There is something so beautiful about the Hibiscus drying bloom. The textures and tones that happen as the bloom darkens. Capturing the motion of time as each bloom (typically) stands for one-day.
Many people have different ways of representing the number two. In English, we use a “2” with a line for each leg and in Japanese they use two horizontal lines.
In Japanese, the kanji for “two” has three strokes: one vertical line on top of another horizontal stroke, then an arc-like curve at the bottom that looks like wings with their tips turned in (or out). I think it is interesting that two in English also has three characters.
I’ve just been using Duolingo every day and despite liking what exercises they offer there doesn’t seem to be any improvement in retention when removed from their platform – gotta mix things up a little bit!
I am drawn to the Japanese language and culture because of a fascination I have with their unique alphabet. As someone who is trained in typography, calligraphy, and branding – these symbols are visually interesting to me in that they slow me down when creating them as there is a precision required which requires focus on my part.
It’s really amusing to see how Google Translate interprets my handwriting. The gibberish is fun to read! Here are two examples of the same passage that I wrote in my notebook and it turns out that while there are a lot of errors, you can still make sense of what was written at times. And how quickly it can be wrong.
I do tend to learn more from my mistakes – first off I learn what the correct symbol is for a word. And, I also learn a new symbol for what my mistake is. Comparing the two can sometimes help me recognize the difference.
Crown
My Skin
I See You
Disconnect
You Nailed It
Crown
My Skin
I See You
Disconnect
You Nailed It
Using the captions to guide the narrative was interesting. The idea of the captions forming into a short poem felt important. The images should be a process. Of seeing something from a different point of view. The staircase structure of the typography leads to this ideas that change is a process, and an upward process – like climbing a staircase.
A Visual Review
Reflective Light – There is something some special about his photo. Using my camera to creative art has always been very important to me. Recently, I have started to focus on shape images, subject, photo methods. This photo reminds me how much I love making abstract art with my camera.
With a double exposure and high contrast the reflections from the overhead lighting hit the metal walls of a small elevator. Somehow, the light rods present much more than nothing. They are not the light that was installed. They are the second thought the reflection of the light fixture – in certain high-contrast.
Photography by Gary Crossey
THE KITE FLYER – is one of my favorite photos. Everything about this photo feels good to me. If I were to have planned this photograph, I could not have staged it any better.
The yellow shorts against the dark sky is so prefect.
I am not typically a sun person. So, I especially enjoy going to the beach at night. It always surprises me how few people go on a beach at night. The entire beach is normally quite empty. The light on the beach at night is also quite usual. Unlike a few hundred feet away – the Hotels and Motel Lodges have festive lights burning all night. Somehow those light seem contained and held in place.
I used a very long exposures to capture the night photography. The reflection of the Fort Myers Beach coastline in the water pool was so interesting to me. On the beach, the reflections were too dark to really notice. In my camera I was able to let the light build the image over time to capture what was there and wasn’t at the same time. Photography as a creative tool has always been of the most interest to me. I never really want to capture what is right there – I often want my photos to be of what wasn’t quite there. So that the photography can work like memories. Fragmented at best and imprint in our brain. I now remember the beach by these photos I created. I didn’t actually see the coastline as the photos present buy my memory is forever connected to this series of night beach photos.
It’s hard for me to pass a nice bloom without pulling my camera out. My walks in West Asheville at the start of Spring were filled with blooming crocus.
I loved creating this image.
There is something simple and innocent about the subject. It’s uncomplicated. A few rows of circles that appear to be in harmony with one another.
I like the absence of complexity. At first it seems to just be the same thing repeated. And, that is what the image is.
With a little observation each sphere becomes more interesting. Each sphere has it’s own personality. Each sphere has a slightly different swirl, color, or highlight.
I find it interesting how each sphere interacts with the background. The background is slightly enlarged, flipped up-side-down, and made spherical (I love the magic of glass).
Yes, I got to play with my new round lights.
With the round light I was able to create circle highlights around each sphere. Encapsulating the essential features.
That effect just isn’t possible with a regular light kit.
Be sure click on the image to enlarge.
There are so many little worlds to explore.
Working the deep blue that appears on some of the spheres really adds to how different each sphere each.
Yes, I got to play with my new round lights.
