Artist-Inspired Photography - Essence of Spring

Feb 11

Spring is a season of renewal, fresh beginnings, and natural beauty. For centuries, it has served as a muse for artists, including David Hockney, who masterfully captured its essence through his vibrant depictions of blossoming trees and flowers. I had the opportunity to view his stunning spring collection in a large-scale exhibit at the Chicago Art Museum, where the bold colors, rich textures, and unmistakable energy of spring left a lasting impression on me. Inspired by his work, I set out to create my collection, emulating Hockney’s use of color, tone, texture, and painterly style to capture the beauty of the season.

*Image: Lori Lanfkord*
*Cherry Tree in full bloom captured with multiple exposure to create a magical spring look!*

Below, I’ll share my images, along with photography and editing tips to help you achieve a similar effect.

I asked myself how I wanted to capture the essence of spring—what composition styles and shooting techniques would best bring my vision to life? I chose to focus on a mix of perspectives, showcasing both sweeping landscapes and intimate details of spring blooms.

To achieve a painterly effect, I experimented with multiple exposures in camera and intentional camera movement, adding depth and artistry to the images. The final touch came in post-processing, where I refined the photos to fully embrace their painterly quality.

In post-processing, I combined color enhancements, texture overlays, and digital painting techniques to achieve an artistic look. Using Photoshop brushes, I added impressionistic details and whimsical touches to enhance the images. The full video is linked below and with the images I created.