Galveston Shrimp Boat

This shrimp boat seemed very close to shore when Emma and I were down on the Galveston seawall yesterday morning. Usually these really large shrimp boats stay way offshore but this one only needed 300mm of my Canon 100-400mm zoom!



Click the photo for a larger version and be glad that you did!

Taken with my Canon 40D. Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Virtual Photographer Still Life 2 Filter.

Galveston Beach Umbrellas

A shot from Galveston beach this morning!

Click for a larger view.

Holy Smoke People!

Click the image for a larger version!


I went down to Bay Area Park yesterday evening to see if I could find anything to photograph. The light was great and I felt compelled to take advantage of it. There were a couple of young boys’ teams there playing football (are they called pee wee league?) and I immediately knew that I had found my subject. I parked my car, found a great vantage point and took two photos before a lady walked up to me and said “Why are you taking photos? Who are you with? Who arranged for you to be here?” Her attitude was very confrontational and accusatory and well…I was very taken aback. I think my answer was something incoherent like “I’m nobody. Well…I’m with Bay Area Photo Club. I’m just here taking photos.” To which she replied “Well we don’t want you taking pictures of our children!”

I understand where she was coming from, I do! I have kids of my own! But to be there in that situation and to be unjustly and unfairly accused was a demoralizing experience. My accuser turned and walked away. I pretty much just stood there with a thousand thoughts running though my head. Thoughts about things I might have said, things I should have said. I contemplated my rights. This is a free country and I can take all the photographs I want in a public place can’t I. Meanwhile my accuser wasn’t through with me. She had apparently told her husband to go get the police officer that patrols the park and tell him what I was “up to”. Holy Smoke people! I’m just taking photographs here!

The police officer came over to me and said he had told the husband that a park was a public place and I could take all the pictures I wanted to. Then he told me to stand there and take all the photos I wanted. Problem is, by then it wouldn’t have been the same would it? I just stood there until the game was over and the field was empty and didn’t take any more photos.

Today’s photo is a crop from one of the two photos I took.

Triathletes

Triathletes from this past weekends' Clear Lake City International Triathlon run from the water to the transition area where their bikes eagerly await them! This Triathlon included a 1K swim, 30K bike ride, and a 10K run, in that order! Absolutely amazing!



Click the above image for larger version! Do it!

The Tattoo Guy

This is probably my favorite photo from this past weekend's Clear Lake City International Triathlon!



Click the image above for a larger view or you'll be sorry! There are three other swimmers in the area of the photo under Tattoo Guy's elbows. Did you see them all?

Taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom.

Leaving the Water

Following are a couple of shots of triathletes leaving the water at the end of the swim portion of this past weekend's Clear Lake International Triathlon! Both shots were taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom.



Click the pic for a bigger version!



Click the pic for a bigger version!

Post-processing: I don't have the exact "recipe" with me but I'm pretty much using the same spices on all the trithlon shots I'm posting this week (High Pass Sharpening > Composite Layer with one of the non-normal blending modes (vivid light, overlay, etc. > Virtual Photographer Sulphur and Glamour Filters, seasoned to taste :-)

Strategy Session

Today's photo is from Saturday's Clear Lake International Triathlon. This group was discussing last minute race strategy.



Click the image for a larger version (Do it!).

Taken with my Canon 40D, Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom, Stroboframe flash bracket, Canon Speedlite 430EX.

Post-processing Recipe: Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > Merge Visible to Composite Layer and blend in Vivid Light Mode > Merge Visible to new Composite Layer > Smart Blur Layer @ 65% > Merge Visible to new Composite Layer > Duplicate Layer > Virtual Photographer Sulphur Filter @ 100% on first composite layer > Virtual Photographer Glamour (Color) Filter @ 21% on second composite layer > Curves Adjustment layer for increased contrast [I masked off the sky in all four composite layers in order to preserve the original sky]

Race Prep

Early morning race preparation for yesterday's Clear Lake International Triathlon!



Click image for a larger view!!

It was still mostly dark when I took this shot so my usual equipment (Canon 40D w/ 17-55mm f/2.8 Canon zoom) was supplemented with a Stroboframe flash bracket and my Canon Speedlite 420EX).

