Friday, January 10, 2014
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
Today's Photography Is it Real or Art?
I was going to post about the Polar Vortex. But after 3 days of 'it' with incredibly cold temps and wind chills that were nasty, I'm really not too interested in saying any more than.
We survived. Cars started, animals were kept reasonably comfortable, and I hated it because I couldn't go for hikes.
Recently I joined a group of people on Google+ that are B&W photographers. I thought, cool, I'll learn things!
And I am learning a lot of things.
One of our requirements is to tell the steps of how we 'process' a photo and why we did it that way.
I've heard terms tossed around like ... Photoshop CC [on line Adobe Creative Cloud], SEP2, which I learned is Silver Efex Pro 2. This is part of the Nik Collection of plugins for Photoshop. This is not a Nikon product!
There are others like I use by Topaz.
But I am a basic kind of photographer. Black and white is my choice in the winter more often than not. The landscape just sort of asks for it.
These are pretty basic winter shots that I've done mainly because the color of winter asks for it in my own opinion.
Conversion was pretty simple. I used Topaz BW Effects ... Quick and easy.
For this group I did some more experimenting.
I took a sunrise photo that was so-so and converted to Black and White.
Foggy morning September sunrise. Simple edit. I even used an ancient Adobe Elements 5 for this. I ran it through the BW Effects from Topaz and viola. I was done in about 30 seconds.
Okay enough bout that.
Here is some of what I am seeing in some other photographer's shots....
First off. These shots are incredible. Excellent.
Maybe far superior than anything I can hope to do.
But when the workflow is listed for some it sounds like a 9 hr job.
Luminance masks.
SEP2
Light room -- whichever current version there is.
Photoshop CC
Photoshop Creative Suite
Photomatix Pro
and other programs I've not heard of.
One person discussed his work flow. The photo was incredible. He used 9 layers of edits in Photoshop CC to the original photo including SEP2 and Light Room.
Yes the shot was fantastic. Yes, it was artistic.
But at what point do we lose the photo and does it become a 'vision'.
One could argue and I would agree, that a photographer's photo is an expression of art of sorts.
Even I do that. I can't help it.
This is an age old argument and one that will probably never ever be solved.
Myself, I am learning.
Maybe I will like what I learn about these super processed photos and then again, I may just stay and do what I like best.
Do it my way.
We survived. Cars started, animals were kept reasonably comfortable, and I hated it because I couldn't go for hikes.
Recently I joined a group of people on Google+ that are B&W photographers. I thought, cool, I'll learn things!
And I am learning a lot of things.
One of our requirements is to tell the steps of how we 'process' a photo and why we did it that way.
I've heard terms tossed around like ... Photoshop CC [on line Adobe Creative Cloud], SEP2, which I learned is Silver Efex Pro 2. This is part of the Nik Collection of plugins for Photoshop. This is not a Nikon product!
There are others like I use by Topaz.
But I am a basic kind of photographer. Black and white is my choice in the winter more often than not. The landscape just sort of asks for it.
These are pretty basic winter shots that I've done mainly because the color of winter asks for it in my own opinion.
Conversion was pretty simple. I used Topaz BW Effects ... Quick and easy.
For this group I did some more experimenting.
I took a sunrise photo that was so-so and converted to Black and White.
Foggy morning September sunrise. Simple edit. I even used an ancient Adobe Elements 5 for this. I ran it through the BW Effects from Topaz and viola. I was done in about 30 seconds.
Okay enough bout that.
Here is some of what I am seeing in some other photographer's shots....
First off. These shots are incredible. Excellent.
Maybe far superior than anything I can hope to do.
But when the workflow is listed for some it sounds like a 9 hr job.
Luminance masks.
SEP2
Light room -- whichever current version there is.
Photoshop CC
Photoshop Creative Suite
Photomatix Pro
and other programs I've not heard of.
One person discussed his work flow. The photo was incredible. He used 9 layers of edits in Photoshop CC to the original photo including SEP2 and Light Room.
Yes the shot was fantastic. Yes, it was artistic.
But at what point do we lose the photo and does it become a 'vision'.
One could argue and I would agree, that a photographer's photo is an expression of art of sorts.
Even I do that. I can't help it.
This is an age old argument and one that will probably never ever be solved.
Myself, I am learning.
Maybe I will like what I learn about these super processed photos and then again, I may just stay and do what I like best.
Do it my way.
Saturday, January 04, 2014
Mices and Rabbit Pellets Are Good! By Morris
SHE sometimes gets her long johns in a bundle when I dig and look for mices to chew up or rabbit pellets to eat.
We went out on Thursday...um, that is what SHE calls it.
I call it 'day'.
In a dog's life there is day and night. There is sleep and play.
