New site focuses on the art and literature of TRAVEL

Loyal readers and fans know that I promote my photography under the name of "FCEtier" and sign my work simply as "Etier."  

Now my work is available at Venture Galleries, a new website featuring the work of award winning artists (such as Rick Rush, "America's Sports Artist"), photographers and writers.  Presently there are eight bloggers and authors and eleven artists showcased on the site.

The debut of Venture Galleries publishing heralds the arrival of a new "modern travel novel" that includes links in their e-books to photography of the settings and places of interest to the story.

I'll be blogging more about subjects and artists and authors related to the site as time goes by.

Travel photography will also be a focus of VG's website and include blog articles by the photographers about each image -- the ''story behind the photo."  Check back often.

Please take a few minutes to visit the site and check out all the amazing images and literature. 

FCEtier Prints in Gatlinburg, TN

Next time you're in or near Gatlinburg, TN, stop  in and visit with Calvin and Cassie at SMOKY MOUNTAIN ARTS & CRAFTS.  

It's easy to find and you'll see some of my photography on display for sale.

Directions (with a map) are available from their website, HERE.

Miss Bob and I have season tickets to Dollywood and often stay overnight in Gatlinburg. We enjoy BOTH!

The Manhattan Project

During the last week of April 2011, my wife and I visited New Jersey and completed a photo shoot of the New York City skyline. Three locations proved excellent for the shooting. Over two dozen images made the cut from several hundred shots. Check back to the link above over the next few weeks as more will be added to the Zenfolio gallery as they make it through the editing process.

We visited the boat basin near Fort Lee, NJ, just North of the George Washington Bridge. While there, we also got some great shots of the palisades.

Next was the tennis club at Binghamton and then on to Hoboken, where a great pier just South of the Frank Sinatra Park turned out to be a great vantage point.

While in New Jersey, we also visited the Liberty Science Museum and Liberty Park. Additional shots of the skyline were made there as well as the Statue of Liberty. Those images will be the subject of a future blog post. Check back soon!

Travel Photography - Continuing

The scene in the accompanying photo is on my way to work and the other day, I decided to stop and shoot it. This dogwood tree is in a field on Cruso Road as drivers head up towards Cold Mountain. The fence in the foreground and the trees behind frame it nicely with the bright white blossoms drawing the eye into the upper left third of the frame.

Just past this location is the spot where I shot many of the images in my "Travel Photography" gallery on Zenfolio.

Watch for more images as we travel around the country, especially the Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian Trail. We'll be heading up through the Shenandoah Valley next week!

Also, readers may be interested in following my new series of articles on "Restaurants with a View". Considering started a blog dedicated to that subject. Check back soon for details. The first article in that series can be found HERE.

Louisiana Swamp Shoot

Last week I drove back home to Louisiana to conduct a photo shoot in the swamps near where I grew up.

Various selections from that shoot will be available for viewing and purchase on several sites where my work is seen now. Watch for more selections at my "Louisiana Swamp Shoot" gallery on zenfolio.com.

My journey took me to familiar sites from my childhood, particularly the "slough" (pronounced "slew") near my parents' home. Also, we got several good shots under and near a bridge on Little Creek. It's near Lone Cherry Baptist Church, on the way to Goldmine Plantation.

Serial Photography

Almost seven years ago, I read an interesting article in Shutterbug magazine. It was about "self-assignments" for photography projects. They suggested that for one month, try to take as many different images of "stairs" as possible. All different types and locations of stairs would be great. I took images of staircases and steps both inside and out, fancy and plain, modern and traditional. I even found a set of concrete steps in the yard of a lumber company that was being offered for sale. The next month, the subject was anything "green". Each month, readers were encouraged to select a different subject.

Well, the images above didn't come out large enough. Wanted to show an example of serial photos with signs. The reader board at the church -- seen through a wet windshield says, "Pray for rain." The diner is the "No Name" diner and the portable reader board says, "Go green. Buy army surplus". The motel sign says, "Welcome Hookers -- Lowest Rates". I guess I'll sacrifice spontaneous humor for the example of the serial photos. [sigh]

It was serial photography. Now, Harald Mante has written a book about it. Serial Photography -- Using Themed Images to Improve Your Photographic Skills will be available on February 28, 2011 and would be a great investment of both your time and money. I recommend it highly!

Travel Photography

Watch for my images soon on a new website dedicated to "travel photography". When the site is up and running, I'll post a link. (Sample image included here is Cumberland Falls in Kentucky. The image is copyrighted by RFWLLC and it's use or reproduction is prohibited.)

Meanwhile, here are a couple of books I've reviewed that relate to the subject.

http://technorati.com/entertainment/article/book-review-the-art-of-photography/

http://technorati.com/entertainment/article/exploring-north-american-landscapes-by-marc/

Nude in Art

For over 25,000 years, the nude as been the most enduring subject in art.

So, is it art? Is it erotica? Is it pornography?

Art historian, Tim Marlow, hosts a new DVD containing four episodes discussing "The Nude in Art" will be released on February 22, 2001.

Read my review here: http://technorati.com/entertainment/article/nude-in-art-with-tim-marlow/