Post-Processing: Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > Merge Visable to new Composite Layer blended in Overlay mode > Merge Visable to new Composite Layer > Duplicate the Composit Layer > Composite layer 1: Virtual Photographer Sulphur Filter @ 32% > Composite layer 2: Virtual Photographer Glamour (Color) Filter @ 21%

A note about post-processing: I am enjoying the creative process of post-processing a lot more these days than I used to. I look at post-processing now like cooking a favorite dish from a recipe. In either process the most important instruction on the recipe is "Season to taste."

Bikes Ready

I'm just back from this morning's Clear Lake International Triathlon. This photo is of the bikes standing ready in the transition area.



Click the image for a larger view!

Taken with my Canon 40D and 17-55mm f/2.8 lens.
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > Merge Visible to New Layer > Virtual Photographer Sulfur Filter @ 37% > Virtual Photographer Glamour (Color) Filter @ 60%

TAACCL Opening

Click on the image above for a larger version!

This shot is from last night's The Arts Alliance Center of Clear Lake (TAACCL) opening of the exhibition themed and titled "Water." Everyone seem to be pleased with the very large turnout! See my posting on August 11, 2008 for the photos of mine that were accepted for this show!

Following is a re-do of the Pavilion image I posted yesterday. I was encouraged by my friend and fellow Bay Area Photo Club member Larry Patrick to do a little more work on it! The image on the left is the re-do and the one on the right is the original from yesterday.


Click on the images to see larger versions!

On the re-do I added a heavy vignette to help "contain" the image and an underlying infrared B&W layer with mask so I could control the color accents more. I also used NIK Viveza to brighten up the stairs a bit to draw the eye more toward them. I like this version much better than the original version from yesterday! Thanks for the tips Larry!

The Pavilion Near Town Lake

This Pavilion is located on the hike and bike trail between Cesar Chavez Street and Town Lake near the pedestrian bridge in Austin, Texas. It is overgrown with vines and apparently not maintained any longer but to my eye it must have been spectacular once! The design is wonderful and many years ago, before the trees around Town Lake grew so tall, one would of had a beautiful view of the lake from here. I can only imagine how many weddings have taken place here.



Click the above image for a larger view (you won't be sorry that you did)!

Taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 lens.
Post-processing: Photomatix > HDR combination of three hand-held exposures (-2.0, 0, +2.0) > Photoshop > High Pass Sharpening > Merge Visible to new layer > Duplicate Layer and blend in Color Dodge mode at 100%

Hike and Bike

The following photo is from Sunday morning on the Hike and Bike trail between Cesar Chavez Street and Town Lake in Austin, Texas.


Click on the image for a larger view!

Taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 lens.
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > Filter Watercolor @ 25% > Curves adjustment for added contrast

The following shot of the railroad bridge over Town Lake was also taken from the Hike and Bike trail.


Click on the image for a larger view!

Lamar Street Pedestrian Bridge over Town Lake

Sunday morning in Austin I walked down the hike and bike trail between Town Lake and Cesar Chavez Street and came to the Lamar Street pedestrian bridge. This is a new bridge (completed in 2001) built for pedestrian / bicycle traffic over Town Lake and features a two story spiral ramp at each end.



Click the image for a larger view.
Photo taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 lens.

The bridge has areas that accommodate benches and planter boxes filled with flowers. At 8AM the area was already bustling with activity.



Click the image for a larger view.
Photo taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 lens.
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > Duplicate Layer and blend in Overlay Mode at 44% > Merge Visible > Virtual Photographer Glamour Filter at 38% > Filter Distort Lens Correction Vignette

Following is a view of Town Lake from under the pedestrian bridge on the downtown side.



Click the image for a larger view.
Photo taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 lens.
Post-processing: Photomatix > HDR combination of 3 handheld exposures (-2, 0, +2) > Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > Duplicate Layer and blend in Overlay mode

Texas Capital

Following is an HDR (High Dynamic Range) rendering of the Texas Capital Building that I took yesterday morning. I know the horizon is crooked but I kind of like it that way!



Click the photo to view a larger version.

Taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom lens.
Post-processing: Photomatix > HDR processing of three handheld exposures (-2,0,+2) > Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening

Barton Springs

We just returned home from visiting our son Justin in Austin, Texas. I had a chance to go out shooting this morning and was able to take photos at several different Austin landmarks. The photos for today were taken at Barton Springs Pool.

Both shots were taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom lens.



Click the photo for a larger view!
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > +0.55 Exposure Adjustment



Click the photo for a larger view!
Post-processing: Photomatix > HDR conversion from 3 exposure bracketed shots (-2.0, 0, +2.0) Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > Duplicate layer in Overlay blending mode at 71% > +1.86 Exposure Adjustment

USA! USA! USA!

"...it is a privilege to be there on the best day of another human being's life", Peggy Noonan, www.opinionjournal.com, August 2, 2002

I'm really into the Olympics taking place in Bejing this year. I have to admit I get caught up in good old-fashioned patriotism every time one of our young American athletes stand up on the podium and the American National Anthem is played. Peggy Noonan's quote above is from a story about meeting the Pope, not about the Olympics, but her statement perfectly describes how I feel watching the medal ceremonies.

Fire Hydrant

Why? Because it's there! :-)

Taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 lens.

Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > Filter Texturizer Canvas at 15% > Filter Distort Lens Correction Vignette

Flowers

It was still about 95 degrees outside after work today when I went outside to do some shooting. I thought these flowers looked pretty cool in spite of the heat :-)

Following is a slightly more bold interpretation of the same shot!



Both shots were taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 lens.

Perfect Pan?

I asked Emma to ride her bicycle back and forth in front of the house a couple of days ago so I could practice panning. I have done a limited amount of panning before and the results are usually pretty mixed. The idea of course is to use a somewhat slow shutter speed (1/25th, ISO 400 @ f/8 in this instance) and to be moving the camera in the same direction and at the same speed the subject is moving as the photo is taken. The results would ideally be a motion blurred background with an in-focus subject. In my limited experience getting the subject in focus is pretty tricky and I usually end up having to "settle" with a shot that is somewhat blurry. The results here I thought were excellent for a pan shot (at least compared to my previous attempts at panning).

Shot with my Canon 40D and 17-55mm f/2.8

Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Duplicate Layer and blend in overlay mode at 59% to improve contrast > Merge Visible layers > High Pass Sharpening

Here are a couple of differnt versions to consider:



Shot with my Canon 40D and 17-55mm f/2.8

Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Duplicate Layer and blend in overlay mode at 59% to improve contrast > Merge Visible layers > High Pass Sharpening > Resize Image for lower resolution > Charles Schwab effect (Stylize Diffuse Anisotropic > Smart Sharpen > Surface Blur) at 62% to smooth out textures




Shot with my Canon 40D and 17-55mm f/2.8

Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Duplicate Layer and blend in overlay mode at 59% to improve contrast > Merge Visible layers > High Pass Sharpening > Resize to web resolution (800 X 533) > Virtual Photographer Blue Tone Filter at 62% to add a little drama

Phoebe

I was a little bored last night so I decided to try some pet portraiture. I got a lot more cooperation from Phoebe than I expected so I can't blame any problem with this photo on her. :-)



The lighting was from a Wescott Spiderlite with florescent bulbs and a medium softbox on the upper left and my Canon 430 flash on camera and bounced from the right. Shot with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 lens. Post-processing: Photoshop CSC > High Pass Sharpening > Virtual Photographer Reminising Filter at 38% > Cloning to enlarge the eye catchlights > Duplicate Layer with soft light blending mode at 43%.

Everything I did to suit my eye and I like the image a lot but I have no idea if it is technically very good or not. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Acceptances

I found out yesterday that all three of the photos I submitted to The Arts Alliance Center of Clear Lake were accepted for their upcoming juried exhibition titled "WATER". Following are the three photos.



I love this photo because it reminds me of simpler times when kids played outside instead of on the computer. I think humanity will not be better off if a virtual tire swing game ever fully replaces the real thing!



I took this shot from an overpass while viewing a Dragon Boat race in downtown Houston. I love the contrast between the hard industrial setting of the metropolis and the lazy easygoing feeling associated with bass boats and fishing.



This is one of the three "Beat the Heat" photos I posted to the blog on July 22, 2008.

