"Drive By Shooting" As Art : Electri[c]icada

The experience of "drive by shooting" (taking photos from moving vehicles) was at the heart of bringing me back to photography after a 20+ year hiatus. I began posting shots and accompanying stories on Fotolog.net in February of 2004 as a way of flexing those dormant creative muscles and easing my anxieties. The process was one I found most enjoyable - even if the camera I used at the time was inferior in quality by today's standards, and the work was far from revolutionary. Truth be told, it was just plain fun.

I still love doing these shoots whenever I have the chance, and I recently discovered a new spin (for me) on the process. The "drive by" photo (especially one taken at night) is a work of art in its own right, given those colorful streaks of light, energy, and motion evident in the resulting image. By opening the shot in Photoshop, and manipulating the original layers in various ways, those inherent traits lend themselves to a transformation that can be quite visually stunning. The added depth brings out a unique, artistic beauty and character in the piece.

I would enjoy posting a series of these digitally enhanced photographs for your review. I suggest you take a look at the larger size for the full effect. It is my hope that you find the work as captivating as I do. Let me know what you think.

I call the first in this series "Electri[c]icada," as I feel it resembles those magical insect musicians of Summer.

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Open your eyes to something new today ::: Scootie :::