
Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. In just over a decade he created about 2,100 artworks, including around 860 oil paintings, most of which date from the last two years of his life. They include landscapes, still lifes, portraits and self-portraits, and are characterized by bold colours and dramatic, impulsive and expressive brushwork that contributed to the foundations of modern art. He was not commercially successful, and his tragic death at 37 came after years of mental illness and poverty. (Wikipedia)
Van Gogh’s story resonates with me for several reasons.
~ He was driven to express his inner thoughts and feelings with his art. Did you notice above that most of his works were created in the last two years of his life?
~ He pushed himself along a journey of improvement with his craft yet, he often wondered if he was any good. ‘Wondering if he was any good’ seems to be a common trait among creatives. I’m in!
~ Today, more than a century after his death, he is one of the world’s best known painters yet he received no recognition during his tortured lifetime. This just raises such compassion for me. If only he could have known the influence he would have.




The images that follow are not an attempt to recreate Van Gogh’s style but simply my attempt at impressionistic photos that I like to think are touched by his influence.




















About the Photographs
A few of the images shown here are ‘straight shots’, such as the wine image above. Some received post processing such as the couple at the cafe table and the blue shutters on the yellow wall. The remaining photos were created with in-camera effects, primarily double exposures or multiple exposures. The image below is an example of using multiple exposure and allowing the camera to move very slightly while shooting. The resulting image has a painterly effect, resembling the work of impressionist painters.
It’s a technique that has unlimited variations and one that is taught by Chris Harris and myself at our Develop Your Creative Vision workshops.

Related Posts
January 2, 2023
Twenty-two from 2022: My Picks from the Year
September 21, 2022
Thank you for a very lovely and excellent set of images. Enjoyed both the straight and impressionistic images equally. One question – do you use any of the Topaz Labs software plug ins for post processing? I have a friend who uses Topaz Labs to give his landscape images a decidedly water colour painting impression.
Hi Ernie. Glad you enjoyed the images. Thanks. Yes, I do use Topaz as one option for post processing. The two images mentioned, the blue shutters and the couple at the cafe, both used Topaz Impression to create the effect. I use it sparingly but sometimes it just seems to be the only way to create the effect I want. There is a HUGE number of options with that software.
You made a lot of those photos look as if Van Gough had a hand in it! Love the way you created that very distinctive look.
I spent a few weeks in the south of France way back before marriage and kids and stayed in Arles and Avignon amongst other venues. I still have one of my very best shots ever – the inside corridor of the coliseum- from that trip. No wonder it attracts so many free spirits who end up staying there.
Nice stuff Dennis!
Gary McLaughlin
Thanks so much, Gary. Really appreciate your comments. Yes, the colosseum there is really quite something. Glad you enjoyed the area.
Yes, Dennis-I think you are not only good but VERYgood!!!
I love your creative approach-it seems endlessly versatile and surprising!
Love the Cat is in the house!!!!Sometimes “as we see it” seems easiest on the eyes.
But I do love the surprises of colour and form created by your manipulations-so clever!!!
No need to ask if you have any FUN on these expeditions!!!!
Thank you for sharing so much beauty!!!
Tini
And thank you, Tini, for looking and commenting. You’re quite right, we had a great trip, filled with fun and memories.
What a wonderful journey!!! Potrayed in a very impressive and creative style that only a combination of Van Gogh, Harris, and Ducklow could produce.
Hats of to a great Artist, and a wonderful man!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Joe, you are too kind. Thanks for the encouragement!
Hi Dennis. So nice to see your awesome perspective on some of the same scenes we also visited this fall. So serene and colorful. The memories came flooding back. Thank you.
How crazy that our journey’s overlapped so closely. I think we missed each other by just a few hours. Would love to see some of your images. Thanks.
Wonderful images, Dennis! What a great way to remember the many remarkable sights and scenes that you and Joanie experienced on your trip. I think Van Gogh’s art resonates with so many of us because he captured so much feeling and emotion in his painting – something I feel when looking at your images. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, my friend! It’s so fun to share the images and even more when others enjoy them. Thanks for taking the tine to comment.
As always, Dennis, I was transfixed and transported by your artistry. The cafe, the cat, the starry night, the reflections on the Rhone, all of them spoke of a most memorable journey. I am sure that Vincent would have approved of this homage and the many ways of seeing you impart to your audience.
Thanks, Matt! So glad to have you transfixed! And so appreciative of your interest and support of my photography journey.