.
Wow, I like these pictures. Really made the animals pop. Really makes me want to play even more to see what I could do with mine. Great Job!!!!
These images are great! I love the presentation as digital art because it adds so much to the primary subject. Great job and keep it coming, love it all!
Wow! You did a great job. These art pieces are beautiful. Are you planning on teaching this technique?
I love your style !!
This definitely could be classified as fine art! I LOVE this!!
HI Anne,
GORGEOUS images … I mean, WOW!
Each background fits each animal so well and prompted me to start imagining a story about each scene.
I sure am interested in videos showing how you created the images.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful art.
More, please!
Nicely done, indeed!
Congratulations on moving into Digital Art , I love your work especially the Elephant Mum and Baby. Look forward to playing around with some of my images.
Nicely done. There is no right or wrong way to create art. There will always be those who think there is only one way to do anything. Don’t listen to them. Do what makes you happy.
Truly wonderful Art Work Anne, congratulations
Wonderful images. All photography is art and you should be very pleased with your creative expressions.
These are wonderful! Very well done!
Just beautiful and not overdone, the eye is still focused on your primary subject.
I also would enjoy instruction on this technique.
Enjoy the fun! Sometimes post takes away the enjoyment of photography for me, therefore it sits. This idea will help me get back to it.
Thank you!
Wonderful, wonderful pictures! Thank you for opening the door for all of us to take pictures we love and make them artworks as well. Yes, would definitely be interested in the videos explaining how you did this.
Creatively poetic – love these, Ann. I would be very interested in learning how to do this – so beautiful.
Beautiful images. I have recently started doing digital art from my travel photos. I took an online course from Sebastian Michaels which was wonderful. I also use a lot of Anna Aspens designs making them my own as part of the composition by recoloring , using blending modes etc.
Beautiful images. I’m very fond of good compositing, and you have done well. Yes, interested in seeing some videos. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful work. I am interested in learning how.
What a delightful way to switch gears. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons!
I guess I’ll have to find where you teach us how to extract an image from its background and replace the background with something else that makes it art.
These are absolutely stunning! I love them.
I’ve always admired your photographs. Their beauty is what inspired me to participate in Photo Forte. I learned a lot from the others in the group and especially from your comments and encouragement.
It’s wonderful that you can now use your exceptional talents to create these magnificent works of “digital” art! Congratulations! Hope to see many more.
Best wishes to you.
Lovely and COMPELLING images. What a wonderful warm style you have adopted. Images such as these need to be printed large so they can shape the ambiance of any room where they are placed.
Beautiful work. I would be interested in videos showing how to do this thanks. Hope you are recovering.
I really like what you have done with your photos. This type of nature photography is new to me and is so creative…..something I would be interested in learning.
Thanks for sharing.
The photos are great and there is nothing wrong with enhancing them and turning them into fine art digital images. That allows more creativity to happen and some wonderful pieces can come out of it as you have shown. I have dabbled some in compositing images myself but would love to learn more and see what your techniques are.
Thank you for sharing.
The pictures were as beautiful as I knew they would be. I am a big fan of your work. Thank you, and I hope to see even more in the future.
I love what you have done in this collection! They are beautiful digital artwork. Yes, I would like to learn some of the techniques of taking the subject out of a photo and inserting them into a piece of art.
Very talented! So happy you have found new ways to make photography a continued part of your life.
Love your work Anne. Looking forward to see your technique on making these great images.
These are beautiful. I would love a tutorial on how to do this. Thanks for all you do!!
Stunning! Love them, especially the owl! I’m quite interested in learning how you make these wonderful works of art–looking forward to those videos.
I love how the “dots” in the background complement the leopard’s spots. It’s a very subtle, artistic, and creative touch. You’re traveling down the right path, Anne. Keep it up!
Absolutely beautiful!
I admire your work, I love everything about it!
Great work, best of health to you.
You have embarked on a new form of creativity in photography! Very impressive!
Thank You for introducing us to another art form.
Best Wishes and Best of Health!
