The Weekly Flickr - Ben Heine - a photo on Flickriver

Prints | Facebook | Twitter | G+ | Blog | Music | © Ben Heine
_____________________________________________________

In case you missed it, you can find my interview for "The Weekly Flickr" here below and on the following sites:

On Flickr Blog: blog.flickr.net/en/2013/09/27/photographer-literally-draw...
On my blog: benjaminheine.blogspot.be/2013/12/ben-heine-interview-for...
On Yahoo Screen: screen.yahoo.com/photographer-literally-draws-life-photos...

Photographer literally draws life into his photos

In this edition of The Weekly Flickr, we profile Belgian artist and photographer Ben Heine. To call Ben Heine’s photography “cool” or even “eye-catching” is a bit of an understatement. His images are mesmerizing. Ben’s Pencil Vs Camera series perfectly blends illustrations in surprising but clever juxtapositions.

Ben Heine has created a form of art that is truly all his own. Einstein once said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Ben Heine is using art to show that if you can see it and believe it, there are no bounds to creativity!

“In my work, I’m really trying to interact with the viewer,” the Belgian artist tells The Weekly Flickr in the accompanying video. “I want to make them laugh or smile, and if I can, surprise people so that he or she doesn’t understand how it’s made. I’m having so much fun and I want them to feel the same.”

“Pencil Vs Camera” mixes drawing and photography, imagination and reality through illusion and surrealism. Ben says the idea was the result of a long graphic exploration and the evolution of his artistic ability.

“The initial idea happened randomly while I was writing a letter in 2010,” Ben explains. “When I held the letter up to put it inside an envelope, I noticed the paper was transparent enough that I could see my television in the background. I suddenly saw two images working together: the words on the paper and the action of the television. It was surreal, and I instantly thought I could do something creative with this.”

“The very next day I made Pencil Vs Camera #1,” Ben says. “It wasn’t very creative, but it was the beginning of this new concept. Since then, it’s evolved into more and more complex drawings, and it’s always changing into something bigger and better.”

The process behind the series is very simple. Ben draws a picture by hand and then takes the photo of the drawing at a specific location. His hand is almost always visible in the image to represent the connection between viewer, artist and artwork. In “Pencil Vs Camera”, Ben generally focuses on architecture, portraits and animals. Among many others, the main themes he approaches are love, freedom and friendship.

“The drawing has to be nice, and the location where I’m taking the photo has to be interesting,” Ben says. “When I edit my photo, like every photographer, I’m always adjusting. Since these are raw images, I’m adjusting the light, the colors, the contrast – everything (see some photo editing examples here). In some cases, I even adjust the composition because I want the final image to be perfect!” An admitted perfectionist, he uses perspective to create unexpected images that are open to interpretation, going back to the drawing board and readjusting if necessary.

“Love, freedom and friendship are the main things I’m trying to express in my art because they are a reflection of what I love the most in life,” Ben says. “I’ve made many photos showing duos … either two people or two animals in love or in a friendly situation with each other. It’s a beautiful feeling.”

“One of my favorite images shows a lion jumping out of the image ,” Ben says. “I took this photo in Tunisia and drew a ferocious lion jumping and appearing. The picture is unfinished, because I mainly wanted to attract the attention of the viewer on the lion’s roar. I liked the powerful effect of this image – you know the lion’s screaming and shouting. For me, graphic art can sometimes be dull, but this image is powerful.”

There is also a lot of illusion and surrealism depicted in Ben’s art. Throughout his career he’s been influenced by famous artists like René Magritte . Ben says he likes to play with shapes, geometrics and create illusions with tricky objects and perspectives. The reactions Ben’s received from his series has been extremely positive.

“I started posting my pictures on Flickr in 2006, and since then, the feedback from other members has helped me to improve my work,” Ben admits. “I really strive to create a new form of art. For me, it’s very important to be innovative and do something different. I’m having fun only because I’m trying to surpass myself daily. I want people to see I’ve given my utmost best in each of my images.”
_____________________________________________________

For more information about my works: info@benheine.com
_____________________________________________________

Taken on: December 11, 2013

Tags:

Yahoo

Flickr

weekly flickr

interview

entretien

drawing

photography

spotlight

camera

artist

artiste

highlight

feature

publication

inspiration

motivation

ideas

europe

european

belgique

belgium

belge

belgische

kunstenaar

imagination

creativity

information

”

talk

discussion

ameya pendse

photographer

yahoo screen

freedom

music

transition

pencil vs camera

famous

fame

work

art

foto

tekening

recognition

biography « less

Sets appears in: • Photos (all) • Photo Journalism more » • Ben Heine • Canon 5D Mark ii « less

