Etchings again

Another image of sword seen in Toledo. The etched image wants to be square. I can fix this in Photoshop. I do like the lithograph look to these.

Toledo and the Etchings app

View the original photo and the rendering done in the Etchings app. There are only three setting: an etch choice, the strength of the line and the value or exposure level.

For this image I chose spectrum, light and one to the right of center for the exposure. What do you think?

For some reason, the etchings app wants to make everything square. I've probably just missed something. I will check it out and let you know.

Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum - Seattle

This glassworks is in Seattle at the Seattle Center, also home to the Space needle.It's been open for about a year. The exhibits are well done. How can you go wrong when Chihuly's work is what this is about. Color abounds. The interior exhibits are equally as stunning as those in the garden. I love the juxtaposition of glass and organic. Chihuly's glass is organic and perhaps that is why it feels so right together. If you get the chance, go. It's simply stunning!

Apps: Auto Painter and Image Blender

I'm playing with apps this week.

They are too much fun.

Check this one out.

The original photo: Arch Rock on Mackinac Island

Processed in Auto Painter using the Aquarelle mode

Both were then brought into Image Blender.

I have the ability to select the percentage of each that I want in the final combination.

Here it is at 70% of the painted photo to 30% of the original

And, here it is at 40/60.

Which do you like best?

Spectacular video

of the Niagara Falls, taken with a hover video camera. The view is worth the view:).

One Photo, So Many Looks

Don't get me wrong. I love my DSLR. But how can you beat the serendipity, spontaneity and simplicity of an I-Phone and it's apps. After at least 10 years of Photoshop adventures, which I still love cuz I know it, I am totally pissed at Adobe for changing the pricing structure. They will struggle to compete for new $$$ with the younger set who tweet and text and rarely e-mail. It takes too much time. So 10 years vs 10 minutes... whose really looking for perfection. Adobe, you showed us the way but YOU lose. So sorry...

These took about 10 minutes. Which is your favorite?

 

 

Photo Essay: Sago Palms

Sago Palms grow in the desert. There are two in our yard. They have grown quite large and need to be moved as they are beginning to obstruct a doorway. Imagine my surprise when I returned in May to find this glorious flower. It actually looks like an enormous pine cone. Her BFF, close by, does not have this finery. Maybe it's her boyfriend. Just saying...

I like to take images and gradually pull in closer to get more and more detail. That is what I captured here.

Photo Essay: Wine Country

This sequence continues to capture my imagination. When looking at a subject, it is interesting to think of four ways to tell the story. Grape vines are really beautiful. Their warm green color and twisty tentacles and tiny grape buds which become the fruit of the vine are oh so cool. But then look at their setting. Always gorgeous, a room with a view. No one wonder so many are flocking to this adventure.

What stories are you telling with your images. Try thinking in terms of four. Let me know if you have any that you would like posted here.

As always, thanks for looking. Comments are free. Followers are welcome!

Photo Essay: Seeing Red

Looking for and finding red. Not too hard this time of year.  Isn't nature still the best! Such optimism! We should all take note. Life IS good!

Exploring with a Camera: Photo Essays

I am a fan of KatEyeStudio.

Kat has, in the past, done a series called Exploring with a Camera . I found these late in the game and participated in several. Now she has moved forward from them. I decided, however, to go back in time and capture the essence of what she was doing and work some of these topics.

One of my all time favorites is Exploring with a Camera: Photo Essays. I will stick with this topic for awhile sharing some of my essays with you.

What I like about photo essays is that it forces one to consider the story. What are you trying to say and then select the images that tell that story. The story might be simply portraiture or the street were I live or street people. Many topics. The issue is capturing through photo and word the essence of the topic selected.

I built a template. In the quilt world it would be called a four patch. It forces me to select the four images that best tell the story. This is my beginning. I will be working here for awhile. I encourage you to give it a go as well.

My first try is Little Miss Kitty: a portraiture.

I was the kitty sitter. She was the ultimate poser. I wanted the light source on her face. I looked toward the light and so did she. She preened; she posed; she was the ultimate subject. Without words, I was able to get LMK to do what I needed. In the end, we needed each other.

 Lovely!

JR_French Street Photographer

I was attracted by this image which I thought absolutely cool. I wanted to know more about the artist. He's French and is name is JR. He is a story teller in most unusual ways.

 For example, in a project called Face to Face, he took photographs of people in Palestine and Israel who had the same occupations--taxi drivers, hair stylists, teachers. Then posted these images on the wall that separates the city ,trying to show that people really are very much alike.

In another case he posted large photographs of older people in Berlin who had born witness to the transformation of the city over time.

In yet other cases, he has done work called Women are Heroes to share the plight of women in some parts of the world.

Three things that appeal to me:
1. He is an artist who is making a statement with his art.
2. His art is large and in your face.
3. His art is black and white which makes the subject the study at hand.

Read more about him here:
 http://www.jr-art.net/

and here:
http://www.ioneardaiz.com/index.php/news/2-news/38-jr.html

You will be glad you did.

Context Lost

Taking close up photos of images is fun to do. You capture detail that might otherwise go unnoticed. Sometimes, though, you lose the context. That was the case with this photo.

These rams were grazing next to the ladies tee box on the 16th hole of the Palmer course. They didn't budge when we approached. My error was going for the close up, the ram detail without regard to where they were grazing. I was very focused on framing the shot. Nothing in the image allows the viewer to see the whole story. My error. My bad! I am reminded that it is important to consider context when snapping the image. Details of all type abound.