Darlene Foster – Gallery One
A collection of photographic artwork from Darlene Foster.
Imagekind Gallery GalleryOne
Copyright (C) 2008
The Sentinel
The Ruby Slippers
"The Ruby Slippers" began as a photograph taken at Cross Estate Gardens in Bernardsville New Jersey. As I worked on this image, it seem to take on a fairytale kind of feel and even though "the yellow brick road" is only a path and the shoes are my version of "the ruby slippers", it still seemed possible that Oz was just around the bend.
The Raven's Wood
I captured this image (minus the ravens) a few years ago in Millcreek Village, a fantastic historically preserved early American village in New Jersey. I would love to know what happened to this amazing tree- some huge storm or maybe lightning. It's limbs were so contorted and angled it reminded me of a giant insect. I used this photo in color for a painting once but in black and white, all of the detail in the grass and brush reminded me of an etching. So again, it has new life as "The Raven's Wood".
A Wing and a Prayer
I came across this old building in western New Jersey. The vines covering the roof reminded me of a tousled head of hair. I'm puzzled by all the different openings and what it may have been used for in it's past lives.
Remains of the Day
This old chair on the porch of an abandoned house is one of my favorite film negatives that I have been revisiting lately with a fresh eye. The image I originally envisioned that would have taken hours in the darkroom is now a lot more possible thanks to the digital medium!
Miles to Go
"Miles to Go" began with a photo taken in The Deserted Village in the Watchung Reservation, New jersey. It was just after a thunderstorm and the afternoon light coming through the trees was amazing! I added the hiker and birds to complete the feeling I had in mind for the image. The title was inspired by a quote from a Robert Frost poem "the woods are lovely, dark and deep but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep".
All Who Enter
I've always had a passion for gargoyles. To me, they represent protection from harm and a guard against evil. True or not, I have a collection of them all over my house (Hey, you never know!).
Rear Window
"Rear Window" is an abandoned building I came across in my travels. I'm still not sure what it's original purpose was but I love the way the vines crawling up the side seem to frame the lone window.
The Offering
The Offering began as one of my black and white film photos. The
vintage figure was added for interest and to create a mood. The
entire image was then hand colored.
Out on a Limb
I was struck by how this graceful, white limb seemed to flow across all the trees behind it and float above the small stream running underneath.
The Shopkeeper, Rue de Chartres
I happened across this wonderful man on Rue de Chartres in the French Quarter of New Orleans, one of my favorite cities in the world. It was originally shot with black and white film but I think a little enhancement with toning, color and texture gives it a different mood and feel.
A Road Less Traveled
I captured this photograph of an old building in the quaint New Jersey town of Mill Creek Village near the Delaware Water Gap. It's a great place for photography with lots of historic buildings, dirt roads, and places to explore.
Trash to Treasure
Exploring backroads can yield lots of interesting finds for photo opportunities. This simple, forgotten old milk can caught my eye. I tend to find a lot of treasures in what other people consider trash.
A Fire Within
A montage of two photographs- a window of an old building and the figure of a woman
peering in are blended together to evoke a feeling of
mystery- just what does she see?
And Then There Were Three
This old house has always been one of my favorites from my archives. Something about the three dark windows and the open door tugs at my heartstrings. It's almost as if the house is crying out for someone or something to come in and bring life back once again.
The Gatekeeper
I came across this guy in a shop window in a small NJ town. The shop was directly across from the gate of an old cemetery, hence
his title, The Gatekeeper.
Shelter from The Storm
Shelter from The Storm is a montage of two photographs. One is
an old building at the edge of a rural cornfield. The sky was rather
overcast and gray so the threatening storm clouds were added to enhance the foreboding feeling of the scene.
The Morning After
I first photographed this old stone building in 2006 on my New Jersey backroads travels. The resulting piece became "Shelter from the Storm" with the drying cornstalks trailing off into the tall grass in front. When I came across it again in 2009 the scenario was totally different. The cornstalks and grass were down revealing trees and fields in the background that weren't visible the first time around. The new image seemed to lend itself to minimal color and starkness that became "The Morning After".
The Lamp Post
The Lamp Post was originally a black and white film image that I
digitally hand colored to achieve the final look.
When Shadows Fall
When Shadows Fall is a montage of several photographs and
scanned objects creating a thought provoking image for the
viewer.
The Portal
A thought provoking montage of a number of different photographs.
The Gardener
The Gardener is a montage of several photographs beginning with a bouquet of flowers. The woman was added along with color and texture to convey a feeling of mystery and draw the viewer in.
Lily
Lily began as a photo I took of a window in an old building. The
black and white vintage figure of the little girl was added, hand
colored and digitally painted to create a mood.
With Strings Attached
"With Strings Attached" is a still life of a bouquet of tulips with books that I photographed and digitally painted in the style of
traditional oils.
On Golden Pond
On Golden Pond was digitally painted from an image I captured while roaming the backroads of New Jersey.
Introspect
portrait digitally painted in the style of traditional oils
The Guardian
The Guardian is a montage of two photographs, digitally painted
to evoke a feeling of protection and hope for the viewer.
