About Ellen S Silverman Photography

I’ve always been interested in photography since I was a Girl Scout and got my first Brownie Camera. Do any of you remember those? I contented myself with the typical vacation pictures and the teenage parties we used to attend. Naturally, I progressed to the Olympus 35 mm I bought when my husband and I married. I learned to develop my own film and often bored my family and friends with endless landscapes, most of which I can no longer identify.

To me, digital photography is man’s gift to God—a reflection of our appreciation for Him. You no longer have to worry about fumbling with rolls of film, wasting shots, developing, or even the cost. Instead, you can instantly discard what you don’t want and enhance your finished piece with software if you desire. Of course, the digital camera itself now offers the ability to filter what your camera sees.

Recently, I discovered my true passion—abstract photography. I began exploring the amazing colors, shapes, and textures in nature and the objects around me. I took a trip to northern Arizona and wandered through the slot canyons, where I found endless subject matter around every corner. The trick in this type of photography is finding elements that the viewer can interpret uniquely, becoming a different work of art for each individual. Even a construction site offers unique possibilities to the camera’s eye.

Sometimes, you have to go to extremes to get your shots, as I did in Arizona and Utah. It took two and a half hours of bumping around in a Suburban down sandy, little-traveled roads that I swear the driver was making up as he went along. I never did find it on a map. But, oh my…when we got there…I ran out of disk space. Everywhere I turned, there was a shot. This was the abstract dream of a lifetime.

I own a couple of drones and have captured some great shots with them. However, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to fly without government interference, so I don’t do much of it anymore. People also tend to get testy when you fly near them, thinking I’m invading their privacy. You can’t fly within National and State Parks, where I do much of my photography, making it pointless to bring a drone. Besides, it’s more than I can handle with a suitcase and camera equipment, let alone a drone case. So, unless I can drive to a location where drones are allowed, it stays at home with my cat.

Recently, I found a new passion in photo editing. I’m always learning new techniques to enhance my photos. It’s amazing how you can turn a poor photo into a work of art. Check out some of my shots in the Abstract and Textures Gallery. I have also ventured into Artificial Intelligence-generated artwork. I was skeptical at first, like many are, knowing AI can be used for negative purposes. But I’m using it as my creative outlet. Explore my creations in the AI Gallery. It’s exciting to create something from a simple verbal or written request.