Driftwood Vineyard

This past weekend we revisited the Driftwood Vineyard Winery in Driftwood, Texas. This winery offers a wine tasting bar, a covered pavilion for events, and tables and chairs on the bluff overlooking the vineyards. The view definitely makes the winery a worthy destination if you are ever in the area (and I've heard the wine isn't bad either :-).

Title: "Vineyard View"

Click the image for a larger version (highly recommended)!

Taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm zoom lens.
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Topaz Adjust plugin

Zedler Mill in Luling, Texas

We went back to Wimberley this weekend (because we wanted to...not to run from a hurricane :-) and we stopped at Zedler Mill in Luling, Texas on the way home. These photos area all HDRs processed using Photomatix from three handheld exposures (-2,0,+2) and were further processed using Photoshop CS3 and the Topaz Adjust plug-in. I hope you enjoy the photos!

Title: "The Mill on the Hill"

Click the photo to view a larger image (highly recommended)!

Title: "Mill and Mill Dam"

Click the photo to view a larger image (highly recommended)!

Title: "Inside the Mill on the Hill"

Click the photo to view a larger image (highly recommended)!

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

Wonder World Glasses

Here is a shot of some souvenir glasses from the gift shop at Wonder World in San Marcos, Texas.



Click the image for a larger version!

Taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm zoom lens.
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Topaz Adjust (Spicify + Simplify) > Distort Lens Correction Vignette + Layer Mask to remove the vignette from the bottom.

Hurricane Ike Damage, Topaz Adjust

I have two more photos of damage caused by Hurricane Ike. A key part of my post-processing was using my recently acquired Photoshop plug-in called Topaz Adjust (see yesterday's post for a link to their web site). Make sure to look at the larger images in order to appreciate the details in the photos!

Title: "No Need for Speed"

Click the image above to see the exquisite detail in this image!

Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-Processing: Photoshop CS3 > Topaz Adjust plugin for noise and exposure adjustments > Distort Lens Correction for vignetting

Title: "Play'in Hookey" [ When we were young they always said there would be a price to pay for playing hookey :-) ]

Click the image above for a larger view!

Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-Processing: Photoshop CS3 > Topaz Adjust plugin for noise and exposure adjustments > Levels layer to set black point and white point > Distort Lens Correction for vignetting

Intermission at the Corral Theater

At some point during a movie at the Corral Theater in Wimberley, Texas the movie will stop for intermission. Hopefully you saved your ticket stub because there will be a drawing for prizes. On this night lucky winners won a box of chocolates, a bird feeder, and free tickets for the next show!


Click the image for a larger version!

This shot was taken in extremely low light. The combination of the handheld lantern and a couple of bare bulb lights barely lit the scene better than the reflection of the projected movie had before the intermission. I utilized a new Photoshop plug-in called Topaz Adjust for processing the image (lots of exposure adjustments and noise reduction) and I was very happy with the results. In the original exposure of this shot the only thing visible was the lantern's light, all else was black! Tapaz Adjust is being touted as a poor man's substitute for LucisArt (because of its price not because of it's features) which is a popular but much much more expensive Photoshop plug-in. Check out Topaz Adjust if you have ever been interested in LucisArt, or if you are even considering purchasing a noise reduction plug-in for that matter (although Adjust does much more than noise reduction). It is on sale for $40 until October 1, 2008.

Taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom lens. Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Topaz Adjust plug-in for noise reduction and exposure adjustment.

More Corral Theater

The heart of the Corral Theater in Wimberley, Texas is the concession stand, which also happens to be the box office and projection booth!


Click the image for a larger version!


Click the image for a larger version!


Click the image for a larger version!


Click the image for a larger version!

Wimberley's Corral Theater

When you go to a modern movie megaplex to see a movie you enter the theater and the lights are low and usually there is something already going on; either music or the pre-show reel of sneak previews and commercials. The setting can make it difficult to converse with the folks you came with and you never even try to talk to your neighbor. The Corral Theater in Wimberley, Texas is an outdoor theater set in the woods on the edge of town. The Corral is all about community and is as much about socializing as it is about seeing the movie that is currently showing. I talked to Mary, the owner, for a while and she was eager to brag about her little outdoor theater. "There are other outdoor theaters in Texas but they don't get new releases from Disney on the actual release date like I do. After all the years we have been talking Disney knows what I want and they call me now to let me know when a new family movie is coming out." Mary likes family movies and I suspect Mary likes families as well! :-)

Title: "The Corral Theater"

Click the photo for a larger version!

