Black and White

by Jim Brandano

No this is not Michael Jackson's song...which is by the way a very inspiring song. This blog will be presenting images that will also inspire our members in spite of its lack of colors. 

   I've chosen the following images on this blog for one main reason...or let us say two, being Black and White. The images here I believe would lessen its drama when we dab color in them.

   B and W pictures always give to me that classic feel. I can't avoid not to think of my father, who as a camera man would crawl to his dim lit inner sanctum he called "dark room" and would not allow me and my sister to enter because of the said toxic fume. But maybe that depends on his mood because there were times I remember that he would let us in and allowed us to watch him perform magic.

   Those rare instances inside the "dark room" were sort of a mystery to me. Maybe until now. Of course I knew by now that those chemicals create reactions on paper after being expose by light. But the mystery to me was how those images came to life. Yes it came to life. I'm not sure how I would be able to express this vagueness...colored picture don't gave me this kind of chills and thrills. In spite of modern technologies attempt to create images that rival the human eye, I still admire photographs done in Black and White.

   Why? Maybe in B and W photos I can distinguished the shadows very easily. Actually, it was those shadows forming the images and eventually suggesting  some texture that made me the more baffled. Again maybe Black and white images triggers our brain to imagine more from the less. 

  It is to me I supposed more difficult to execute since you are given only two tone to work with. If its too dark, then necessary images will not be distinguished. If too white then we get very little of the subject. 

   Black and White photos in my opinion are the real photographs. It saves us from the malice of colors but Allowing our brain to imagine more...

   Colored photographs gave me that sense of finality in terms of realism. While Black and white on the other hand are mere suggestions...Am I seeing the truth or not? Is it mud or cake? Those kind of questions that arises which colored images already revealed. I hope you are following me...

   Anyway, I'll just let these photographs speaks where language fails.

by Hemant Kumar

by Aaron Offord

by Syed Alfandi Syed Mansor

by Mari Sterling Wilbur

Crazy Picture Fictions chapter 4

by Frank O

Awhile ago we left our adventurer Aaaron and Fher taking a detour in a restaurant...to avoid a suspicious stranger that had been following them. They seems to have forgotten their course as the liquor overshadow them...they filled their belly with drinks....

by Aree M. Salvador-Marin

   Their belly grew bigger as they drink (Oh can't find a better representation than this one. LOL) and turning Disillusioned (Jessica Brant) as the spirit engulf them... 

Yes, I am  a tippler,always making merry,
Who drinks the liqueur distilled in the Nature's brewery,
Where the bees and butterflies bring in the honey
Collected from the roses,foxgloves and peony.

Which is then brewed in the morning dew
Sent by Diana from her heavenly blue,
And some stardust is also added to it
To make the concoction more intoxicating.
Seraphs then gather around to propose the toast,
"Cheers,girl, you are our dear sibling!"

Getting drunk and giddy, I lean on the sun,
Who becomes moon-cold to join in the fun!
        (A Tippler by Portia Burton)

   Oblivious from the sets of eyes hiding in the shadows. Waiting for his moment, watching motionless...anticipating for the moment our two adventurers making any lapses as they drink...

This is the cue...The mysterious stranger suddenly move towards their table...he was holding something that shimmers and metallic, he took it from his side as he slowly made some careful steps...he realized the two were already drowsy so he stood right next to them, moving his head from side to side scanning the place for any soul that might still be around. He found none...
   This made him decide to put the metallic thing right in front of them, then he cleared his mouth and said "Ah Sirs, we are closing..." So he's the attendant after all and the metal that shimmers was the bill platter "Here's your bill." he pull the papers...and show you this...

by Jess Hubahib Najarros

      Ah...who's that? Aaron asked...the waiter was confused, then he looked at the bill. "Err...sorry sir wrong paper." he said scratching his head and finally handed the receipt.

