Windy Waves

Here we are sitting in the living room, nice and warm, but constantly aware of the wind buffeting the house. While the windows aren't rattling or such, it is quite a view out to the south to see the waves, glistening in the late afternoon sun, moving quickly across the bay.

I took a shot or two out the window, but quickly discovered I was too far away, so I fastened a 200mm lens to my camera and went down to the shore to get better shots. I set the f-stop as open as I could and found when I got back to the studio to look at the shots that the narrow depth of field was pretty interesting. Here are a few of the shots I got. I'm not sure they show the wildness of the wind (too close to the action I think), but they were made with "flow"!

Spring Snow Day

Working with the idea and value of HDR, I thought I would try to make an image today that most closely represented the reality of the day and also make an image that was manipulated to create a mood or feeling for the day. Two very different concepts that do not neccessarily have to be at odds with one another.

I will briefly describe processes as I post the images here:

The image of the snow covered tree is the subject for all of the photos I am using here. The one to the right was made as a single shot, high (1600) ISO , 1/125 second, and f-8. I then went into adjustments, tweaked the color in the darks and mid-range to a bit of blue, and "bumped" the contrast about 10 points. A "cooler" image because of the blue, and I kept the slight glare from the window I was shooting through as I think it adds interest and effect.


The series of shots below were made with the same camera, the same framing (tripod lock-down), and no adjustments at all, only using two images (aperture priority, one f-8 and one f-11) with the resulting shutter speeds. I then blended the two into a single (below images, with the two foundation shots smaller size) "HDR" image. I know this is a technique that is sort of ubiquitous at this point, but I find the concept as well as the possibilities for exploration fascinating.

HDR Blend

Robins of Spring

This morning was amazing as we had more than a dozen robins scattered around the lawn and the field pecking away at the grass and whatever else they might find to "nibble" on. It was just as spring arrived, a sunny day, and beautiful. The unfortunate aspect of this shot, as well as the group of others that I took, was that I had a setting based on aperture priority and the exposure in the sunlight was all out of whack. I was pressed for time with other responsibilities, so I just doctored these in PS rather than going out to retake them. Above is a passable photo with the robin tilting his head and looking up toward me as I take the shot.

New Profile Picture for UM Farmington Class

I just did this tonight to get my UMF profile set up for the Master's class later this month. Imagine working ahead of schedule, relatively unheard of for me!

The white drawing is an inverted ink drawing that I blended onto a PhotoBooth image in my studio. Hmmm, art "ghosts" maybe?

Youngest Grandson

He likes to pose in my hat, and I even occasionally catch him smiling! I love that smile Emerson.

Christmas Moon

Trial and error, persistence, and a little bit of "tweaking" to get this shot of the last "Christmas Moon" until 2034. I might be around for the next one, but the one that is here is the one that counts I guess!

I shot this with a 400 mm telephoto and was surprised that there was enough light in the shot to get the shutter over 1/200 of a second at an ISO of 800. Some real edges formed with sharpening the image, but the obscuring clouds worked pretty well to soften the overall effect.

I was also surprised that there was very little color, although it was dark, and I thought I might add a little blue. I still might, but not here.

I Got Stung

Not in the sense that Elvis meant with his song by the same name, but as David and I were cleaning the furnace yesterday this little monster "swooped down" and stung me on the ear, whereupon I brushed him off my face and directly down into my shirt, so he had the chance to sting twice more on the chest and one on the arm for good measure before I could get my shirt off. I crushed him just a little and have watched him slowly die over the past 24 hours. I feel no sorrow for him (maybe just a little as he was trapped inside my shirt, but the ear? Not called for.

Digital Damage

So here are a couple of digital pieces I have been working on tonight.

Just trying to do things a bit different, you know, spruce things up a bit.  

I can't believe I haven't posted to this since August.

    And here it is whenever I need to say it is.

Back to work.

Lawn Mowing

Torrey was out to cut the grass this morning and I got a few pictures of Jackson helping him. I have been shooting with my iPhone using the"noir" setting, and I really like the result. I need to try to emulate the effect in PhotoShop or LightRoom.

Here are a couple of the ones I like best!

Play Area

So here's the playground to date. My grandsons will have to grow into it, and I hope it will grow for them.