Why have you been wasting your photographic life doing great landscapes ? This has got to be more exciting, and rewarding work. Joking about the landscapes, but these are truly great. Thank for sharing.
Stunning – I’ve never seen anything like it! The animals look so comfortable in the setting you have created for them. Keep creating – Would love to see more of your special digital art.
Can this be done on Luminar or Skylum? I am interested in learning more about digital art. I find it fascinating.
I do have some of your lessons over the years and have greatly admired your work. I am glad you are able to keep creating in one way or another. I know how important it is to those of us who love photography and have some physical limitations (for me it is Fibromyalgia and age). Keep on creating in what ever way you are able. to and find what ever method works best for you.
Impressive. You have created a feeling of intimacy with each subject. Thank you for sharing
Wonderful work. I love you’re use of palette, lines, and textures; and how you’ve integrated them so well with your subject. Really good stuff.
Truly amazing “art” ! Particularly love the African animals – seeing that we are in Africa !!!
WOW! Absolutely phenomenal! You are so creative. By far my favorite landscape/nature photographer and now this!!!! These are INCREDIBLE!!! I would not for a second concern myself with what the purists say. Let them wallow in their own misery. Consider the fact that each one of these digital art pieces is entirely your own creation. From the first concept of capturing the animal image, to actually capturing it including all the work that went into capturing it perfectly, to processing it…that alone is a true masterpiece. Then to weave it into this stunning creation…WOW!!! I can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
I absolutely love these beautiful images. I know from experience that not all photographers like composites or even art images. I even know a few that feel that “pure photography,” whatever that may be, is the only true photography. In my humble opinion, being creative when processing your own images is not only courageous, it is often absolutely essential. Ansel Adams is often touted as the primary example of pure photography, yet his images were heavily post-processed in the darkroom, sometimes for weeks. I found these images to be artistically enticing and very alluring. Bravo!
Anne, they call photography art for a reason. Go to any art gallery and check out the paintings. Very few are what you would call realistic or natural. Photographers have the same artistic options as abstract painters, except we get accused of “Photoshopping” our images. These images of yours are fantastic and show a creative mind. The rest of us are either too rushed or lazy trying to produce our realistic photos, that we don’t take the time to be really creative. Your lifestyle change, has caused you to rethink your style and is a blessing in disguise. Keep up the good work. Perhaps the rest of us will dig deeper inside and get more creative as a result of your examples. .I knew you would find your way. Wish I knew you were in Phoenix for Christmas, although I was in the hospital getting my carotid cleaned out. Now recovering, but a very sore neck. Maybe a visit for next year, if you stick to your plan.
These are fantastic! All photographers are creative and this is taking creativity to the next level. I would love to learn your techniques. And well done for turning a negative experience into t very positive one.
It”s a spectacular artistic effort. Looking forward to new wonderful images.
I agree with Paul LeSage regarding our artistic options. I’ve for a long time now considered digital photography combined with PS just another form of art without the paint brushes, crayons or pencils that are used by others. Anne, I think your photogs portray an environment where one would expect to find wild animals, remote and beyond normal human habitation with a degree of mystery to boot. Splendid creations showing some courage in exploring “outside the box.”
Keep at it I say. Cheers. Al.
All very tastefully done, but I particularly like the owl shot! A beautiful shot in itself, but nicely accentuated with the background that you added.
Beautiful pieces that invite one to pause and study and reflect. Keep at it and let your creative energy flow.
Anne, your digital art collection is fantastic, very creative and I love it. I think your have discovered a new photography art avenue, which besides the personal pleasure for you, I might have an economical value. Thanks for sharing this beautiful collection.
Your work is truly creative, not only did you show us stunning clear photos but with the adding the background it made them truly stunning and inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
Love the concept. Provides opportunity to make a not so great image into something better and very attractive. Keep up the great ideas
These are quite beautiful. I especially like your use of color, and the way that supports and complements the pictures of wildlife. I’m glad you found a medium that works for you. Thanks for sharing.
I don’t understand the use of text or some of the other backgrounds as part of the pictures. The art might be too empty without something to fill some of the spaces, and in that sense these extra images are helpful. Still, to me they seem “off topic” and I would prefer images that better fit the context of the picture. But maybe I’m missing something. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time.