   Our adventurer now took the streets still a bit tipsy but move forward to see Mari Sterling Wilbur...it was already dark and the road were bustling...

  We embarked fearlessly

On a road, you and I

A promise, love and hope

Our only guiding light, 
(The Road by Rimly Bezbaruah)

   "Are you sure we can get there with only those as our guide?" Fher asked Aaron Offord.

   Aaron paused. Maybe they have taken the whole adventure in an impulse. A promise? Love? Hope? Are those enough to solve the mysteries of  Melissa's disappearance. Then they look at the sky above...

by Jerly Thinkingspace

    "Let us ask for their guidance." In union both of them whispered. This gave them new courage to go on with this adventure. In fact they have come to chapter 4 (Thanks to Tagged ArtLover Group members who kept posting their works) and it is just proper not to let down those following this blog who is anticipating it's sequels.  

   The following day  the drama continues...

  The sun is already loosing its glow...and the moon taking its place...when they reach Mari's place...

by Andrea V. Lisi

   Instantly their attention was caught by this amazing place...noticing wonderful collections of rare flowers...

by TianBian Ham

by Carole Chichi

   And some butterflies too...

by Babis Kiliaris

   Seems being pulled by a strong current  they walk inside drawn by the tantalizing landscape of Mari's Garden...
  Then they heard loud barking and its rushing towards their direction fast and before they could move a large dog came charging their way...

by MaryPoet Rios

      Snarling and in rage the beast or Mari's guard dog charges the intruder...our adventurers panic...


   TO BE CONTINUED...

Self-Portrait Challenge Entries (Updates)

About a month ago Tagged ArtLover Group had given us this challenge on its Facebook Page...

Tagged ArtLover Group

SELF-PORTRAIT CHALLENGE

We would like to invite our members to create their self-portrait in any media they wish to utilized. Everyone is invited to join even if you think you can't even draw a stick figure. THIS IS FOR FUN. And maybe we will discover the artist within you. 

   You can post the said artwork (self-portrait) on our Facebook account. You may also include a short info about the said work. All entry will be exhibit on our Group Blog...and into Tagged ArtLover albums. You can send as many self-portrait as you want. We hope to see your portraits SOON!!!

   Now here are some of the partial list of self-portraits our team had gathered so far...We are proud to announce that these collections will be presented on our latest page tab under Self-Portraits label. We are still open for contributors.

Maheshwar N. Sinha

Aabhisek Panda

Jim Brandano

 Mari Wilbur Sterling

Robert Pearce

Portia Burton

Crazy Pictures Fictions chapter 2 The Search

   The mysterious disappearance of Melissa intrigue StreetogrOFFY Investigator Aaron Offord decided to "I didn't always want to be a street photographer.  In fact, when I took up photography a year ago I was more interested in parlaying the photography thing into a paying gig; I know the dream of most photographers" (a line from My Becoming a street photographer) but this is beyond money now he decided to look for the Depth in Melissa's story.

   So together with his sidekick Fher Ymas they set out an adventure. Fher an expert in disguises called The Art of Realizationism  made Aaron look like this...

 

   "Hey, I don't look like a street photographer..." Aaron contested. 

   But Fher stopped him "Shhhh!!! You look like Hemant Kumar don't you like it?"

   With lots of arguing finally Aaron agreed to look like Hemant to "blend in the field, so they would not recognized you." The handsome sidekick said. (Don't argue again, this is my story remember?)

   Where do they start? That's the first stage of this investigation. 

   "We will go to Aabhisek Panda." Aaron decided. "He had archives of known expert in We Have a Story maybe there we can find relevant clue."

   I heard whispers of many mysterious and great revelations can be found in the book...but some said it was just a legend and it doesn't really exist. There maybe danger along the way...

    

   Then they started to walk The Road Liz Traveled like Liz M. Derry but along the way he remember something...he hesitates...

   "Maybe we can take some Photography Tips first with Mari Sterling Wilbur We can't just go there..."

