52 weeks in photographs - 2012

52 photographs, one for each week of the year 2012.

This was part of a Facebook project 1/52, which I joined at the beginning of 2012 (or was it the end of 2011?), and which I managed to carry through all year despite hitting the wall a couple of times.

The idea was to take one photograph a week each with a single chosen subject throughout the year. My subject was 'mirrors'. I started off with the obvious and took pictures of mirrors and did, what I feel I do best, manipulated my photographs.

The more the project went on, the more I had to start thinking out of the box and come up with different ideas. It wasn't just about the object 'mirror' any longer but what a mirror does and all the preconceptions, the magic and the concepts that surround mirrors and reflections.

The further along I came the more straight photography with less adjustments and manipulations I managed to do and I feel I've learned so much, from using my old camera properly to playing with my new one and the lenses I bought for it, to assessing an object through the lens and how to play with ideas and not go for the obvious.

It has given me some images I love and one that is my most successful image ever and some I am not so happy with and might revisit later again, just because. There is one extra at the end because I couldn't decide. So it's really 53. :-)

I've loved the project and the way it helped me grow as a photographer and the way it opened my mind to different approaches; which is exactly why I joined a new version of this project this time with 4 different set topics throughout the year, still with 52 images, one for each week though. Wish me luck!

If you'd like to see the images in detail, go here.

The Reflection of Love

© Sybille Sterk

Do not copy or publish this in any way, shape or form without my written permission.

Created for my 1/52 Project on Facebook. This was week 38/52 and one of the first photographs I took with my new camera.  It is also part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-00302.

Sometimes all we get is the reflection of love but the real love eludes us.

The image is of a heart drawn on a steamed up mirror. Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Remember Paris

© Sybille Sterk

Do not copy or publish this in any way, shape or form without my written permission.

I've actually never been to Paris... but this reminded me of  turn of the century France with its faded colours and shabby chic. Taken with my old camera rather than the new one.

All images are mine or bought except for one of the grunge wall paper textures by Shadowhouse. Edited in Photoshop.

All my images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes, Society6 and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

Soul Mirror

 

MCN: CE2U8-SGJWY-RXQBJ

One of my latest images for the 1/52 project. This is week 21. All my own images. I am still thinking about what you see in the mirror and how it reflects not just what is there, but also what is in your head.

All my own photographs.

Poem to go with it here.

All my licensing images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

Stop the Clocks

MyFreeCopyright
MCN: CLXHL-7V21E-GYBNM

Image created for the 1/52 project (20/52) from my own photographs.

This is about the Victorian tradtion of covering mirrors and stopping clocks with a death in the house. I presume the latter was to establish and record time of death, the former, covering the mirrors, is supposed to prevent the departing soul from becoming trapped in the mirror. There is a similar tradition in Jewish religion, however in this case it is to remind us that we are more than our physical bodies and to leave vanity behind and remember our souls.

Words are from my poem Night Songs:

"gone from sight
but not from mind
like a prisoner
forgotten
rotting
in a damp cell"

All my licensing images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

Hyacinth Memory

 

 

MyFreeCopyright  

MCN: CAGW6-VCCCF-F5WXC 

A hyacinth on the mantle piece in my living room. I loved the way it was reflected in the mirror. Hyacinths are just so pretty and smell lovely. I always have lots of them around because they're so cheerful after the winter. 

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0222

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Perfume

MyFreeCopyright

MCN: CKA8D-7A824-3E6N8

I love perfume and like books it's something I find hard to resist. There are bottles all over the house, partly because often the bottles themselves are so pretty, partly because I am a nose person.... There is something so sensual about perfume...

All images/textures/brushes my own or bought. Edited with Photoshop.

Ripples

MCN: CA93Q-UDG8H-JXMNA 

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0210 

In this image I tried to re-create the 'Natural Mirror' shot I did with my Hiptstamatic camera, it's not quite the same, but it comes close. I used two shots of puddles with reflections and ripples and overlaid them plus textures and colour adjustments.
It is also part of my 1/52 project, week 17.

There's something therapeutic about looking into a puddle and seeing the reflection in it change. I always imagine it to be a crack between (alternative) universes where I can catch a glimpse of what's happening over there....

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

All my licensing images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

Poison Apple

MCN: CU9YD-TMDYA-XNES8

A poison apple must be a special treasure to keep safe and secret until you use it. I wondered how you would store it. Another image in my 1/52 series (week 14).

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0197

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Blind Mirror

MCN: CJH5A-YVW55-ALMKG

This was originally composed for my FB group 1/52 challenge. I wondered about blind mirrors and that a blind mirror is in fact a contradicition in terms; the mirror doesn't see, so can't be blind. However, if 'blind' is taken to be 'non-reflective' the whole purpose of the mirror is gone and it becomes noting but an empty picture frame, or doesn't it? Or maye it becomes magical at this point because it then reflects what's inside the viewer?