I’d love to see your videos.
WOW! Stunning is a good word.
Fabulous. Absolutely love them all.
The owl is my favorite, but I could stare at all of these for hours.
I love your new artwork. I would love to learn more.
Wonderful photographic art – dont stop doing it !
These are stunning!!!! I have experimented with this technique and would love to see videos on how you create your art. They certainly cause an emotional response.
Nicely done, Anne! They’re very good, especially the last four – the giraffe is my favorite I think. I like that you’ve kept the backgrounds subtle, it adds a sense of mystery and intrigue. Glad you are able to work so creatively despite your current constraints.
I love this new work, there is nothing wrong with digital art at all. The purists only get upset when someone puts pieces and parts together and says it’s an original image. That’s untrue and misleading. Your digital art is clearly that, and you are doing a WONDERFUL job of it!!!! Can’t wait to see more.
VEry nicely done. Very creative.
Anne:
Absolutely stunning! Each and every one is simply a masterpiece. Look forward to seeing more!
Anne, I always enjoy all your photos and especially the wildlife ones because that is what I like to “shoot”. I have traveled to Kenya and Tanzania 3 times and want to go again in 2020 or 2021. It is always fun also to read your information and instructions!!
I was prepared not to like this new work but, guess what? I love it. I can “picture” these with a frame, hanging proudly on a living room wall or in a public building or office. Congratulations. I’m sorry about your health issues but I call this making lemonade from lemons. I have always taken pride in “realistic” photography, as much as straight from the camera as I can, but you’ve given me something to think about and perhaps a new technique to try.
These are outstanding Anne. Your creativity continues to inspire.
Thanks for sharing these.
Anne,
Anything you touch becomes a success.
Chapeau, as French people say.
Anne, these are absolutely lovely. You are a Visual Artist in the truest sense. Who cares what the “purists” say. Photography is, and always will be to me, an art form. These images demonstrate what is possible as an artist. I look forward to seeing more of your work in this venture.
Until now, I have only used textures for flowers. You have opened up a whole new area for use of textures and other related things for me. I thank you very much for increasing my awareness.
I have followed you for a long while and love your work. I can so relate to your conflict regarding pure photography.. I also really like this new digital art path that you are on now and would be very interested in learning more about your techniques. I sometimes enjoy editing and creating on the computer more than the photography especially if the outcome is better than the original.
Beautiful work, I think you have done a great job, keep it up.
These images are beautiful, Anne. I’m so glad you found this new passion to drive your creativity. Don’t listen to the naysayers. They’re just jealous and would rather knock someone down than expand their horizons in new directions. I’ll be watching out for more of your digital art in the future.
Nice work. Hope to see many more.
Great work Anne, it is really beautiful.
Gorgeous Anne. Very nice work. Mike Jackson of “Best of the Tetons” has been doing work with textures as well. You might like some of his work; https://www.tetontextures.com/ and scroll down.
Love the lines and circles behind the owl. Maybe a map of his habitat?
Thank you Anne, I think this is what photography is evolving into. Photography has allowed me to see even more of the beauty in the world and with textures and composting we now get the chance to create art of our own that is more than just one image…. excited to see what you create next
stay smiling
Mark
Lovely. Really like the work .. Very Nice
I like the subject matter and its presentation, I like the textured background, just not sold on the “text” in the background, maybe more nature related in the texture?? But overall very nice and worthy to be on anyones wall.
Hi Anne,
The digital art is gorgeous! The two elephants is a fantastic piece of art work and the rest are just as good. Your creativity is a beautiful skill. Producing videos would be great and sharing the process would be a fantastic way to broaden your horizons. Have a great 2020 with the photography and the new digital art. I hope you are feeling better also. Take care. JT
Very nice … enjoying looking at them.
Even I consider myself a photo realist or as you say – a purist (heheh) I just love those images – call it a digital art or what ever you like, they are very interesting.
Go go girl! :)))
Nice; you have set me thinking – thank you!