Groups appears in: • The Unofficial JPG Magazine Group • FlickrToday (only 1 pic per day) more » • The World Through My Eyes ... • "A" Class (comment 2) Pls, Comment immediately. • ! ART & PHOTOGRAPHY ! All artistic works welcome • Your Best Photography • Flickr Sun (Post 1 - Give 5 Suns) • Discovery Photos: Post 1, Vote for 3 • Coloursplosion! (Post 1, Award 1, Invite 1 to Group) • " FLICKR Stars :: COMMENT OR BAN :: post 1 award 6: • The Best Picture Gallery! • -Spirit Of Photography • Flickr goal (sube 1 marca 5 goles) • This Week in Photo • Royal Group - Have a Good Light ! • Global Artist's (Post 3 - Award 5) • Colour n Expressions....Post 01....Award 01 !! • Ouvrier de l'Image • GR8 - Photos • Flickr Number One !! • Flickr Balloon Award (Post 1 & Give 2 Balloons) • Poems, Pixels, & Prose! • !WORLD OF ANIMALS! (Post 1 and Comment 1 or more) • Reflections (Post 1 Award 3) • **Super Best Shots on Flickr**/ P.1, A.5 ! NO COMMENT=BAN! • Intere$ting Photos! post 1,comment 1 • Flickr's Masterpieces !! • OneOfMyPics - Post1&Award2 • Compétence Photo • Le Révélateur • Dreams Come True (Award on 3) • different visions • Perfect Click Group: (P2 C1) Just Enjoy ! :) • Absolutely Perrrfect:SWEEPER!! • **Innamoramento - BY INVITATION only (P1/C2/F2) No SL • Above All the Rest and Simply the BEST (P.1 A.3) SWEEPER ACTIVE • PLASMANDO SUEÑOS - (Pos 1, Awar 3) • The world of photography • WoWccasion (Post 5 award 5) "NO PORNOGRAPHY" • Flickr's "BEST" pictures !! • ♥ From too close... ♥ (post 1 / Cmmnt 3) • ***All beautiful shots and many more. • *Splash*(P1/A2) - ongoing Monthly contest • !! Photo Lovers!(Post 2+Comment 3)*SWEEPER ACTIVE* • NOW AHORA EN CE MOMENT JETZT ORA 하세요 AGORA 現在 • The Love Project ♫ Post 1 - Award 2 • *Crab Award* P1 & C2 • * All Ur Photos * • North*Star!(Post 2+Comment 5) • Creative Photographer on Flickr! (Post 1 - Award 1) • Flickr & Friends • ++ ENERGIA POSITIVA ++ (CLOSED) • Gold Heart!(Post2+Comment5)*Sweeper Active* • ♪♥¸.•★*´So, you want a group of Magic ♥¸.♪• • Flickr Community (INVITE ALL CONTACTS) • Super Photographer (Post1 -Award 5) • Capricorn Award - P1&A1 • Best Photos Around the World • UNITY AWARDS : Post 1 Award 5 - • Vivo por la Fotografia (Post 1 - Award 3) Sweeper Activado • [][][]All Welcome[][][] • Supreme Images * Post 1 - Award 3 * *Sweeper Active* • Expressive shots/post 1,comment 1 • * C L I C K A R T * • Theatre Of Life • Gorgeous images Award**post 1/award 1 • !Portfolio of People (HIGH QUALITY, ADMIN MODERATED p1/c2) • *Golden Apple Award* P1 & C2 • * Black Heart Award * (Post 2 & Award 3) • * Water Star Award - Post 2 & Award 3 * • * Starfish Award / P1&A1 * • * The Lucky Group - P1&C1 * • * Seashell Award / P1&A1 * • * Cross Award * Post 2 & Award 3 • * Have a great day! (post 1 ~ award 2) • No sin mi cámara // Not without my camera • Flickr Bronze Trophy Group (Post 1 MUST Comment 5!) • Flickr SHUTTERSPACE - Post 1 / Award 2, Please • !* VAN GOGH AWARD (Post 1 / Award 2) • Persone people людзі lidé mennesker ihmiset gens άνθρ • ART PHOTOGRAPHERS Salon • THE ARTISTS Club • *VIVER COM ARTE* • COLORS IN YOUR EYES*** Post 1/ Award 1 • International Amateurs Photos (Invite Only) • [][][]Beyond time[][][] • FlickrNova • LOVE HEALS - The healing power of love* read rules please! • WORLD Photography (Post 1 / Award 1) • *****Mix Love Work***** • Museo de Fotos • flickr Travel Award (Post 1 - Award 3) • Truly Inspiring Photos • FlickrComment (P1 C2) • FLICKR STUDIO "new photographic techniques" • FLICKR GALICIA shot award (P.1 - A.3) • * Reflections of All Kinds (post 1 ~ award 1) • Flickr OBSESSION' • [][][]A world of photography[][][] • ↑ Donna's Magical Pix ↑ • ~ LES AMATEURS D´ART ~ ....P1 / A2 • Flickr Click Perfect - Flickr Click Perfeito. • ~ The Creative & Visual Artist ~ post 1, comment 1 ~ • The World Through My Lens (since 11/11/11) • ↑ Essential Art ↑ • Best Friends Photographer - INVITATION ONLY - • CrëÅTïvë ÅnÐ mØØÐ phØTØgrÅphŸ ÅrT • 24/7 Photography • ☆☆GREEN STARS☆☆<0NLY GREEN SH0T> • .♥.The Magical & Exceptional Artist.♥. • flickr Black Day « less

Stats: 48,978 views / 35 comments

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: