wintry light in central park

A year or so ago, Eva Polak’s impressionist photography captured my heart. In our quest for tack sharp photos, often a lack of focus better captures a feeling or experience rather than the reality. At least to a few of us.  I realize not everyone likes this type of photography and that’s OK.  That’s what makes our art world go round, right?

One afternoon in the quest to learn more, the ICP (International Center of Photography) library here in NYC became my research headquarters to find other photographers who also enjoyed this type of photographic creativity.  It was there I “met” Bill Jacobson and Dubi Roman.  Between Polak, Roman and Jacobson’s work, their approach mesmerized me, their ability  to forget rules and concepts of traditional photography when the right setting would bring about the right opportunity.  As Polak mentions…In time and with practice, the technical and creative abilities you develop can ultimately be used intuitively…  Oh, how I agree. After playing around (no filters, no computer manipulation) with impressionist photography for over a year now, there’s an intuitive sense when I run across subject matter ripe for this type of capture. I can’t explain it, but once you get it, you got it and you know it when you see it.

I’m curious how you feel about impressionist photography or how some describe as “soft focus” photography?

A few of my favorites captured over the past year….

overlooking the hudson river

walking in the desert

reflecting in the woods