A Warm Introduction to IanJMuirheadArts Blog

Ocean view portal at Admirals Arch, Flinders Chase National Park

Yours truly behind the camera in Capitol Reef National Park

Hello and welcome! This is the first blog post for my online gallery, IanJMuirheadArts. Within the gallery, you’ll find a collection of my best fine art photos and prints. Through this blog, I’ll share the stories behind many of my new images and some personal reflections on my photography journey.

Let’s start with a bit about me. My name is Ian–the site name is a bit of a giveaway– and I'm an Aussie who’s loved photography since I was a kid. From my first simple camera to the more complex ones I’ve used over the years, my journey has been influenced by a fascination with technology.  But it has been a love for the outdoors which has fuelled my passion for image creation the most.

I still have the first black and white images I ever made using my mum’s Kodak Brownie camera. Artistically they hold little merit other than representing the foundation of what followed. Sentimentally, however, these blurry, poorly composed photographs remind me of a day when most others around it have faded.

I remember that “Gentle tones”, my first photo entered in a competition way back in 1993, was awarded a “Highly Commended” certificate. This was a big deal for me, but despite that encouragement, it took another 30 years before I showed more of my work. Photography over those intervening years was very much for my own satisfaction, and during that time my “style” organically grew and refined to represent my present artistic philosophy.

Then: Gentle tones. This image encompasses several of my “style” elements: minimalist composition, a focus on the natural environment, subdued earthy colours and a degree of abstraction.

Now: Surreal fields of wheat. An infrared image of agricultural land with a bit of experimental post-processing applied.

In its beginnings, this gallery is predominantly comprised of photographs I’ve taken while exploring nature. Each one is special to me, thoughtfully created with care and in a style reflecting what I felt at the moment. The first big addition will be a project called “Passage of Winter.” This thematic work is a series of photos inspired by haiku, a short and evocative form of poetry which captures a moment or experience.

Within this blog I will provide insight into some of the new images appearing within the gallery; what inspired me in the first place, and the artistic and technical factors and processes which influenced their creation. The blog will also have the occasional post about ideas, observations, and experiences of mine which may be useful to share. A colourful description of the odd failure or two may also bring a laugh (and an awareness of what to potentially avoid).

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you liked looking through the images and maybe found one you want to keep. I welcome and value your thoughts, so please don't hesitate to share them with me. Updates to the blog will be sporadic. To ensure you don't miss out, please subscribe through the CONTACT page to receive email notifications about new content. Additionally, I will be sharing updates on my Instagram and Facebook social media pages.

Cheers, IJM