With the round light I was able to create circle highlights around each sphere. Encapsulating the essential features.
That effect just isn’t possible with a regular light kit.
My Beta Results for new Adobe Photoshop Camera.
Photoshop Camera wants to identity the background (especially the sky). For the best results the background needs to be well defined, with a clear shot.
The candid photography that I processed with the Photoshop Camera filter were mostly unusable.
Sunrise just outside Asheville. One of those amazing moments during the Golden Hour.
Be sure to click to enlarge this color photo of Pablo (the Rooster).
Greece 2018 the light and water was so impressive that no filters were used.
We offer competitive pricing structures for your restaurant, cookbook, or food blog photography.
Photos of food are appreciated by new and returning customers.
Perhaps beginning to reach my limit with Lockdown. Imaginary faces appearing in my dishes. The oil in the water is unusually interesting. And time to enjoy the spring light. And not enough time to capture our newly visiting Woodpecker. (Click 🖼️ Photos to Enlarge)
The Big Sandy Mush mountains are deep in clouds. With the peacocks drying his features after a morning rain.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Crossey
LOCATION: Big Sandy Mush, Leicester NC.
ASSIGNMENT: The rule of thirds is the first compositional rule most photographers learn, but most don’t know why they learn it. The rule of thirds is fantastic for telling a story. Tell a story using the rule of thirds.
PHOTO: The beginning of the year has begun with thick mountain fogs. Most of the animals are staying close to the house. The Rooster got my attention – then his buddies showed up.
I make handmade cookies. And, have quite a collection of candy/cookie making baking tools. Unlike, other kitchen tools, the cookie/candy tools are unique.
Each mold or cutter has a story. Or a special event that they play a role.
Food-styling photography for Asheville area farms.
Photography used on a commercial website banner. The image was to support the website message of Creativity.
The surreal scene was set up in Atlanta GA. I used fishing wire to hang the windows and chairs from tall trees.
What an honor to photograph the childhood home of Dorothy Draper. The house is located an hour from New York. And is #72 on the American Architectural Registration.
The photography hand study was created using a scanner. The hand was positioned in the scanner and held still while capturing. During the process, the model had to hold her hand completely still. The process created a visual tension that I was after. I experimented with a similar process using a camera and sheet of glass – None of the pressure appeared when the hand was held for a few seconds as it did when held for a few minutes. The effect of the glass against the fingertips really reinforces that sense of pressure and force pushing down. To the effect to almost remove the imprint of the fingerprint.
CD Cover – Brave Hands
Backstage with Boy George (Heaven – London).
Bunny & Boy George performing a David Bowie cover in Heaven nightclub (London).
Fantastic photography assignment and night out in London.
The event was hosted by Tasty Tim at Heaven Nightclub (London).
Boy George performed to a private VIP party. The David Bowie cover was incredible.
The photos were published on London rags and social media websites.
TITLE: The New Pals – Photography by Gary Crossey
Pablo (chicken) and Timmy (cat) have become quite the new pals. Shortly after being born, Pablo was rejected from the nest. His small body submerged in a dirty puddle. The following days his body remained motionless. Baking under a red heat lamp. By day seven Pablo has gained the strength to stand.
Since then, Pablo has become an attractive addition to the farm. He has a large personality. Big talker. With a range of sounds for “Give me Food”, “The Water Dish is Empty – again!“, and “I want a cuddle”.
LOCATION: Soapbox Farm – Asheville NC.
The most talent Deborah Lutz is always a pleasure.
The Brave Hands CD cover began by creating interesting double exposures of hands. I finished the design in Photoshop with a collection of my texture photos (available at garycrossey.photography).
Restoring your historical heirloom photos from water damage, mold damage, and even torn or ripped photos. Have your old family photos restored to their former glory. Here are a few examples of photographs that we restored for an Historical Jewish Website.
PHOTO: Mold and tore damage.
PHOTO: Heavy mold and marker damage.
PHOTO: Missing part of face with heavy mold damage.
PHOTO: Metal strains, missing spots and visual damage around mouth.
PHOTO: Water spots and fold removed from photo.
PHOTO: Large fold removed, water and mold damage removed. Missing spots restored.