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0162

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

 All my licensing images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

MCN: CGNUF-F22F6-DU1MY

This was originally designed for the new FB 1/52 Project whereby we have to take one image per week of an everyday object. It doesn't have to be the same everyday object each week, but has to be the same object type, i.e. if the theme is glasses, then I can use beer glasses, wine glasses, tumblers, etc. The shot can be of the object as a whole, in part or multiples.

My theme is mirrors, not because I am so vain, BUT because I have a collection of unusual mirrors. To me they're all magic. :-)

This is also part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0087

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Face in the Mirror

MCN: CT9JF-V24MF-NRLUQ

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0072  

I was experimenting with my favourite mirror. I've used it before in "The Sky is Blue Somewhere Else" and in "All the Jewels in the World". I wonder how many more versions I can come up with, all different of course. LOL

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

The Sky is Blue Somewhere Else

MCN: CHUN5-LJYF4-BPTVR

I am still going with the Snow White theme here. Don't we always think that somewhere else the grass is greener, the sky more blue... etc? And whilst we think that, we neglect what we have.

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0042 


Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

All my licensing images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

All the Jewels in the World

MCN: CJ8QP-G46MD-4963V

The mirror and jewellery are my own. Most of the jewellery is handmade (by me). I've got it hanging on the mirror so it doesn't tangle up, and because it looks so pretty. LOL  To me it has the look of the mirror Snow White's evil stepmother used. Something very feminine and personal, a woman's armoury. ;-)

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0034

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

All my licensing images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

Touch - Photo Manipulation

 

 

Illustration for my poem of the same name.

All my own images except for:

• Smashed Glass Texture by dozystock
• snack-bar lies by CKdailyplanet
• Scratch The Surface Texture Set by Shadowhouse

MCN: CQJ85-T1JMG-J4V63

Echoes - Triptych

 

 

 

 

Inspired by Alexander Pope:And more than echoes talk along the walls from Eloise to Abelard.

 Read the poem to go with it here.

Credits

Model

• Black Baroque Stock 02 by Gilliann

Stock

• Lovebirds by FoxStox
• big icky bugs by Tracie76Stock
• Butterfly4 stock by shi-stock
• moths and butterflies stock134 by hatestock
• Smashed Glass Texture by dozystock
• Crescent Moon by StormPenguin-Stock
• Castle on Water by SweetSoulSister

Backgrounds and Textures

• Clouds n Sky Stock 9 by SimplyBackgrounds
• Field by Sugary-stock
• Sky View 1 by bean-stock
• just nothing 3 by F3rd4
• 174 by DadiLights
• Clouds Texture Set by Shadowhouse
• 6 Faves Of Mine Texture Set # 1 by Shadowhouse
• Creative Layer Mask Overlay Set by Shadowhouse
• Free Textures by Cameron Gray

Brushes

• Bird Brush Pack by Shadowhouse

All other images/textures/stock/brushes my own.

MCN: C2UTD-XXFYK-S95VP

Tangled Web - Photo Manipulation

 

 

Part of the Head Space series (see my gallery for more images in the series).  
See the poem here.

Credits

Model

• snow white portrait stock by DyingBeautyStock

Stock

• Dragonfly stock 7 by hatestock
• Raining Petals 0050 by Akuard-Stock
• Gothic black frame 01 by goth-stock

Backgrounds and Textures

• blue sparkles by DyingBeautyStock
• Black Ink in Water II by fetishfaerie-stock
• texture015 by buzillo-stock

Brushes

• Chinese Swirl Brushes by memorylast

All other images/textures/stock/brushes my own.

MCN: CDE7Q-PJBMU-3X6QT

Tête-à-Tête

My latest painting. took a while to complete, partly because it is close to my heart, partly because of the break-down of my computer.

The painting is the second in a series of paintings, all inspired (loosely) by the poem 'Hollow Men' by T.S. Eliot. It's one of my favourite poems and I love the imagery in T.S. Eliot's poetry. I've seen a documentary about his life and work recently and it made me want to paint this.

I have slightly modified the first painting in the series with a new technique to frame my paintings, therefore here it is again:

Panier Avec L'Oiseau

Tête-à-Tête

Here is the new painting where the original caged bird is joined by a raven.

The raven is a very spiritual bird and I've always found it interesting; be it in Edgar Allen Poe's poem 'The Raven' or in mythology the raven is a fascinating creature.


Here is a close-up of the bindweed:



And here is a close-up of the two birds' faces. I am particularly pleased with their eyes and expressions.


There will be two more paintings in this series, one I've already started, the other is still in the planning stage.

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Once all four are done, I am considering to have them professionally printed and will offer them together with some of my dress designs in my Etsy shop.