August 29, 2015

I do not know where the line is draw between wildflowers and weeds.  Maybe it is in the size of the plants or is it how ugly it is. 

The two pictures below are from what I would call weeds.  The are on the Big Creek Walkway and are from plants that are the only ones around.  Taken on two different days, they were about two miles apart.

If I had captured the surrounding area, it would look like a jungle, snarly and unkempt.  That is why the flowers caught my eye.  It was a 'Beauty and the Beast' moment.

August 25, 2015

This picture was taken on Linda's I-Phone last Summer on the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine.  If you ever go to Maine, walk the Marginal Way, which starts in Perkins Cove and goes back to Ogunquit.  It is a paved walkway along the rocky coast and there are many benches on which to sit, rest, or better yet, enjoy it all.

This is a first for me to E-mail the picture from her phone to my Email.  I then saved the picture to my desktop and then imported it into Lightroom for processing.  As you can see from the shadow on the ground, the sun was to my back.  This cause a heavy shadow on my face and I can here a few saying, "That is a good thing!"

I tweaked the picture to lessen the shadow on the face, cropped the photo, and now it could easily be printed or saved as a desktop background.  There they are again... "Why?"

As an afterthought, I have included the original photo from the I-Phone below for comparison.

August 22, 2015

I have a long road ahead of me in learning my new software, Lightroom 5, but it is good for the grey cells...

There are those that say that post-processing is cheating, but it is amazing what film photographer could in developing.  I actuality, they were far more skillful, working with far less.

The first picture, straight from the camera, is a scene from the past and it is Sixer's Mill, which was taken recently and used for comprison.  The following pictures were taken in 2010.  You can see that the area has been cleaned up.  I think that having the truck and other items added to the scene greatly.

The next picture, from 2010, is a Sepia version.  I had made it a Black and White but it did not make the cut.  I liked what the Sepia adds.  Of course, I am prejudiced because of the truck and etc.

The last picture has been processed to give it a "Notebook" effect.  I know that it is Black and White, but it would look as the previous picture, if it were.  There are different effects in the Filter menu and there a a number of adjustments that can be made, such bolder lines, lighter, or darker.  I noticed that if I made it lighter, it could be used a notepaper and the scene would on what one could write.

I think the I will show what I mean in the next photo, but first I have to process it.  "I'll be back..."

I think more work is needed, but the text speaks for itself.

August 17, 2015

I purchase a new photo processing software (Lightroom 5) on Craigslist this weekend and I have been practicing with it.  Today, there are two 'before and after' pictures.  The first is from my adventure to the library and this picture did not make the cut for the photo group.  Did I tell you that Linda was the judge.

The first picture is out of the camera; untouched.  The second has obviously been processed.  I always assume that all photos have some post-processing.  Click on the photos to enlarge them, which will show the differences.

The next two photos were taken today as I walked at lunchtime.  The first one, again, is out of the camera and the second was processed.  I did crop the photo for an up-close view of the butterfly.

In case you are wondering... this butterfly is a  Limenitis arthemis, Red-spotted Purple.  Thank you Internet!

August 16, 2015

This month's project for our photography group is libraries.  I choose to go to the main library in Cumming, GA.  There are four Forsyth County and they are great.  As an aside, Counties in Georgia are the real 'seat of government,' whereas in New Hampshire, they do not appear to have much value.  I am impressed with Forsyth County.

Back to the pictures.  These are a the ones that I will submit as of now.  The first picture is of the Children's room.  The second one is, as you may guess, of one of the stacks of books, and the third was taken out of doors of "The Secret Garden." 

              

 

August 13

Our grandson, Jack, had his first football game on Tuesday evening.  This is the only picture that I have processed so far. 

August 4, 2015

Railroad tracks cross the main road in 'down-town' Ballground, GA and as we crossed them Linda said "that would be a nice pictures."  I pull over in front of a gift/antique shop to park.  Linda went into the shop and I went back to take a picture.  She was correct.

I like the photo because it opens up my mind to imagine a story.  If I were an English teacher, I would show the students the picture and give them an assignment to write a story about the scene before them.

I have already made up a few stories in my mind and I asked Linda to tell me a story about it.  Not surprisingly, hers was different than mine.

If you have a story, please send it to me at raycarrollpix@yahoo.com.  Try to keep it under 250 words.

After thought... Which perspective do you prefer?  (first or second)