Aerial photography has always intrigued us. The vantage point from high above presents so many opportunities to see things differently. But, when you think about it, it’s still a relatively small portion of photography. The rise of Google Maps aside, aerial photography is often something one must seek out. One terrific aerial photographer worth knowing is Florida-based Bill Yates. From a young age, Yates combined his two passions, flying and photography, into a truly extraordinary body of work. Clearly a man with a plan, Yates didn’t approach these fascinations recreationally. His credentials include being a member of a U.S. Naval Aviation squadron, as well as earning an MFA Degree in Photography from Rhode Island School of Design, while studying with master fine art photographers. Not too shabby. And his work speaks for itself. With the recent sharp uptick in chatter about the proliferation of drones here in the U.S and around the world, some impact on aerial photography will surely be felt. But if the work of Yates is not evidence of the importance of creative human vision behind the lens, we’re not sure what is.
More aerial photography posts here and here.
Nashville-based sculpture Herb Williams never put down his crayons. His work in this unique medium (crayon sculptures) is awe-inspiring (previous post here). This commissioned piece, composed of about 25,000 crayons, took about two months to complete. In Williams’ own words, “The real fun of the portrait is in adding colors that aren’t really there to make it more interesting, almost like a Chuck Close when you’re right up to the portrait, it’s abstract, but from a distance it completely works.” It really does work on so many levels… we are thoroughly impressed. Be sure to check out more of his work here.