From Arttoon to Photography

Discover Neil G Smith Art

Most people know me through Arttoon – my cartoons, caricatures, paintings, illustrations, murals and all the colourful characters that have become part of my artistic world.

But there is another side to my creative work that has been growing for many years: photography.

That is why I created Neil G Smith Art – The Art of Photography, my dedicated photography website at neilgsmithart.co.uk.

A Different Way of Seeing

For me, photography has never simply been about pointing a camera at something and pressing the shutter.

It is about seeing.

A landscape, an old building, a dramatic sky, a street scene or even something completely ordinary can become an interesting photograph when you start looking at light, colour, composition, perspective and timing.

In many ways, photography and my artwork are much closer than they might initially appear.

When I paint, I am making decisions about composition, colour and where I want the viewer's eye to go. When I photograph, I am making exactly the same sort of decisions – just with a camera instead of a paintbrush or palette knife.

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The Art of Photography

My photography website brings together my photographic work, ideas, experiences and the things I have learned along the way.

It isn't intended to be just a gallery of photographs.

I also use the website to explore how photographs are made, from understanding the exposure triangle and composition to experimenting with different camera settings, editing techniques and creative approaches.

There are articles covering subjects such as shutter speed, aperture, ISO, exposure, metering, bracketing, focus, filters, composition and much more.

And there is one question that comes up again and again:

"Why do my mobile phone photographs look better than my DSLR or mirrorless photographs?"

The answer is surprisingly interesting – and it has very little to do with which camera is actually "better".

Photography for Everyone

One of the things I enjoy most about photography is that you don't need expensive equipment to be creative.

You can take fantastic photographs with a mobile phone, a compact camera, a bridge camera, a DSLR or a mirrorless camera.

The important thing is understanding what your equipment can do and, more importantly, what you want your photograph to say.

This is something I try to encourage in my photography classes too. Photography shouldn't become a battle over megapixels, expensive lenses and complicated equipment.

It should be about enjoying the process of looking, experimenting and creating.

From Photography to Art

Photography also plays an important part in my wider artistic practice.

I regularly use photographs as references for paintings and illustrations, whether I'm working on a landscape, a portrait, a piece of fan art or something completely different.

A photograph can capture the starting point, but the finished artwork doesn't necessarily have to reproduce it exactly.

That is where the creative process takes over.

I can change the colours, exaggerate shapes, alter the composition, remove distractions or simply interpret what I have seen in my own style.

In that sense, the camera becomes another tool in the artist's toolbox.

A Growing Photography Blog

I've also been transferring many of the photography notes and ideas I've developed over the years into articles for the website.

The aim is to create a useful collection of photography information that is accessible whether you're just starting out with a camera or have been taking photographs for years.

There are technical subjects, creative ideas, practical tips and explanations of some of the features and techniques that can initially seem rather complicated.

And, hopefully, there is plenty to inspire you to pick up your camera and go out and experiment.

Have a Look

So, while Arttoon remains the home of my cartoons, caricatures, paintings, illustrations, murals and other artwork, Neil G Smith Art is where I can explore my love of photography. The two websites may have slightly different focuses, but they are really part of the same creative journey.

Whether I'm holding a paintbrush, palette knife, stylus or camera, the objective is ultimately the same:

Look. Create. Experiment. And most importantly – enjoy making art.

If photography is something you're interested in, have a look at Neil G Smith Art – The Art of Photography and explore the photographs, articles, tips and ideas.

You might even discover something that makes you look at your own camera a little differently.

Visit: neilgsmithart.co.uk

And don't forget to keep coming back to Arttoon for all my latest paintings, cartoons, caricatures, events, exhibitions and creative projects.