Enlightened Blooms: Solarized Diptych Floral Photographs - Hardcover

Oliphant, Brad

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0990380831 ISBN 13: 9780990380832

Publisher: Glitterati Incorporated, 2015

Synopsis

In this exquisite collection of fine art photography, Brad Oliphant presents a distinctive new body of work - pairs of flower images transformed through the process of solarization. Moving beyond the pastel palette of traditional flower photography, Oliphant has imbued these blooms with exuberant color, breathing new life into a time-honoured subject matter. Side by side in stunning symmetry, these flowers are radiant - their glowing silhouettes, silver hues, and spectacularly distorted colors reminiscent of expressionist paintings.

In an increasingly fast-paced world, the "Enlightened Blooms" encourage us to pause and pay attention to the beauty that surrounds us. While paying homage to a subject matter rich with symbolic and cultural significance, Oliphant makes us feel as if we are seeing flowers for the very first time. In their transformed states, these flowers beg to be lingered over, their forms contemplated, their very existence revered as a miraculous gift.

About this title

About the Author:

Douglas Kirkland joined Look Magazine in his early twenties, and worked for Life Magazine during the golden age of 1960s-1970s photojournalism. Among his assignments were international features as well as fashion and celebrity work, photographing such luminaries as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Marlene Dietrich. Through the years, Kirkland has worked on the sets of hundreds of motion pictures. His fine arts photography has been exhibited all over the world, and is in the permanent collections of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, the Smithsonian, and the National Portrait Gallery in London, England. A sought-after lecturer, Kirkland has received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the American S.O.C., Photographer of the Year from the PMA, a Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Photography, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from CAPIC in his native Canada. When not traveling the globe on assignment, he lives in the Hollywood Hills with his wife and business partner Françoise.

Review:

Sometimes there are color reversals of stark white tree trunks against multi-colored Jackson Pollock-style backgrounds of the weeping cherry or Georgia O Keeffe looking roses....This stunning, artistic book would be cherished by lovers of photography and flora as it shows expressive arrangements that engage the viewer to stop, slow down, and observe God s beautiful creations that surround us every day.--Conny Crisalli "Book Pleasures, April 7, 2015 ""

It s likely that photography aficionados attending Marders April 26 Artist Talk & Book Signing will understand the subtitle of Brad Oliphant s handsome 10 X 12 volume, Solarized Floral Diptych Photographs, but it s possible that even they may miss the ambiguity of the title, Enlightened Blooms (Glitterati Inc.). The title refers to both Oliphant s process of desaturation and solarization and to the final effects he achieves images of the same flower, photos in reverse across a double page, the same image in different shades, colors, size, focus and mood, depending on amount of exposure to light. Starting with black-and-white prints, Oliphant examines the floral images for form and texture. Then, like a painter, he reintroduces color slowly, in stages, and finally, with Photoshop, he creates variations on a theme, images that are at once vibrant and restrained.--Joan Baum, Dan's Papers "April 24, 2015 ""

All of the flowers have been transformed through the use of a solarization process, where the flowers have taken on a new life with deep hues and vibrant saturation hence Enlightened Blooms! My introduction, as well as the foreword which was written by Russell Hart (the current executive director for American Photo Magazine), give detailed explanations of the creative techniques used throughout. The goal of this book was to offer admirers of photography and flowers alike a new window into viewing this common subject matter its hope was to inspire and transform its viewers.--Brad Oliphant "PMc Magazine, Summer 2015 ""

In this book, Brad desired and has succeeded in presenting to us, from an array of thousands of floral images taken, diptychs of flowers in a uniquely new perspective. These few chosen images cannot begin to convey the beauty and enchantment of this book. After a long winter, what could be more satisfying and awe- inspiring than to page through hundreds of flowers that glow from within with an almost indescribable magic.--Karena Albert "April 22, 2015 "

Oliphant, an accomplished former fashion photographer, decided to switch gears + turn his gaze onto the classical subject of flowers but to such dramatic effect, the end result is just breathtaking like his amaryllis below.--Yvette de las Nueces "April 21, 2015 "

Enlightened Blooms is an extraordinary collection of fine art images with the subject of flowers. The images are presented in a side-by-side format (diptych) that have been transformed through the use of a solarization process. The result is an exquisite comparison between reality and Oliphant's dynamic and creative explorations. And this generates excitement and anticipation that will keep one turning the pages in awe.--Noella Ballenger "May 2015 "

...flower photos so far removed from run-of-the-mill, one-click solarizations.--Russell Hart "Popular Photography, June 2015 "

About this edition

• Publisher: Glitterati Incorporated
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0990380831
• ISBN 13: 9780990380832
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 160