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Databank Entry
Movie Magic and the Painted Sky
Matte Shot – a tribute to Golden Era & Traditional Special Effects
For as long as I can recall I’ve loved that peculiar atmospheric phenomenom commonly recognised as ‘The Sky’. As an enthusiastic photographer (and mediocre oil painter) myself I’ve long since lost count of the number of unusual, dramatic, forboding or just plain damned appealing skies I’ve captured on film or more recently in digital format. In days long passed I can recall many instances where all must come to a halt as I frantically sought out my trusty Canon Ftb 35mm SLR to record on film a particular atmospheric cloudscape which, more often than not, captured my imagination to significant effect. And we’re not always talking textbook postcard sunsets for the most part, more often just exquisite and complex light on a massive, infinite and constantly changing stage.
The same may be said of skyscapes as portrayed in classical art with many of my own particular favourites being the 17th Century Dutch landscapes and coastal paintings with those customary low horizons and masses upon masses of evocatively exhilarating sky to delight both the eye and the soul. The works of Jacob van Ruisdael, Claude Lorrain, Aelbert Cuyp, Jan van Goyen, Canaletto, Richard Parkes Bonnington, Peder Monsted, Atkinson Grimshaw, Albert Bierstadt, Frederick Church and so many more I find so utterly inspirational and soul expanding in the extreme.
…Read the Full Article @ Matte Shot
This blog is intended as a tribute to the ingenuity of the traditional matte painter where movie magic was created entirely by hand. Some of the shots will amaze in their grandeur and epic quality while others will surprise in their ‘invisibility’ to even the sophisticated viewer. I hope this collection will serve as an appreciation of the artform and both casual visitors and those with a specialist interest may benefit, enjoy and be amazed at skills largely unknown today
I have gone further back into the archives of Matte Shot – A Tribute to Golden Era Special FX to feature even more articles from this great site, so I hope you enjoy this wonderful journey we’re on together.
PJ Max
