Flying Aardvark Ranch Studio - Photographic Arts
Welcome to the Flying Aardvark Ranch Studio
Hi, I'm Lori Ann Cole. This is a series of Photo Galleries of my Arts and Thoughts here at FAR.
Pink Passion
I'd like to take a moment to thank my father for his love and encouragement in the arts and in science. Happy Daddy's Day!
My goal is to share with you the unconventional beauty and hidden magic of the world around us.
Wild Sunflower on Blue
Happiness is a state of being open to the wonder that surrounds us.
Poppy Pizzaz
The Flying Aardvark Ranch is found in the valley of Ahwahnee, California. It's near the town of Oakhurst, just a few miles south of Yosemite National Park and an hour north of Fresno. It's a good place to raise coyotes, deer, gophers, and flying Aardvarks.
July 31, 2008
I may be very busy, but I do have the chance to express my artistic nature while working. So it was about time I showed off some new stuff, don't you think?
The White Leaf
This is a picture I took while I was enjoying the walk at the 'Shadow of the Giants' trail near Nelder Grove last week. It had been sprinkling a bit (unusual for this area in the summer time) and the leaves were glistening with rain drops.
Radiant Rose
I took some time on Tuesday to stop off at my favorite photo spot, Western Sierra Nursery. As usual, I found some delights to the eye.
Sun Shine
Beyond the Nursery's parking lot beside the road, several sunflowers were in bloom. I took some pictures of them last year, and it was nice to see that they were back again to brighten the area.
Dazzling Daylily
This photo I had to work for. I really wanted to get the yellow daylily against the background of marigolds. Unfortunately, the angle was difficult, a breeze was blowing, and the only real photo against that backdrop that I got was slightly blurred. So this is a combination shot the way it was supposed to be, thanks to the magic of Photoshop.
And speaking of Photoshop magic, here's something I created while testing out some new brushes.
Faerie Tale
July 20, 2008
I have been getting much work done recently, and its still taking my toll of time. Today, I took off and drove up to the mountains to take some pictures in the shadows of the giant sequoias. I spent some time talking to Reid Marks, the caretaker of Nelder Grove which is one of the few stands of surviving sequoias. Turns out that he had been a firefighter on the fire that swept through the Flying Aardvark Ranch in the sixties. It was a chicken farm at the time, so no aardvarks were harmed. Can't say the same for the chickens.
Reid Marks at Nelder Grove
Since the tree stump he stands in front of is ancient, I decided to give it an antigue look.
I was looking through some of my older pictures, and decided to share this one. I loved the colors in this photo.
Rattlesnake Grass
Here's an example of what you can do with a lousy concert photo. This one was taken last year at the BlizCon concert. The "Level 70 Tauren Chieftains" were playing on the stage, and we were sitting up in the nose bleed seats. The pictures we took of the stage and the screens were only so-so. However, through the magic of Photoshop, they become special.
Guitar Hero
Stage Struck
July 3, 2008
I've been very busy recently. I'm trying to set up the artwork and the web-style for 'School for Heroes,' and I've been doing a lot of web research into styles and innovative designs. It's difficult to get to sleep before 4 in the morning because even while lying in bed trying to sleep, my mind is working through what I could do next in photoshop. I've had a couple of nights so far when I had to get up and actually do more work before I could sleep.
The result of all this over-working is that I'm very happy. It's great when you love your work.
My Photography is getting a bit neglected in the course of this flurry of activity. So I'll demonstrate some of my art that doesn't derive from photos.
Transolar
Most of these are created while learning from tutorials for Photoshop on the internet. There are some incredible sites out there that teach all manner of techniques to use with the program.
Arcane Explosion
Most of my end results from doing tutorials have little resemblance to the original showpiece. I tend to go off in different directions as soon as I get the technique from the lesson.
Rainbow Happy Clouds
This silly piece looks a lot like the original tutorial by my favorite instructor and designer, Fabio Sasso, from Brazil. His website, Abduzeedo, and one he contributes to, PSDTuts, have opened my mind to new ways of looking at the web and design. When I saw this kitschy rainbow design, all I could think of was how happy it looked. So what could be more appropriate for this theme?"
June 23, 2008
When I first started Flying Aardvark Ranch Studio, I was using a simple digital camera. All of the photos I originally posted here were heavily photoshopped. Some had more than 20 layers of styles and filters before I had something that pleased me. That's why this site says it it about photographic arts rather than photography.
However, with my FujiFilm FinePix camera with its 10x optical zoom and macro lenses, most of the shots I take now need a minimal futzing with Photoshop. Nevertheless, I really enjoy the art of creating something new with my photos.