Amazing Clouds!

Another shot of the amazing clouds that rolled into Houston Friday night!

HCP Opening Night!

Last night was the opening for the Houston Center for Photography's 26th Annual Juried Membership Exhibition. I was fortunate enough to have had two photos chosen for exhibition. This was a big deal to me as only 30 photographers were chosen to exhibit out of 215 photographers who submitted from around the country!



The photo above shows me and the two of my photos chosen by the show's curator (photo by Larry Armer). Strangely, I didn't notice any of the other contributing artists wearing T-Shirts bearing one of their selected photos! :-)


Fans admire my work! :-)



This was my preferred drink of the night!



This was the weather outside shortly after the opening closed. Very surreal!

All photos taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens.

Player Piano Songs

I was surprised by how many of the old songs I remember from our "player piano days". Of course the memories are more vivid for some than for others. The song featured in today's pic is "This Old House" and I recall liking both the tune and the sentiment of the lyrics back in the day. Now, with my parents both gone, and with us in the process of cleaning out the house, the words have a more powerful impact on me than they ever did back then.

This Ole House (Chorus):

Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
Ain't a-gonna need this house no more
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend the windowpane
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
He's a-gettin' ready to meet the saints

The shot was taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 50 f/1.4 lens. Post-processing in Photoshop CS3 > Crop > High Pass Sharpening > Radial Motion Blur

Player Piano

My parents owned a player piano for many years. I remember my dad buying it and then working diligently to restore it to its proper working order. It is unbelievable how many moving parts make up one of these vintage player pianos. I don't have a photo of the actual piano. It was sold a while after my father passed away three years ago. My mother passed earlier this year and my siblings and I have been going through my parent's things to settle up the estate. This past weekend we were going through things from the attic and found several boxes full of the old piano rolls.



These piano rolls were in effect the "Cd's" for the player piano. Growing up we spent many hours sitting around the piano and singing these songs. The words to the songs are printed on the paper so as the music scrolls by (holes punched in the paper rolls) you could see the words go by as well (Karaoke ahead of its time!). These brought back great memories!

Hockey (Goalie)

Goalie ( \ˈgō-lē\ ), noun: The only player on a Hockey team that has every oppourunity to lose the game and none to win it.

Shot with my Canon XTi and Lensbaby 3G.

Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > two shot Lensbaby composite > Merge Visable > Curves adjustment for more contrast

Hockey (Zamboni)

One of the most fascinating sites at a hockey game is the Zamboni. This monster of a machine resurfaces the ice between periods. It seems entirely too big for an indoor venue and it doesn't seem to belong on the ice normally used by humans! :-)

Shot with my Canon 40D and Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens. Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Crop > High Pass Sharpening > Curves adjustment for improved contrast > Virtual Photographer "Hard Steel" filter

Hockey (Waiting)

After suiting up and stretching and completion of all the usual pre-game warm-up routines...there's nothing left to do but wait!

Shot with my Canon 40 and Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens. Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > Merge to New Layer > Curves Adjustment for Contrast > Virtual Photographer "Hollywood" B&W filter @ 30%.

Hockey (Pre-Game)

I spent a couple hours back at the ice rink this evening. In this photo one teams goalie warms up for his game (or is this a prayer to the Hockey God?)!

Photo taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 100-400 zoom lens. Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > High pass sharpening > Merge Layers > Duplicate layers with Hard Light blending mode @ 81% > Merge Layers to New Layer > Lens Blur with Mask to simplify the background.

Ice Skater

I went to Space City Ice Station today to photograph some of the ice skating action. There wasn't really much action; just this one guy really. Anyway I took a photo for practice and will head back tomorrow for scheduled hockey games (and a promise of much more action)!

Photo taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 100-400 zoom lens at 190mm. ISO 3200, f/5.0, 1/250th sec.

Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > crop > high pass sharpening > flatten layers > resize image to low resolution (600 x 400) > Charles Schwabb effect described in my blog on July 31 @ 80% with mask over face and hands > Merge layers into a new layer > Virtual Photographer Ambiance filter

Wheel of Fortune

This is the last of my photos from Gattiland last weekend! The photo was taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-85 zoom lens.