We can scan and restore your photos from any format, printed photograph, 35mm negatives, slides, and large format transparencies.
All final photos are high-resolution photography for the highest quality printing.
Not perfect is a theme in most of my photography. I never select the “best” fruit. To me, there is more interest in the difference. To only shine a light on the best fruit seems to only tell part of the story.
Enjoying the summer with gifted blooms.
Yes, I know there is a theme developing here.
Just to be sure to get the cat headshot out there.
This is Timmy – one of five working cats. Timmy earns his keep on our farm located outside Asheville.
Be sure to click on the photo to have a closer view of those captivating eyes.
Writers are told to write what they know. The same is true for photographers. Photograph what you know. They also say, “never work with animals or children”.
That said – enjoy my Dog Portrait Page.
Big Boy is the alpha guardian dog for Soapbox Farm. Located in the rural farmlands outside Asheville. Big Boy heads a pack of four dogs; with Miss Sandy Mush as his side kick.
Miss Sandy Mush a special Carolina breed. Adopted on the same day as Big Boy. Sandy might is one of the smartest dogs, with a complex layering of character.
Fin (White Giant) – correctly named by my nephew Tiarnan. A gifted dog from a dear friend – Fin is the nighttime security.
Click photo of Fin for a SUPER large experience. Fin is such a super loving boy – who enjoys long naps in the car.
The blue sky is everywhere. It’s here, in the mountains of Asheville. It is also there in the streets of Dublin, or the national capital.
Enjoy my series of “Blue Sky”.
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CD Cover Design – Asheville NC
With hand illustration and photography overlays.
Design by Gary Crossey.
Asheville Product Photography for print and online ads.
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Product photography samples used for marketing and on the business website.
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Before the Wicked Weed in Asheville. There was a short period when the Asheville Hardware store was downtown. Just before the opening, the client was eager to have Press Releases and marketing about the grand opening to include their branding.
However, when I arrived to for the Architectural Photography – the signs had not been installed. I photographed the building and added the log to the photos in Photoshop. Below is an example of the sign that the client had during the photo shoot.
Boy George Performance
📷 Photography of Boy George Performance (2002).
Mark Moore (DJ) has maintained a scene in London for many years. Getting to meet Mark over lunch, and later over Indian delivery at his home was extra ordinary.
Invited to photograph the Mark Moore was freaking awesome. Landing directly in London to VIP treatment wasn’t half bad either. Other photographs weren’t getting in while I got full-access to private VIP parties.
Seeing these photos printed in a local London mag and used on a clubscene blog was reaffirming and exciting.
The series of black and white print ads created for My Native Ireland (Asheville). The graphic design of the ads follows the company Branding and borrows graphics from the website.
The client hired us for Product Photography, Copy Writing, Graphic Design, Printing, and Distribution. We photographed the product in the downtown Asheville store.
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Diana Wortham Program
Highland Games Print Ad
Mountain Xpress Asheville Print Ad
Rapid River Print Ad
Photographer: Gary Crossey
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The futuristic reflections of the lights and grass against a sphere installation.
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Red by Gary Crossey
I am building a theme in the simple to follow naming of this collection of photography. With Checkered Floor, I photographed a public building in the center of Belfast. As a child, I stood outside this building a million times. Embarking on a bus to any direction of Belfast.
As an adult, I entered the building and discover Checkered Floors. After talking with my family and friends – none of them had ever gone inside the building. But, in their mind, they all had an idea of what they expected to see. It was not checkered floors. I then made “Checker” with fragments of different photos – each representing might think of the ground when they know it is just a checkered floor.
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Red with patterns – hard for me to resist photographing.
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The promotional photography created for The Big Red Tomato (Atlanta).
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The promotional card photography captures the essence of a good dirty martini.
The vodka/gin is represented with the bottle shadow.
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Straight lines are everywhere.
Here are a few of my line photos.
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Animation of Lines.
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Photography created for the Crosseyed Graphics website. Set up in the early days of the internet. I built the site with HTML.
Due to slow connection speeds, the background photography was sliced into hundreds of small tiles. The small tiles would reduce bottlenecking the server while creating an interesting loading pattern for the viewer.
Photography from my very early collection of photography. I promise to add more early photos (as I figure out a way to pull files from my old zip drives).