There is eat and potty.
But when there is hike you can eat, play, and potty all at the same time.
So people owners listen up.
Take your owners hiking.
Especially if you like to hear your owner screech 'Icky Icky!'
'No NO, don't eat deer/rabbit poop!'
Owners have no sense of delicious taste. Pretty obvious by the fact that they never stick their faces in the snow and grab a mouse nest and chew on them.
SHE says NO NO Morris, don't eat that.
SHE has been saying this for all my doggy life.
And I have been ignoring her for all of that time. I actually delight in horrifying her.
But...
I don't think I horrify her anymore. I mean I doubt I even shock her anymore.
Some days it is very hard to get HER really grossed out.
SHE is a pretty faithful person. SHE will follow me when I find a good deer trail. And I am a good dog too, because I will come right to her when she calls my name.
And then when my feet get cold and I start shivering, SHE is kind enough to sit in the snow and let me climb up on her legs.
Sometimes SHE half stuffs me in her coveralls to warm me up.
And SHE is always pointing that camera at me. I know.
I am handsome as a model.
I can strike the best poses.
But when all is said and done.
Mices are fun to chew on, rabbit pellets are tasty, but there is NO place like a nice couch and a comfy place to rest.
We went out on Thursday...um, that is what SHE calls it.
I call it 'day'.
In a dog's life there is day and night. There is sleep and play.
There is eat and potty.
But when there is hike you can eat, play, and potty all at the same time.
So people owners listen up.
Take your owners hiking.
Especially if you like to hear your owner screech 'Icky Icky!'
'No NO, don't eat deer/rabbit poop!'
Owners have no sense of delicious taste. Pretty obvious by the fact that they never stick their faces in the snow and grab a mouse nest and chew on them.
SHE says NO NO Morris, don't eat that.
SHE has been saying this for all my doggy life.
And I have been ignoring her for all of that time. I actually delight in horrifying her.
But...
I don't think I horrify her anymore. I mean I doubt I even shock her anymore.
Some days it is very hard to get HER really grossed out.
SHE is a pretty faithful person. SHE will follow me when I find a good deer trail. And I am a good dog too, because I will come right to her when she calls my name.
And then when my feet get cold and I start shivering, SHE is kind enough to sit in the snow and let me climb up on her legs.
Sometimes SHE half stuffs me in her coveralls to warm me up.
And SHE is always pointing that camera at me. I know.
I am handsome as a model.
I can strike the best poses.
But when all is said and done.
Mices are fun to chew on, rabbit pellets are tasty, but there is NO place like a nice couch and a comfy place to rest.
Friday, January 03, 2014
2013 in Review...a good year
Near the end of Novemeber 2013, Dixie the pup came into our lives which led to many Dixie-Morris adventures.
She began as a wee pup who was smaller than Morris and in two months was...well, you see. A pretty big dog!
I spent a lot of time with Opal and neglected Siera who had been put aside for a while ...as I was too 'busy' doing other things [including work].
My attention was quickly drawn to Siera on the day I separated her from her mare buddies.
She threw a temper tantrum and ended up being sick enough to call the vet.
I had let Siera out on pasture all summer and hadn't paid much attention...her biggest issue?
She got very fat.
Naughty me. Even Naughtier me for not working working with her all summer.
I started her on a hand walking regime daily.
She started her own 'exercise' program of pacing the fence. However, being smart from the first instance, she did not have a occurrence of the first problem and lost weight quite nicely.
5 yrs of on and off again training finally paid off. Siera is now a steady solo mount for anywhere. A huge plus is that she will take Morris along in the saddle when he tires. [Morris will be 10 in 2014].
In 2013 I took some trips.
There was my son's wedding. Where I discovered that I really did enjoy photographing the wedding ...not dread like I thought I would.
A trip to Virginia to see my brother with my mom.
There I found and became fascinated with the Hobbit Tree...also know as the Metasequoia glyptostroboides - dawn redwood.
And let's not forget the many adventures with my grandchildren and the birth of Elena Ruby.
In 2014 I thought I'd have something else to look forward to.
I had thought about a trip to Hawaii. Perhaps even a solo one.
But then I came up with a more interesting idea.
After all, grand children are so much fun. Kids are soooo much fun.
Why not take a week from work and be a Grandma with Grandpa?
Have all the Grand children at once?
Perfect.
We are going to call it.
Grandma & Grandpa Camp 2014.
We'll see how it works out this year.
But I think it could be a fun tradition.
~~~~~
Let me mention here some of my favorite Blogs of 2013.
The Three Muleteers from across the big water.
The Dancing Donkey from the upper NW of the US. I hope she can correct me if she'd like.