    

   So instead of going directly to Aabhisek's they take first The Long and Winding Road  similar to the one taken by Jorie Pacli...  

   But little did they know they are being watched...

(suspense sounds here!!!...don't have the gadget so just imagine Lady Gaga singing My Way)

   What would happen now to our adventurer? Will Aaron Offord be comfortable being Hemant Kumar? How about Mari, will she be willing to help them with some Tips? 

   Watch for this intriguing story of love, deceptions, and passionate blogging. Will they have the Sensitivity like Sancheeta Biswas? Stay tuned...

   

   

   

Browsing

I was browsing some of our friends profile hunting for some interesting post and here's what I've found...I think they are worth sharing...

Why I like this one...it reminds me of one of my favorite Filipino legend "Ang Ibong Adarna" It's a mythical bird that when she sing's you'll fall asleep, and then once you're unconscious she will relieved her self on top of your head...and turn you into a stone. By the way, the above work is done in watercolor by Tahira Lubrano...

If you like flowers you'll love this blog from Mari Sterling Wilbur http://mariscamera.blogspot.com/2011/07/flower-friday.html

She said I’m working on another post for my series on street photography but haven’t gotten it finished. So, I decided to make this a Flower Friday. I hope you enjoy my images. 

This one I especially chose aside from the striking color contrast is it seems to depict different stages of life symbolical in flowers.

Now here's an artwork from Vince Roque positioning us to the top which is uncommon among painter. Beautifully made and he makes it look easy to draw this way.. 

and then we go to blogs...

you're the answer to every question I've ever had about love....

Discover the answer to Alpana Jaiswal's search...on her blog:

MOTIFS ON THE WALL 

I also found a thought provoking blog from Jerly Thinkingspace...Hopelessly Flawed. It discusses the imperfection of life taken on a new angle. Must read.

Jerly

To quote Jerly "Come to think of it, the world in fact has never been perfect especially when we look at all things with our perspective. Then we notice that, the woods usually don’t come without biting insects and blood sucking mosquitoes, the city with its comforts does not come without its crowd and pollution; or consider this, youth has so little in terms of essential maturity, whereas wisdom and maturity more often doesn’t have the glory of youth. Even virtues are attached with vice,"

http://jerlyt.blogspot.com/2010/10/hopelessly-flawed.html

Then of course I never forget to visit the page of my art partner Melissa Tandoc who was lately indulge in her blogging...sorry partner I can't pick a specific blog because all are highly recommended especially for lovers so I'll just let them browse on their own...

DEPTH looks at the HEART of the matter... ...contains REFLECTIONS shaped by experiences... ... turns INNERMOST THOUGHTS and CONVERSATIONS into a form of prayer...

http://grazieadio.blogspot.com/

Kaye Lasola one of our groups avid supporter also had something to say...

Kaye Lasola

If we will discuss about our CREATOR, our GOD about PERFECTION then I may say that HE is always PERFECT and all HIS CREATION. Now, imperfection exist in us human beings when Adam and Eve decided to be separated from God when they disobey Him by eating the fruit of knowledge of good and evil... means they are taking the matters on their own hands... and mankind inherited that all. Now, we can only be made perfect if we will be brought back again to our God because it is HIS doing that is working in our lives not ours so we can not boast about it. Now, how can we brought back to our God... it is the sacrifice of His Son, Christ Jesus... His death on the Cross of Calvary that purchased us all... only if accept and believe it in our hearts that He, Jesus came to save us... He is our Savior. Then we can be made perfect again, so as the works of our hands. Good night everyone... and thanks Fher and Maheshwar ... and to everyone too :)

I'm still convincing Kaye to start a blog because I personally believe she will contribute greatly on this area.

That's all for now...we'll be visiting other member's profile too....SOON!!! So be ready and if you have anything in mind, a particular idea, Blogs or Artworks you want to share, let us know...we are here to help uplift each other.