The Meaning of Life;
by Robert Gebbie
In recent weeks we have been strongly encouraged to start writing again. It has been almost a four year absence from our blog and almost as long from our other literary pursuits. After so much time away it can be difficult to find the rhythm and flow that once seemed so natural. In looking back, reviewing some of our favorite works, one article continues to stand out. This particular piece expresses our core beliefs and philosophies as well as being one of our greatest works I believe we have ever created. Following is our very first post which first appeared here on our blog page in October of 2008, we hope you enjoy it as much as we still do.
I Creator; The great expression
(Maybe the answer to life)
The world is filled with pictures and images, visual media as advertisements, art and dialog saturate every aspect of our lives. From expressing an emotion to reminding us to turn off the lights when we leave the room, photographs, designs, graphics and text can be found on almost everything in our lives. It is the way we as humans communicate, it is the depth, breath and fuel of our souls. It is the one thing that has separated the human race from all other forms of life on this planet, the ability to express, communicate, record and create visually.
I am an artist; photographer and now writer because it is my need beyond any other driving force in my life to express, create and record. It is in all of us, in every form of expression from your first scribble to your greatest achievement and at times our worst failures. The ability to capture, write, teach and learn has enabled humans to rise above a level of instinctual survival.
We are the only creatures I know who spend their entire lives documenting and recording themselves, in millions of forms and in millions of ways we say I am, was and have been, I must leave my mark, I creator, see what I have done. So whatever it is that you do, take a photograph, draw a picture, write a line, sculpt, build, design, teach or communicate. Create, invent and imagine because that is what it means to be human and for all of us I might even speculate that this is the true meaning of life, and the answer to everything we are, to leave our mark, to be remembered.
Showing posts with label philosophy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label philosophy. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Dinosaurs are extinct:
Why do we continue to repeat the same failed process or make the same mistake and expect a different result? I have observed time and time again throughout my life people and businesses that seem to believe they can grow and thrive by continuing to do or produce in the same day-to-day manner they have for years. Even under the best of conditions, with ideal economic times, failing to adapt and change to the world around us is certain extinction.
Species, society, business or individual, the same principal stands true; you must evolve. To exist by only listening to one philosophy, have you really learned anything? When you live on a planet covered by ocean, you should learn to swim.
If a company only produces one line of product, or explores and develops with a single idea, what happens to that flat earth philosophy when it is discovered that the earth is round? When you, your business or your work are not learning, creating, exploring, discovering and growing, you cease to evolve and begin to die.
Species, society, business or individual, the same principal stands true; you must evolve. To exist by only listening to one philosophy, have you really learned anything? When you live on a planet covered by ocean, you should learn to swim.
If a company only produces one line of product, or explores and develops with a single idea, what happens to that flat earth philosophy when it is discovered that the earth is round? When you, your business or your work are not learning, creating, exploring, discovering and growing, you cease to evolve and begin to die.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Brush and Canvas to Drag and Drop (Old School to New School)
Once upon a time, before the age of Photoshop and Illustrator, photographs were taken on film and developed in a darkroom, designs drawn on a sketch pad and the whole mess came together taped to some editors art board. There is and always will be a conflict between tradition and innovation. I can imagine how hard it must have been for the inventor of the pen to convince a population of quill users how wonderful and useful this strange new, unproven, device would be.
My first formal training was in High School, about 25 years ago. I took Art, Drafting and Photography. This was a natural choice since I had been sketching and painting almost obsessively for as long as I can remember. My teachers, both masters and freelance professionals in their fields, took an interest in me and I was soon stumbling along after them as an assistant from fashion shoot to Designers studios. For the next three years I followed my mentors on every job and assignment I could.
From the master photographer I learned how to take photographs on a variety of manual film cameras. Trained to develop those images in a dark room and perform techniques like dodging and burning and masking, old school. My mentor explained every philosophy and technique he could, often referencing detailed outdated methods we ourselves never used.
From the artist and designer I learned to appreciate Da Vinci, Van Gogh and Warhol while painting signs, creating P.O.P. displays and designing “Wine of the Month” circulars. Schooled in pre-press paste up board layouts and photo plate printing while I painted with pallet, brush and canvas.
Today I shoot on an Olympus D.S.L.R., manual mode with all the bells and whistles turned off in RAW format. The photographs are processed in my computer darkroom with only the slightest tone or exposure adjustment, and saved in the proper format and manner for its intended use. My illustrations sketched out on paper, scanned and redrawn in illustrator creating the sharp clean lines needed for the commercial market. I still sketch on paper, paint with brush and canvas and airbrush creations on a variety of mediums.
Creation and the Creative Process should be about respecting and appreciating the classics, those who have traveled before us. Explore and embrace the new, find the style of expression that fits the Artist that you are. Develop your own methods in the mediums that suit you. Find your place and grow!
My first formal training was in High School, about 25 years ago. I took Art, Drafting and Photography. This was a natural choice since I had been sketching and painting almost obsessively for as long as I can remember. My teachers, both masters and freelance professionals in their fields, took an interest in me and I was soon stumbling along after them as an assistant from fashion shoot to Designers studios. For the next three years I followed my mentors on every job and assignment I could.
From the master photographer I learned how to take photographs on a variety of manual film cameras. Trained to develop those images in a dark room and perform techniques like dodging and burning and masking, old school. My mentor explained every philosophy and technique he could, often referencing detailed outdated methods we ourselves never used.
From the artist and designer I learned to appreciate Da Vinci, Van Gogh and Warhol while painting signs, creating P.O.P. displays and designing “Wine of the Month” circulars. Schooled in pre-press paste up board layouts and photo plate printing while I painted with pallet, brush and canvas.
Today I shoot on an Olympus D.S.L.R., manual mode with all the bells and whistles turned off in RAW format. The photographs are processed in my computer darkroom with only the slightest tone or exposure adjustment, and saved in the proper format and manner for its intended use. My illustrations sketched out on paper, scanned and redrawn in illustrator creating the sharp clean lines needed for the commercial market. I still sketch on paper, paint with brush and canvas and airbrush creations on a variety of mediums.
Creation and the Creative Process should be about respecting and appreciating the classics, those who have traveled before us. Explore and embrace the new, find the style of expression that fits the Artist that you are. Develop your own methods in the mediums that suit you. Find your place and grow!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
I Creator; The great expression
(maybe the meaning to life)
The world is filled with pictures and images, visual media as advertisements, art and dialog saturate every aspect of our lives. From expressing an emotion to reminding us to turn off the lights when we leave the room, photographs, designs, graphics and text can be found on almost everything in our lives. It is the way we as humans communicate, it is the depth, breath and fuel of our souls. It is the one thing that has separated the human race from all other forms of life on this planet, the ability to express, communicate, record and create visually.
I am an artist; photographer and now writer because it is my need beyond any other driving force in my life to express, create and record. It is in all of us, in every form of expression from your first scribble to your greatest achievement and at times our worst failures. The ability to capture, write, teach and learn has enabled humans to rise above a level of instinctual survival.
We are the only creatures I know who spend their entire lives documenting and recording themselves, in millions of forms and in millions of ways we say I am, was and have been, I must leave my mark, I creator, see what I have done. So whatever it is that you do, take a photograph, draw a picture, write a line, sculpt, build, design, teach or communicate. Create, invent and imagine because that is what it means to be human and for all of us I might even speculate that this is the true meaning of life, and the answer to everything we are, to leave our mark, to be remembered.
Robert Gebbie has been a photographer for over 25 years and is currently located in the Vancouver, Washington area. You can see his creations at http://www.rgebbiephotography.com
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