Gilad Koriski's Photography blog
I’ve been asked what exactly are these images. these are manipulated photograph I shot, of smoke. i alter colors and draw on them, with digital tools. Here’s a new image, followed by a small copy of the original shot, notice the figure on the lower left.
In a field where pre-planning is very important, sometimes, to free my mind, I like to take a pencil and scribble on paper, without raising it for a few moments from the page, and then with as little lines possible, to get out of the chaos a subject that will make sense.
As many in the visual field, I have a library of photographs I shoot, to use them as backgrounds or effects. While looking through some of my smoke images, I noticed a lot of scribbles there to work with.
I use free association doing that, and I find it to be very rewarding.
Since I started experimenting with Photoshop around 1996, I was fascinated by blending modes and the patterns I can make using them.
A natural progression to studying graphic elements through the artwork I drew myself, (that’s when photography was still chemical-based, and scanning was reserved for paid projects), Was starting to us patterns from natural elements I shot.
It’s pretty clear why natural patterns are so inspiring, unlike an empty canvas, they already contain rhythm, flow, and direction which makes them fun to explore.
I’ve asked myself for a long time, what is it, exactly, that I do – trying to focus on what it is and summarizing it in a single word. Let’s see; I’ve been a photographer for the last 25 years and I’ve been doing photo manipulation for myself and others for about 12 years. Through the last 10 years, I’ve made many print designs for different fashion companies and, truly, there’s hardly anything I do professionally where I don’t combine at least some of the knowledge, practice, and techniques of all of the above.
Recently it struck me; I’m a phodigrapher, I create art using traditional knowledge, but also using everything the digital age was kind enough to give me. I combine optics with digital work and brush strokes. If Photography means rendering with light, then Phodigraphy must be rendering with light and digital technology…
I capture bits of reality and present them as I’d like to see them, not necessarily as they are. Be it a mountain, a piece of clothing, a leaf, a jewel, or a cloud. I believe my job is to make everything look better. The piece stays with the observer for a long time because it makes them feel or think. I try to evoke emotions, shooting mostly simple things, with a special touch.
During my last show, I noticed people inspecting my work closely. Some asked me, “How did you paint this?” My reply was, “Well, it’s actually a photograph.” This is why I invented the word for what I do: phodigraphy: I needed it to explain what I do.
I often hear people comparing a beautiful photograph to a painting and vice versa. Well, if that’s where I am, I’m home.
A while back I’ve found these old shoe forms near a closed down old shoemaker’s store. they waited for me in a little pile of stuff that was going to the trash. I had to take it to the studio and play with it. I decided to make two similar compositions that will have a different feel to them. here’s what I came up with.
After watching “Exit Through the Gift Shop”, I gained respect for the fact that even the fringe, in a time of internet and social networking, can get mainstream very fast, maybe too fast. surprising, right? it can find a great audience if it’s loud and daring enough. It is aggressive marketing with no limitations, and sometimes it even has some qualities other than sheer size. whether you are a fan of street art or not, you’ll be able to find support to your cause, in this original documentary, that has an unlikely punk “cinderella story” underlay. no kidding. I enjoyed it very much.
I’ve contemplated writing a blog for a while now, the reasons are many, I may discuss them in later posts. this blog will mainly follow my photography and other things I’m involved in or interested in. Please don’t hesitate to ask me any photography, Lightroom or Photoshop related questions you may have, your thoughts and comments are welcome.