What do you think of this 'Neon' style of Photography?

Question

They are altered photographs that I've taken. I was just wondering what you guys think of these? Would you more serious photographers consider this photographic art? For obvious reasons I've decided to call this style 'Neon Photography.'

http://pics.livejournal.com/unmired/pic/00072w0d/g57

http://pics.livejournal.com/unmired/pic/00073h56/g57

(As always, you can click or double click on the images to enlarge them to see better details.)

AJ, you're right, of course. I don't consider myself a pro. I'm just a painter. But these were taken with a Nikon FE2, with an HD2 filter and without a flash, at night during a heavy fog.

I get these effects from long exposure, film speed and an HD filter that removes everything from the photograph except light producing or light reflecting sources. The produced and reflected light sources silhouette and frame in the images, giving it a neon effect.

Vienna, I don't have and have never used, Photoshop or anything like it. As I've mentioned I got these effects through the exposure and HD filters. Also, the mist created by the fog had a lot to do with the light sources seeming to glimmer. A fog has nearly the same effects as a light rain on images.

I meant to say an ND filter, not an HD. Sorry about that.

Answer 1

Doc,
I love the effect. the second photograph is the better of the two in my opinion. what I would love to see is for you to go back to this location and reproduce this photo again only without the trucks and cars. Once this is done you can crop out some of the excessive black.

A.J. Coley:
to the user , Special effects are used by "Professional Photographers" all the time. What do you think that manually adjusting the aperture, playing with the exposure, lens and filters was all about??
Polaroid Colour film has this kind of grainy effect and feel.

I have worked with Helmet Newton, Irving Penn and Richard Avedon just to name a few.

Doc, Many photographers are also painters and delve into other mediums.

An artist can see art in many shapes,forms and expressions.
Rarely are they limited to a brain that has boundaries, actually quite the opposite can be said, there are an abundance of these examples throughout the history of mankind.

Play away Doc, explore and discover the ways of communication.
Show us your views, reflections and observations of this life through your arts.

Answer 2

I am all for self expression. But the neon filter should never have been made! I understand your process, but the neon filter/effect, is what Bart Simpson is to a nickel in a bottle. Something to keep a ameture users engaged, and entertained.

I absolutely love night photography, esp, in urban settings. Try setting your camera on a tripod, and extending the exposure. I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised. Try different techniques, but wait before you use any kind of filters. Life creates its own light effects; the best time to take night shots, is after a rain, everything reflects so much light, and small details are exposed so much better. This is my first night shot I took when I was 16, no filters or manipulations--I used a trash can for a tripod!

I'm sure you can do better.

Answer 3

I think it would work better with a more interesting subject. Years ago I used that style in a night shot of 42ND St in NYC. Keep working with it and you'll find something that it really clicks with.Please ignore the remark about pros not manipulating images, we've been doing it forever in the darkroom and now in the digital darkroom as well. I get monthly pro magazines giving all types of styles and ways to manipulate your image. Of course, a good image is always the basis of a strong picture.

...and try not to get those "deep river blues."

Answer 4

There are so many kinds of creativity. Candidly, I liked both of them. I have a distant friend who emailed he was getting into digital art. (My anticipation reserved.) When I saw his website, I was overwhelmed with the totally different kind of life in them! He uses photography, & computers & it would be SILLY to compare them to "original" paintings. The creative spirit doesn't lock itself in. Your two "Neon photographs" evoked all sorts of memories in me. Go for it! I'm getting out of psychobabble & going back to art. &, I'm much more "open" than I was before. Good onya!

Answer 5

It's interesting but it reminds me too much of a Photoshop filter.

Answer 6

Well to start off, this can be done with any point and shoot photo, phtography is more than just throwing your camera up and pushing down the shutter button. The effect on your photos are kind of cool, but the ISO is set up high, because the black in your photo is really blurry looking.
It is kind of cool, but really amateur.
Pros don't edit their photos to make them look cool, they take them that way.

Answer 7

well, i thought they were great, keep it up.