Photo Art with Placerville's Craig Koski
Apr 27, 2016 12:35PM ● By David Norby
Craig Koski specializes in “photo art”—combining his digital photography with post-processing artwork to create images a step beyond the norm. He’s also served as president of the Gold Country Artists’ Gallery since 2014—an institution on Placerville’s Main Street for nearly 24 years, where Koski’s stunning scenes, along with over 50 other local artists, are on display. You can also glimpse his work driving around town, as he was recently contacted by El Dorado Disposal to “dress” their trucks with a variety of local images, such as Downtown Placerville, Rainbow Orchards, Madroña Vineyards and Cameron Park Lake.
HLB: How’d you get started in photo art?
CK: Downtown Placerville, for example, has been photographed in numerous ways. I wanted to make my finished product unique. By adding my touch of artwork and manipulating the images, I’m able to do just that. I typically will electronically stitch several images together and then go through my post-processing procedures. This gave my Main Street image a rounded look, while still retaining the full impact of the buildings and feeling that I’m trying to convey.
HLB: When do you know an image is finished?
CK: I typically take my images through a variety of software programs. You get different feelings from the various programs and how the image reacts to it—the manipulation can take hours. I have a preconceived vision of the end result and the only way I can describe when [I know] the image is finished, is when it needs nothing added and nothing taken away—it just “feels good.”
HLB: What were you like as a young artist?
CK: I really enjoyed doing pencil and pen work and then began to do abstracts in oil. My photo art began later—being able to digitally capture an image and create a piece of art from it was very intriguing. After lots of experimentation, I found that this form of art was exciting with endless opportunities.
HLB: What do you love about El Dorado County?
CK: I have lived in this area since I was five years old. Being surrounded by the beautiful landscapes and the rich history make it a photographer’s paradise. From the great rivers and majestic mountains, to the buildings that are over 160 years old, this area holds a lot of treasures.
HLB: Do you have any advice for photographers just starting out?
CK: Learn your camera and lenses. Discover how to get the camera out of auto mode and learn to control your settings manually. This gives you a huge advantage, because you get to create the image while you’re taking the shot.
HLB: What’s in store for the future?
CK: I’m introducing a series of images from a recent trip to Yosemite. The absolute beauty of the surroundings are jaw-dropping, and I was fortunate enough to capture a natural phenomena called “firefall”; in February, there’s a short window when Horsetail Falls catches momentary light from the fading sunset, becoming a spectacular vision. I’m also beginning to focus on shooting portraits and families—a field where you can capture a moment in time and make it last forever.