Samara Blue - My Way Of Art
Digital art I Creative photography & documentation I Lost Place I Street art
Kerstin Ellinghoven aka samara blue- Just Me
Hi, I'm Kerstin Ellinghoven - better known online as Samara Blue. This name comes from my time as founder and dancer of the Moonlight Dancers, a group that combined oriental dance and fascinating fire shows. This creative phase shaped me and the name still accompanies me today on my artistic paths in digital and photo art as well as local photo reportages.
How I got behind the camera
My love of photography began indirectly with the search for cool pictures of my fire shows. That's when I met Dark Lord Ellia, a photographer and artist from Krefeld - and now my husband. I'm still waiting for the promised fire photos, but I discovered that my place is behind the camera and not in front of it.
I dedicate myself to photography with a lot of passion and curiosity, am constantly learning new things and usually let my gut feeling guide me. My old Nikon D700, without automatic controls, is my favorite - it demands real craftsmanship and connects me more intensely with my subjects. Although I don't do photography professionally, I see it as my creative form of expression. I love capturing special moments for people - from emotional weddings and sensitive baby belly shoots to glittering oriental dance shows. Capturing emotional memories for dancers is particularly close to my heart. It fulfills me to give them pictures in which they like themselves - a feeling that for me goes far beyond my own time on stage.
Lost Place Fotografie
My entry into photography began with lost places - thanks to my husband, who initially took me to such abandoned places. My fascination for the stories and backgrounds of these places eventually led me to create my website “Samara Blue - Urbexart”. Even though my focus today is on digital art, this name reminds me of my photographic beginnings. My approach was never to cover as many spots as quickly as possible. I wanted and still want to feel the atmosphere of the places, discover their stories and bring them to life through my pictures. Every project is time-consuming: from discovering the places to researching, selecting and editing the photos. I consciously take the time to capture the uniqueness of each place and gather background information. Lost places, often forgotten buildings from recent history, are more than just backdrops for me - they tell of life that once was and stimulate the imagination, allowing us to participate in long-gone history.
Streetart & Magische orte
Urban art and special places I came to the subject of street art rather by chance. Many of my photos show colorful graffiti and urban artworks that were simply too good to gather dust on my hard drive. Fascinated by the stories behind these works, I began to research artists and find out their intentions. It gets particularly exciting when artists like Ben Mathis, Klaus Klinger or Karsten Breidenbroich share their insights. The Kiefernstraße in Düsseldorf with its beautifully colored houses remains a project close to my heart - a vibrant hotspot of urban art that is constantly changing. I am also always fascinated by the regularly recurring urban art events in Krefeld. They not only offer inspiring works of art, but also the perfect opportunity to get in touch with artists. These encounters give me a deep insight into their creative processes and enrich my view of their works. As a Krefeld native, my photographic heart naturally goes out to the regularly recurring urban art events. In addition to great pictures, there are also many opportunities to get in touch with the artists and gain a deeper insight into their creative process. I am also interested in unusual places with history or a special atmosphere. One example of this is the Schlaraffia Crefeldensis in “Et Klöske” - a fascinating place that I had the opportunity to photograph. It was a very special encounter, as women are not usually allowed in here. Projects like this give me the opportunity to make stories visible and capture places in a special way. Urban art and special places - for me, both combine photography and curiosity in their most beautiful form.
Digital art & Lyric
Digital art is my main focus at the moment - a creative focus that fulfills and inspires me. Thanks to my husband, I discovered DAZ Studio, a medium that allows me to create diverse scenes with characters, animals and environments. Perspectives and lighting are similar to real photography. Even though this work requires patience, practice and lots of experimentation, I find it a fascinating way to create images and often complement them with suitable words. This often results in small, magical stories. During the pandemic, this kind of creativity became an important part of my everyday life - and it still is today. I am particularly proud that some of my works are sold through the art print publisher Printler. This motivates me to try out new themes and processing options - even if not every experiment succeeds. Artificial intelligence in my work: I look at the topic of AI with interest, but use it sparingly. I rarely use AI for backgrounds, as it is important to me to have as much control as possible over the process of creating an image. For me, AI remains an exciting but complementary tool that will probably be indispensable in the art world in the future. But it will never be able to replace an original photograph that captures real moments. Pictures and words - one unit: For me, pictures and texts often belong together. A picture is only complete when I have found the right text to complement or underline its message. When I write, I see myself less as a copywriter and more as a creative writer. I enjoy organizing thoughts, telling stories and bringing images to life with words - intuitively and with a lot of passion. This is my way of discovering art in all its facets and passing it on.
