Though it looks to me like the “catching of fish” bit has become of secondary concern to the artistry of fly-making.
There’s a whole gallery of different one’s here... amazing.
They seem to turn up in movies quite a lot. 9? 10? – that’s more movies than I’ve been in.
(via notesfromhalfland where lots of amazing tiny things are made)
On Addiction
And The Void Mooned Back...
The Spirit Of The World
A Machine to Steal Souls
More Anti Digital
Thync
Robotic Sensory Loops and Whatnot
Cartestian Robot Roundup.
Post-Scarcity Link-Dump
Servo Bender
Graham Owen’s artistry has been the centerpiece of my day, Nick.
I want to make sure you saw one of his flies being stolen for lunch by a real dragonfly!?
http://www.filmflies.com/images/orange_dragonfly_x13.jpg
The entire saga plays out before his camera here http://www.grahamowengallery.com/photography/dragonfly_photography.html
and the turtle being made?! http://www.filmflies.com/demonstrations/creation.html It fooled my real-o-meter completely!
And he’s super humble and nice! Let’s rue his talent!
Thanks for the kind words!
Far out… that turtle’s actually a fish-hook?
I think it’s cool how the colours and forms arise naturally from the materials… you can kindof tell when you’ve got a design right – when you’re being true to your materials, because unattended-to levels of detail precipitate out on their own.
Reminds me of the best guitar I ever played… an old Gibson hollow-body that used to belong to blues-legend Alexis Korner – when you tuned it, the note would kindof “blossom” when it was at the right frequency. All these high-harmonics would suddenly come to life… details coming to life when the thing was in tune.
I’m not sure the turtle is for enticing fish. As you said, Mr. Owen is cornering the market on diminutive movie critter making. It sure fooled me.
It’s so fascinating what you say here about the guitar. I love your description of the note blossoming. That’s gorgeous way to phrase that.
I told my ballet student the other day that when a ballet position is correct it rings the whole being of the dancer and the viewer like a bell. If something’s off, no sound. On, the “tone” rings out for all to experience.
Along with his amazing fly-tying and skills in creating realistic creatures, Graham’s photography also resonates a kind of lyric musicality. As you (Shelley and Nick) so beautifully say in this thread, there are higher-level harmonics at work here. Whether birds, wildflowers or any aspects of Nature, Graham and his camera dance together in the light and Spirit sings in joyous communion.
The intrinsic gift for each of us is that his images also reverberate within the observer. Much like the strings on another guitar will vibrate in synchronicity with the one being played, you feel the passion he puts into his images. His vision opens your eyes to a myriad of artistic possibilities. Altogether, an incredibly talented man.