These are fun entertaining and....and! And! Very worthwhile reads. I've learned quite a bit from both blogs.
I also enjoy browsing some other favorites:
The Skoog Farm Journal there is always something going on at her place!
And for art? My favorite?
fraktalblog by Jorge Ab
Jorge has encourage me to join a group of crazy wonderful fractal artists and improve and challenge my creative abilities in this field.
So you see.
Not counting the critters I have.
2013 has been busy and fulfilling.
Now on towards 2014!!!
Wednesday, January 01, 2014
Taking a Walk
...I
like to try and make each day count. Besides there were some fantastic
frost formations in the creek bottom this afternoon. I was out for
just over 2 hours.
Yeah it was cold. But it was warmer than the day before and when I got into the valley it may have been cooler yet, but there was no wind.
Taking a 'self' shot like this is really not easy. This camera is my knock about camera. Good thing I took it, I dropped it in 8" of snow, banged it against a tree, and nearly dropped it in the water when changing the little thingy to put it on a tripod.
It has a 10 second delay on it. Push the button and run like hell and see if you can get in the shot.
I got it on the second try. But let me tell you, I got my sprinting and creek jumping in for the day!
Morris did not come along. He walks in the creek and runs in the snow. At 3 degrees F, his poor feet get very cold and I end up carrying him.
Last time he got to shivering a lot. If we are hiking and I am not messing with tripods and such, he will stay pretty warm as he is always running.
Had a great first day of 2014. Looking for many more.
Yeah it was cold. But it was warmer than the day before and when I got into the valley it may have been cooler yet, but there was no wind.
Taking a 'self' shot like this is really not easy. This camera is my knock about camera. Good thing I took it, I dropped it in 8" of snow, banged it against a tree, and nearly dropped it in the water when changing the little thingy to put it on a tripod.
It has a 10 second delay on it. Push the button and run like hell and see if you can get in the shot.
I got it on the second try. But let me tell you, I got my sprinting and creek jumping in for the day!
Morris did not come along. He walks in the creek and runs in the snow. At 3 degrees F, his poor feet get very cold and I end up carrying him.
Last time he got to shivering a lot. If we are hiking and I am not messing with tripods and such, he will stay pretty warm as he is always running.
Had a great first day of 2014. Looking for many more.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Goodbye 2013
In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it
goes on.
~~Robert Frost
I know so many people that make New Year's Resolutions.
I don't anymore because to me New Year's Eve is a day merely to remind you that like your birthday, time marches on.
Tomorrow will be no different.
Except that you will have to change the 3 to a 4.
2014.
So I say goodbye to 2013 and hello tomorrow with a new month and a new number 4.
Tonight we'll watch the snow fall, watch a Western, and eat popcorn.
No whistles, no promises we can't keep.
Do I sound like a grump?
Sorry don't mean to.
I do have goals, they just don't start on one night. I have goals each day I awaken.
I hope for good health for family and friends.
I look forward to each new day.
So tonight is no different.
Tomorrow will be lovely and cold.
Goodbye 2013 and hello number 4.
~~Robert Frost
I know so many people that make New Year's Resolutions.
I don't anymore because to me New Year's Eve is a day merely to remind you that like your birthday, time marches on.
Tomorrow will be no different.
Except that you will have to change the 3 to a 4.
2014.
So I say goodbye to 2013 and hello tomorrow with a new month and a new number 4.
Tonight we'll watch the snow fall, watch a Western, and eat popcorn.
No whistles, no promises we can't keep.
Do I sound like a grump?
Sorry don't mean to.
I do have goals, they just don't start on one night. I have goals each day I awaken.
I hope for good health for family and friends.
I look forward to each new day.
So tonight is no different.
Tomorrow will be lovely and cold.
Goodbye 2013 and hello number 4.
I'm am attempting to learn the fine art of...
Black and White Digital Photography.
Some black and white samples
[Whoops, I see one is color... embarrassed!]
I hope to really excel especially this winter as the winter landscape begs to be shot in stark black and white.
Of course I will be continuing with all of my regular fun shooting and hiking with Morris.
Hopefully we will get a break in the weather and I can get out on another much needed mule ride with Siera.
This below zero weather is hard on everything.
Stay safe and warm this New Year's Eve.
Don't drink and don't drive PLEASE!!!
Some black and white samples
[Whoops, I see one is color... embarrassed!]
I hope to really excel especially this winter as the winter landscape begs to be shot in stark black and white.
Of course I will be continuing with all of my regular fun shooting and hiking with Morris.
Hopefully we will get a break in the weather and I can get out on another much needed mule ride with Siera.
This below zero weather is hard on everything.
Stay safe and warm this New Year's Eve.
Don't drink and don't drive PLEASE!!!
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