HP - design
The history of my homepage: The design of my homepage is also part of my creative process. It was originally created to present my dance activities. At the time, I thought long and hard about whether I should write it myself or use a modular system and deliberately opted for the latter. Instead of immersing myself in source code, I wanted to put my energy into content. Today I rely on Wix, but even here it takes more than just clicking a few buttons. Templates have to be adapted, elements put together harmoniously and mobile views optimized. The requirements of cell phones and tablets in particular often require extra fine-tuning. Changes by the provider bring additional challenges - and sometimes it is unavoidable to intervene in the source code, even if I would rather avoid it. Despite all the small obstacles, working on my homepage remains an ongoing project - and I love it! For me, it's like a modern-day glossy picture album from my childhood, and tinkering with it is simply part of it.
hobbys
My creative passions: Working with the 3D program DAZ Studio and the subsequent post-processing are currently one of my most time-consuming hobbies. There is so much to discover, try out and refine that I never get bored. Photography remains my passion, which I am constantly developing. I still really enjoy holding the camera in my hand and experimenting with new techniques. Reading is essential for me - not a day goes by without an interesting book. Every book that my husband and I get our hands on also gets a permanent place in our home. Cooking and especially experimental baking are also among my favorite pastimes. My husband always benefits from this too, of course! In the colder months, we like to play 'World of Warcraft', another, unfortunately also rather PC-heavy passion. To get away from the screen for a bit, I tend to our organic garden and try yoga, which I hope is a good way to meet new people. Last but not least, I'm rekindling my old passion for designing and tailoring clothes. I finally have a sewing machine again and my fabrics and patterns will no longer be gathering dust in the corner. Lots to do, but I'm looking forward to everything that comes my way - after all, there are 24 hours in a day!
My creativity
What does creativity mean to me? For me, creativity is an ongoing flow that cannot be captured in rigid rules or measurable results. It is a path that I follow to enrich life with my own unique forms of expression. From handicrafts to art: Even as a child, I made everything I could find. Creative courses and new techniques constantly broadened my horizons. As my experience has grown, I have always found new forms of expression that make me happy - be it through dance, photography or creative photo reportages. Creativity without limits: Photography came into my life over eight years ago when my husband introduced me to the world of digital cameras. With a camera in my hand, the world suddenly felt like a new, limitless creative medium. It was a turning point - and the freedom to create images that I felt myself was like an epiphany. Digital art and 3D design: At the end of 2021, I came across the 3D program DAZ Studio. This new creative world allowed me to experience digital art in a completely different dimension. The process of learning and discovering always challenges me anew. Creativity is spontaneity and emotion: for me, creativity is an interplay of head, heart and soul. It loves the unplanned and unbound. It requires patience and time to unfold. It is the moment in which an image comes into being and, for me, forms a harmonious whole. Creativity is more than technique: creativity cannot be forced according to a plan or a formula for success. It is unpredictable and often comes when you least expect it. But that is precisely what makes it so unique and valuable. My art is my hobby: my art is not a competitive act, but an expression of my personal joy and satisfaction. It gives me the freedom to express myself and to share this inspiration with others, without any thoughts of competition. Creativity as a universal language: I believe that creativity is a universal language that can connect us with each other. It helps us to think outside the box, explore new paths and experience life in a deeper, more colorful way. Conclusion: My art is my hobby, my creative path. It fulfills me, enriches my life and allows me to keep discovering new things. And that is what true creativity is for me - the constant, colorful flow of ideas that never stand still and are not bound by any obligations or conditions. That is a piece of freedom for me. Lots to do, but I'm looking forward to everything that comes my way - after all, there are 24 hours in a day!
Standing - Ein Blick hinter die Kulissen
In the digital space, many things are often shared thoughtlessly and judged quickly. But not every statement I make reflects my deepest thoughts. Here I share with you some principles that are important to me - the thoughts that I really stand behind. My principles: Follow your dreams. A life without dreams? Not my thing. I will always follow my own dreams, even if they are not easy to realize at times. Quality over quantity: I'm not interested in posting what feels like a thousand pictures every day. If I have something to show, it's good and I do it with conviction. If I can't think of anything, then that's fine too. Just don't huddle. There is strength in calm. I take the time I need. Age is just a number. The path is my goal, even if it's bumpy, and there's always something new to discover, no matter what stage of life I'm at. I don't run after anything or anyone. I go my own way. I find peace within myself, because that is the place that suits me. I can't do anything with “fishing for compliments”. If I like what I have created, then it is good for me. Don't talk about me, talk to me if you have something on your mind. Status, possessions and intelligence mean little to me. The true value of a person lies in the way they treat me and others. I like myself with my strengths and weaknesses. If I want to learn something, then I do it. But I don't have to be able to do and like everything because others do. There is no such thing as perfection. I am open to new things and welcome honest criticism, but even without feedback I stay true to my path. Anyone who wants to can accompany me part of the way, but no one will tell me where to go. For me, respect, honesty, tolerance and loyalty are the basis of every relationship, whether in the family, among friends or elsewhere. Some things have to grow and develop. Nothing can be forced. That's what drives me. To be creative, to grow and to go my own way, in my own personal way, and to feel free and alive in the process.
With this in mind, have fun browsing and be patient if it takes a while for a page or a topic to be finished. It's my time :-).
Yours Samara Blue
Krefeld in November 2023