Childish Delight
Here is a photo I really played with. I used his "Sparkling Hot Girl" technique from a fantastic photoshop artist, Fabio. (Of course, his interpretation of a hot girl differed a little from mine.) I really admire Fabio's talent with color and creativity, so if you use Photoshop, check out his site, Abduzeedo - Abducted by Design.
Egret Lagoon
Here is a 'woodcut' of the egret I took while he watched my son's graduation. I really thought from the start that the photo would make a better art piece than a photograph. So after much experimentation, this is what I came up with.
June 22, 2008
Today is my son Michael's birthday. Since he lives about six hours drive from the ranch, all he's getting for his birthday is this birthday greetings. Happy Happy!
Hibiscus Backside
June 21, 2008
Today I was working hard on web design when I was startled by a flash of light outside the curtains and a crack of thunder. A violent storm was passing right overhead. Now, I love thunderstorms. However, after weeks of hot weather and no rain for months, this region is a tinderbox. Unfortunately, lightning is a hell of a large match.
When I was done with work and the storm had passed, I walked outside and smelled smoke coming from the north. I drove up to Bissett Station Road, which runs along the rim of the mountains that form our valley. I could see the smoke from three different fires. The one that I was smelling was only a few miles north of the road along a steep hillside. Hopefully, it won't make it down to the scattered houses and ranches beside the road.
As long as I was on the road, I went over to the stream where I started taking pictures for this theme. In less than ten days, it was almost dried up. However, I was delighted to see the bright orange of a tiger lily blooming beside the stream bed. I had no idea they were native to this area.
Wild Tiger Lily
And along the lines of this theme, rain may give you pretty rainbows, but smoke gives you great sunsets.
Wildfire Sunset
June 18, 2008
Brilliant Bougainvillea
This Bougainvillea flower was filmed against the blue of a UCSB sign. I think the title says it all.
June 17, 2008
Blue Lagoon
Here's a photo of the lagoon at UCSB, where my son's graduation took place. Doesn't this look like a great place to get an education? It certainly inspired me to take more photographs.
Ephemeral
I'm not cerain why this bit of fuzz so enchanted me. The purity of its color and the clarity of its form stood out amidst the weeds as I was walking.
June 16, 2008
Our son, Michael, has officially graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara. The day was absolutely gorgeous - the weather was cool and breezy and the ceremony was held outside next to the lagoon that empties into the Pacific Ocean. I spent most of the ceremony taking pictures, so I had a fine time. Michael was the one bored beyound relief - his blackberry ran out of power.
On Looker
This Great Egret was preening himself just a few yards from the main stage of the graduation ceremony. He seemed rather unimpressed.
Joyful Pose
This photo of a Princess Flower that the University had placed in pots around the graduation area is certainly colorful enough that it feels joyful to me.
June 13, 2008
Seeing Through
This picture was one of the more recent ones I took. I loved the play of colors and the pattern. It was taken at the local library through the plastic bench they had out in front. Through the bench, you can see a coreopsis flower with a bee upon it.
Happiness happens when you see things in new ways. Or, in this case, see through things.
June 12, 2008
It took me a while to come up with a theme for this series of photographs. I had plenty of pictures to choose from, but I wanted to find a topic to discuss now that Spring has faded to dusty dryness. Yesterday, I was watching a video from TED - Technology, Entertainment, and Design Conference. Designer Stefan Sagmeister talked that "Design Can Make you Happy." It occurred to me that one of the reasons I am a photographic artist is that it makes me happy.
California Sister Butterfly
I got up early yesterday and while sorting and rating the photographs I had taken the day before, I felt a sense of joy. The colors, clarity, and contrast of the best of them really did make me feel happy. I've always loved sunflowers, and the wild ones are starting to bloom around here. I had taken some photos of the flowers at the top of the road that leads down to our ranch, but none were truly spectacular. Therefore, I decided to go out and take a few more shots before the light got too bright and the day too hot.
The sunflower that forms the background for this page is one that I took there. Then I decided to drive a little further up "Round House Road" to see the other wild sunflowers that flourish along it. While it may at a glance look dry around here, the landscape is dotted with wild flowers. Finally, I came to a small stream trickling just a few miles from our house. The butterflies were sipping salt from the mud along the stream bank. The breeze was just cool enough to stave off the heat of the sun. I again felt happinessness, this time from being surrounded by nature.
Butterflies aren't easy to photograph. They tended to flitter away as I approached. However, this lovely lady decided to land right beside me and pose. She allowed me to take as many photos as I wanted of her.
It was here, amidst all the natural beauty, that I realized that happiness would be the theme of this gallery. I'll be posting this blog every few days with new pictures to share the fun and the art.
Tomorrow, Corey and I head down to Santa Barbara where our son is graduating from college. This will give me a chance to take even more photos. So I'll see you when we return.