Inspired by stone
by Mark ~ January 27th, 2008. Filed under: abstracts, art, artistry, composition, creativity, field techniques, landscape, macro, nature, nature photography.
I finally got a chance to start one of my photo projects I have been wanting to do for a long time, and inspired recently by a couple of photo books I have been going through - most notably Bill Atkinson’s “Within the Stone.” Not only does it have some of the most mesmerizing images I have ever seen, but the print quality clearly sets a standard for all coffee table books to come.
I have always had a love for photographing rock walls and rock patterns, but wanted to go further with this into the wonderful patterns you find in sections of rocks, minerals, and gemstones. Put me on a cobblestone beach with my camera, and you can probably come back the next day and find me in pretty much the same spot. As a kid I used to sit for hours on a beach hammering rocks together searching for ‘dinosaur bones’ inside. Perhaps that is why my thumbs are kind of flat - sometimes I missed! Now the treasure hunting is in front of my camera.
Well, it is a little cold to be sitting on the beach right now, so I have settled for doing a bit of photography in my studio (aka. cluttered office) So it fits in perfectly with the cold weather, because it keeps me inside! 
I already have an assortment of rocks around the house, but wanted some patterns that are a bit more exotic - like Amethyst and petrified woods. So I did a bit of Ebay’ing for samples that caught my eye, even have a few nicely patterned rocks from China.
Lighting can get a little tricky, but my Nikon R1C1 dual macro flash kit worked pretty good. Since you are photographing highly reflective surfaces (either wet or polished), you get the best results through cross-polarization. This involves putting a sheet polarizer filter over your flashes, as well a standard circular polarizer on your camera lens. You rotate the camera polarizer to be opposite the polarized lighting from the flashes. This removes the glare and reflections just like it does in larger landscapes.
I have always been fascinated by nature’s paintings, and as a photographer it is very rewarding to seek these out and portray them in ways that I want them to be seen. My rock photographs are simply an extension of this curiosity and fascination. I am looking forward to continuing this series, and eventually making some large prints and canvas panels of these images.
I created a mini-Flash gallery of my first series of images with Lightroom. You can see it here , or simply visit my normal gallery to see the latest images uploaded. (For some reason, the Flash gallery does not seem to work well with Firefox)
January 27th, 2008 at
Great idea, Mark and excellent abstracts.
January 28th, 2008 at
Excellent, Mark. I’ve had a fascination with rocks every since about the 3rd or 4th grade when we took geology class and learned about fossils and sedimentary rocks! Fascinating.
That first image is wonderful. It looks like some primordial river where one can just imagine the beginnings of life happening.
January 28th, 2008 at
Mark - what can I say you are taking the ideas just right away out of my head. Since I started to photograph walls here and am currently painting abstracts from those walls it came to my mind that I have to go back to my minerals again and here you are already!!!
I love this photo above - this is so magical.
You would be enchanted if you could see the minerals that I have collected in the past 30 years (I think half of the island of Elba you can find between my plants - all finds from this marvellous island which really has a huge treasure of minerals) - I am absolutely in love with minerals and crystals (in their natural form).
Please check out my silk work I created 4 years ago - they are inspired by agates which are some of my favourites:
http://www.angelfire.com/art2/vyala_arts/main/overview.html
if you scroll down on this page there is a series called “Hidden Gems”…
I need to go back to these.
You just reminded me of some ideas I have already noted in my sketchbook. Wonderful!!
January 28th, 2008 at
Hey Mark,
I’ve seen this kind of work before and have done a bit of it myself too. However, your two examples are as good as any I’ve seen, really wonderful. I think they would make great canvas prints.
January 28th, 2008 at
Those are beautiful Mark!
January 28th, 2008 at
Stones can be so beautiful. Like you, I’m quite a rock (& fossil) collector. Sorry about the flat thumb!
January 28th, 2008 at
Both shots are super nice Mark. I especially like the petrified wood. Amazing what nature can do, and you’ve certainly simplified that into some killer compositions and images. I had been meaning to check out the book “Within the Stone” and now want it even more.
Can’t wait to see more.
January 28th, 2008 at
Mark, I think you’re onto something beautiful there. I agree wholeheartedly with your thoughts on nature’s paintings. If we stay out of the way and keep a close eye out for details, we’ll be shocked by what’s already out there. I love your approach to photography.
By the way, as a kid, I was fascinated by fossils. I “get” how you could sit on the same stretch of rocky beach all day.
January 29th, 2008 at
Hey Mark,
The first one, from AZ, is amazingly beautiful. Super photography. I like the 2nd one too, but the first one just knocks me dead.
Cheers
Carl
January 29th, 2008 at
Fascinating!!!
January 30th, 2008 at
These are incredible shots Mark, especially the landscape, what a great idea
February 2nd, 2008 at
Hi Mark, these two examples are absolutely stunning. I love the abstract nature of these images and think they would look very beautiful as large prints or canvasses! Good luck with this project!
February 3rd, 2008 at
Wow Mark! The first photo looks like a really cool dry brushed landscape painting. Awesome and great eye! Awesome to see someone look beyond the obvious.
February 4th, 2008 at
just loved those images.
February 11th, 2008 at
Thank you all.
September 2nd, 2008 at
Hi, Mark -
My wife just moved from teaching 7th grade science to 9th grade science, and while helping move her stuff I came across a couple of nice samples that reminded me of your project.
I have a couple of quick questions, if you don’t mind: What type of polarizer do you use over your flashes - something like the Cokin square linear polarizer? How do you secure the polarizer to your flash?
Thanks for sharing your images & techniques like this!
- Jack
September 2nd, 2008 at
Jack,
) - I cut two small sections out of it and used good ol’ scotch tape to attach them to my Nikon macro flashes. I have read that polarizing film can deteriorate over time when used on flashes - have never seen it myself, but have plenty to spare from the 6×6 sheets.
I have a Visual Pursuits polarizing sheet from B&H that is about 6×6 inches (click the B&H icon in my sidebar
September 2nd, 2008 at
Hi, Mark -
I will order it from B&H, thanks! I’m afraid you won’t be making much on the $14.95 purchase, but consider it moral support! (I know - that and $5.50 will get you a Venti Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino…)
- Jack