These are a case where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. I love how your digital art dramatically features the beauty of the animal in an artistic way that enhances the mood of the image.
I’m gla you”vvve found an outlet for your creativity in spite of your physical challenges. Keep it going. These images are just beautiful.
Very nice. Like them a lot. Would love to learn how to do that. I have Photoshop Elements 2020. Would that program work? Thanks for all you do to help us armatures get better
Anne, beautifully done and I think that you have probably improved some of the images by these steps. Love them and yes as some other respondents have said makes you think. Lovely portfolio.
Lovely indeed Anne, so thank you for sharing them with us! Hope to see more in the future, as well as your ‘purist’ photography, that we all dabble in! Between yourself and Ray, you keep me busy and interested on many days of the week these days! Hopefully you enjoy this new art form, as much as we did in viewing them!
Anne, I very much like what you have done with your first digital portfolio and hope you do decide to offer us some tutorials on their creation. Also, I hope you are familiar enough with ON1 to do them in ON1 2020.
At 90 years of age I fully understand not being able to safely travel far and am trying to be creative with some of my previous images.
I hope time will offer you some improvement in your current situation.
I am presently creating a photographic website.
Wayne
Anne, these are very very well done. I love digital art. For years I was able to do this kind of thing with Cyberlink PhotoDirector but it quit playing nice with MS updates. So I have PS now. I have yet to get back to the level I use to be. So I would love learning how to do so. I will anxiously await your tutorial, e-book, etc.
absolutely beautiful art…mesmerizing …pls continue exploring! i’m a writer…when i curtail my creativity and stuff the resulting frustration…i end up in pain physically…when i allow my creativity to flow and speak my truth…i am pain free 🙂
signing up and looking forward to more!
Great job. Inspiring and much to think about.
Very beautiful. So glad you are continuing to share your gifts with others, inspirational.
Thank you very much for sharing such a wonderful collections of digital art photography. Most of time I worry how the editing package will kill the creativeness in photography but you work brought new dimensions.
Wonderful pictures!! Thank you for sharing!
They are incredibly beautiful images!
I hope you do offer instruction on this. I would love to learn the process!
Wow ….
I would love to learn the process.
I hope you are well.
I love them Anne but particularly the elephants!
Having been to Africa 9 times, I really enjoyed your artistic representation of the birds and animals. I love them, in spite of the fact, that i’ve considered myself as a purist. I may look at many of my images, and look at them differently.
Well done, my best to you in your struggles, Bob Knupp
Absolutely STUNNING. A whole new career for you 🙂 Best wishes and good vibes to you in your journey.
These are beautiful! Truly creative and gorgeous art.
Anne, I’ve been a fan for a long time; you’re a great photographer! For 50 years now, I’ve been teaching guitar, and for the first 40 years of that time, I started my day with a cup of coffee and practicing classical guitar for 3-4 hours, every day! about 10 years ago, I suffered an accident that damaged the nerves in my right hand, and that huge portion of my day “disappeared”, so I understand what you’re going through.
At that time, I started seriously to pursue the art of photography, and while it sounds as though you’re traveling days may be over, I applaud your refocusing (really, no pun intended!) in order to continue your art. Never mind any “naysayers” that you may bump into; let your heart lead you, and be true to your vision!
I’ll continue to follow your journey, and wish you all the best in the world.
Anne, these are so aesthetically pleasing. The backgrounds are so subtle and beautiful. I wouldn’t normally go for this kind of photograph but these are super!!
BEAUTIFUL images, Anne!! You are so talented!! Thanks for posting!
Hey Anne – These are GORGEOUS!!
Re your comment: “Plus, now that my mobility problems are limiting my opportunities to make new photographs, this is one way I can express my creativity with images I already have.”
They say when one door closes, another one opens. Yours has opened VERY widely!
Hey Anne – These are GORGEOUS!! A number of them look like oil paintings.
Re your comment: “Plus, now that my mobility problems are limiting my opportunities to make new photographs, this is one way I can express my creativity with images I already have.”
They say when one door closes, another one opens. Yours has opened VERY widely!
Wow really interesting work, gonna look great on print!!!