Journalism and mass communication professor Joel Geske considers himself to be both a photographer and an artist — yet his primary tool is neither a camera nor a paintbrush.

“I use the computer as my palette instead of paper,” Geske said.

What started as a hobby and a Christmas gift has stemmed into a unique art for Geske. His creations have also brought him closer to one of his favorite things — nature.

“I call these PhotoColors because it’s not really photography anymore and they’re not really watercolors,” Geske said. “They’re something in between.”

Geske’s photos are unique in the way he manipulates them using his computer. With the computer program, Adobe PhotoShop, he is able to take the nature pictures with harsh defined lines and give them a soft, watercolor look.

“People take a look at [a piece] and say ‘What a neat photo,'” Geske explained. “Then they’ll get a little closer and say ‘That’s not a photo, that’s a watercolor.’ Then they’ll backup and say ‘That’s not a watercolor, it’s too detailed to be a watercolor.’ They can’t decide what it is.”

Geske compromises by thinking of his work as neither and both at the same time. “It is something that is totally unique,” he said.

Geske said that his love for nature is what sparked his interest in this type of artwork.

“That’s what really got me into it,” he said. “I really love nature and just being out in nature. That’s my relaxation. I’m not saying that this is how I found things in nature, but it’s my impression of nature.”

Although Geske teaches mostly advertising courses, it is sharing images with people that he particularly enjoys.

“People can look at my stuff and they can relate to it a lot,” he said. “I do a picture of a cardinal or a chickadee and people will say, ‘Oh yeah, that’s just like the chickadee I see outside my window every morning.’ They can really relate to that and I like that.”

The colors that Geske uses in his manipulation are also what makes the PhotoColors so intriguing.

“My colors aren’t all necessarily true to nature. I pump up some colors and subdue other colors; then I go in and look at the shadows,” Geske said.

“Everything tends to come out darker on the printer than what I see on the screen, so I have to lighten the shadows.”

Geske started taking pictures when he was working on his bachelor’s degree at Iowa State. He first began his manipulation technique when the software became available a couple of years ago.

Geske’s PhotoColors are currently on exhibit at the Story County Conservation Center at McFarland Park, north of Ames.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Geske’s exhibit will be there until May 30.