Looking off into the distance, a happy boy smiles while rays of sunshine illuminate the sky.(Dean Oros Photo + Design)
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand. - Albert Einstein

Right brain hemisphere. Left brain hemisphere. Creative versus logical. Albert Einstein was right when he said:

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

I read an interesting article this morning via Harvard Business Review on how to think creatively. I’ve never consciously worked at it in such a way; I like the mystery of being inherently creative. Perhaps it’s because I love the process, so I don’t think of it as work. But as I start to deconstruct it, demystify it, yep – it feels like work. Creating images to sustain a career is hard work. It’s the difference between something being a hobby vs. a profession, perhaps.

I think the challenge, to get back to my original point, is producing something that grows from imagination and creativity, such as the professional dancer that spends her entire life training in the art of ballet, building her body, form and skill to the point of expression that is art as well as a profession. But only because of her own conviction, not because her parents co-erced her into it during childhood, and as a young adult she felt she had no other choice but to follow through (Have you read Andre Agassi’s auto-biography? One of tennis’ superstars; he hated tennis).

The thing is, as history has shown time and time again, the arts are elusive and appreciated in different forms at different times. How many artists became famous years after they passed away. How many are famous in the now?

I remember years ago I learned there is a difference between creating and being creative. It’s been said anybody can learn to be creative, and anybody can create. I disagree. I think, however, that is a topic for a different day. If I allow myself to follow through on the creative flow that is starting to take place as I write, I’ll lose track of time and will write thousands of words, when all I intended was to share a photograph of a wonderful boy I photographed. I’m working on, or should I say “creating” wall art that will be displayed in my client’s home.

As I do for many of my consumer clients, I make an image or two from our session available for licensing. Who knows, maybe the above image may end up in a parenting or schooling publication, and be a launching pad for, well… who knows. When I look at the boy’s image, I see an entire lifetime to look forward to.

The New Big Island Coming 2012

A pooch squints at the snow sitting on his nose.

Wishing you a world of good times and happiness this Holiday Season.

 Give the gift of workshops and portrait-sessions to the photography lovers in your world.

Click here for the Holiday Gift Guide.

Includes a portrait photo-session (limited spots available), and more! Happy Holidays from us to you.

Valid from today through to December 23rd, 2011.

It’s best to order your cards early so you have time to send them out before Christmas.

Click here to view images and order greeting cards.

Here’s a peek of what is available.

Wintertime night driving on Willow Avenue (Dean Oros Photo + Design)

A Lake Ontario winter storm (Dean Oros Photo + Design)

A bed of ice lays across a pier (Dean Oros Photo + Design)

Icicles hang from a ceiling of ice (Dean Oros Photo + Design)

“My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.” – Jack Layton

Universal words for anyone, no matter your political affiliation. Jack Gilbert Layton 1950 – 2011.

We’ve been working on upgrading the Dean Oros Photo website, too. Everyone who worked on the site is excited. There have been design changes but the big upgrades are for our clients. The Client Area has been completely overhauled. It’s more powerful, intuitive and interactive. It’s easier to view, edit, organize and download images. The same applies to our Image Archive Store. It’s easier to check out galleries / collections and buying images online for personal or commercial use is a whole slice of apple pie easy. We’ve introduced many custom fine-art printing and framing packages for those seeking wall-art. There are now over 2500 images available that can’t be found anywhere else.

There’s never been much flash technology used in the sites, and that hasn’t changed. This means the sites and images can be viewed on most mobile devices. We haven’t yet designed mobile specific websites but that is something we may introduce down the road.

Design changes are shared with the Blog and Images of a Promise, too.

Thanks go out to the amazing team at Photoshelter: Caroline, Farah, Rachel as well as Ricardo of Graph Paper Press for working with us.

There will probably be some tweaking going on for the next week or so. If you see anything that needs attention feel free to leave a comment on the blog. If it’s something that needs immediate attention please send in an email message via the site.

Art Gallery of Ontario. Left: Frank Gehry Staircase. Right: Galleria Italia. (© Dean Oros Photo + Design)

It was pouring rain and foggy this morning when I drove to the Art Gallery of Ontario to view the Abstract Expressionist New York exhibit.

Featured are artists from the Museum of Modern Art Collection: Arshile Gorky, Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, Joan Mitchell, Jackson Pollack, Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman.

What did I think of it? In one word: Fantastic.

While there, I learned of Philip Guston. He was a Montreal-born painter and printer. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was a child. He was influential in Abstract Expression, and studied with Jackson Pollack under Frederick John de St. Vrain Schwankovsky.

I read a great quote by Guston:

“I should like to paint like a man who has never seen a painting”.

I often feel like that when it comes to photography. Imagine having a completely blank canvas in your mind when viewing and photographing the world, unencumbered by the influences of others or by circumstances.

That state of mind can never exist. But if it were possible, I imagine it might be beautiful and ethereal.

I’ve donated a signed and dated poster-size print of “Willow Avenue” to the Silent Auction. I personally output the print this morning. It’s current value is $500.00 which will increase the longer you own it.

ABOUT THE IMAGE AND PRINT
“Willow Avenue” is part of the “Winter in the Beach Collection”, a series of images capturing the beauty of the Beach neighbourhood during winter. “Willow Avenue” was captured in February of 2007, a couple of hours after a huge snow storm. The image was captured digitally and then enhanced in post production by the photographer.

The current value of the Poster Print is Cdn$500.00.

The 13×19″ Poster Print has been created and signed by the Artist. It was created on August 2 2011, and is noted on the print. It has been produced on textured fine-art photographic paper. The print is rated to last 100 years (per manufacturer’s extensive testing) when professionally matted and framed, and displayed in proper conditions.

The Artist will mat and frame the print upon request by the winner.

ABOUT THE BENEFIT CONCERT and SILENT AUCTION
Starts at 7pm. Tickets are $10 at the door. It’s taking place at the Naval Club, 1910 Gerrard Street East, Toronto this Thursday August 4th.

Maybe I’ll see you there!

This image of Eli is available as a stock image for use in magazines and more.

Have you ever thought your child has modelling or acting potential? Having your child’s image appear in any piece of advertising is one way to get noticed. The Studio has a growing Image Archive of Children available for licensing. We provide this exposure to select clients we photograph at no additional cost. And, we can create modelling headshots to submit to agencies. Get in touch for more information.