Seeking to Understand I – Chris Meyer, 2009

“That's a photograph?!?” This is the usual response I get when I explain that the underlying image in one of my mixed media works is actually a photo of the real world. And I consider it to be a compliment.

Ever since I was a kid with a cheap instamatic, I was interested in abstract photography, trying to remove the sense of perspective and scale in hopes you would view the result for only its forms and colors. Fast forward to today, and I can be found hiking around California plus the Four Corners region with camera and lenses in tow, still looking for interesting compositions to use as the basis of my art. (And no, it's not “digital” art; there will be plenty of time to rant about that later…)

My aim is to use this blog as a journal of my adventures, including both the technical and artistic sides of working with digital cameras and images (with particular sympathy toward the semi-professional or enthused amateur looking to expand their horizons and raise their game), as well as creating archival prints on a variety of media. As moving media is my main job, the crossover between video and still photography will also occasionally enter the discussion. I'll also be sharing links to some of the unusual things other people do with cameras.

If you're curious about my tools, I've recently upgraded from a Canon 10D to a 5D mkII, and have a small assortment of Canon L zoom lenses plus a 100mm macro. I crop, color correct, sharpen, and occasionally composite these images on a Mac in a combination of Adobe Photoshop or After Effects (yes, the latter is a motion app, but I prefer its layered non-destructive model over Photoshop's). Another recent acquisition is an HP Designjet Z3100 Photo 24″ archival inkjet printer – after a long string of Epsons, it's been an adjustment for better and worse. We also just acquired a Nuarc light exposure unit so we can create photogravure plates to run through my wife and partner Trish's Takach etching press, for the ultimate high-tech to low-tech output path.

So as you can see, we'll be covering a lot of territory on this journey. I hope you enjoy the ride.

One of my early abstract photos – Steelwind – taken well over 30 years ago with an instamatic camera. This image was shot up the side of a vehicular assembly building at Cape Canaveral.

A typical progression for me from original photo (fallen rocks in Tahquitz Canyon, just outside of Palm Springs) to final mixed media piece (Anthropologie, 2006).

It's not all abstract! An example of my nature photography: Bees enjoying a Matilija Poppy bloom. I also take a lot of macro photographs of flowers, insects, and caterpillars.

Our photographs and artwork, as well as content contained in our books, videos, blogs, and articles for other sites are all copyright Crish Design, except where otherwise attributed. Other examples of my mixed media work may be found on my artist web site.