Below: Choose a metal chair up front (these may possibly be as old as the theater itself) or plastic chair in back or bring your own if you like. It doesn't really matter what you sit on as long as you are comfortable and have a good time!

Title:"Inside the Corral"

Click the photo for a larger version!

Both photos were taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom lens. The top photo is an HDR image prcessed with Photomatix. The second image was processed with Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > Curves adjustmet for improved contrast > Red Paw Media's Beautifier plugin for a little extra punch.

More Hurricane Ike Damage

Here are a few more photos taken on Sunday of damage caused by Hurricane Ike in the Clear Lake area.

Title: "What Lies Beneath"

Click the image above for a larger version! You'll be glad you did!

Title: "Rest In Peace"

Click the image above for a larger version! You'll be glad you did!

Title: "Bygone Salon"

Click the image above for a larger version! You'll be glad you did!

The top two photos were taken from NASA Parkway in the Clear Lake area. The last photo is from Seabrook.

All shots taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom lens.
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > Distort - Lens Correction - Vignette

Hurricane Ike Damage

I had a chance to go down to the Clear Lake City waterfront area this morning and, of course, I took a few pictures!

I titled the first one "Attitude Adjustment"!


Click the image for a larger version!

The second photo I called "Boondoggle" after the name of the prominent boat in the photo.


Click the image for a larger version!

"Trouble in Paradise!"

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"Bystander"

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All photos taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom lens.
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > High Pass sharpening > Distort - Lens Correction - Vignette

Wonder World Prospector

While we were in Wimberley, Texas last week we made a side trip to Wonder World in San Marcos. Today's photo is of a near life-sized statue of a prospector they have in the gift shop!


Click on the image above for a larger version!

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Canon 17-55mm, f/2.8
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > I masked off the prospector and used Blur - Lens Blur about 5 times to blur the background > Levels adjustment to set the black and white points

Another Wimberley HDR, Good vs. Bad HDR

Here is another High Dynamic Range photograph (processed with Photomatix) taken while I was in Wimberley because Hurricane Ike was in Houston!



Click the image for a larger view!

Thoughts on "good HDR" vs. "bad HDR": Since I've been posting some HDRs lately I have also been doing some reading on the internet about the HDR process. I was surprised about how strongly some photographers feel on the subject. Especially fervent are, of course, the "haters". Haters hate the HDR effect for various reasons and some have gone to great lengths to justify their hatred in well organized, well written rants (they are easy to find: start by doing a Google search on "bad HDR"). The most common complaint seems to be that the HDR effect creates an image that doesn't look realistic and can end up looking more like computer graphics or a painting than a photograph. This anti-HDR attitude cracks me up. Do these people hate cell phones because they don't look like "real" telephones? Do they hate all black and white photographs because, after all, reality is in color (except for dogs and lesser animals I suppose)? IMHO ("In My Humble Opinion" for those not web/text speak savvy) an image created from multiple exposures (HDR) should be judged the same as any image created any other way: If you like it - terrific, I'm glad, if you don't like it - get over it, move on (or, in the case of this blog, come back tomorrow and see if I manage to post something that you do like).

As always, thanks for stopping by my blog!

Barry

Wimberley Grape Vineyard

There are several vineyards in the Wimberley area. This one is located near Driftwood, Texas. This is an HDR image processed with Photomatix from three handheld exposures (-2, 0, +2).



Click the image for a larger version!

More Wimberley HDRs, Hurricane Ike Update

These two shots were taken in the early morning at the Square in Wimberley, Texas while I was there hiding from Hurricane Ike! You really need to view the larger images to have a chance at appreciating them (clicking on the image brings up the larger file).


Click the image for a larger version!


Click the image for a larger version!

Both sets of photos were taken with my Canon 40D and Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom. HDR conversion of three photos each (-2, 0, +2) courtesy of Photomatix.

Hurricane Ike updates: 1) Most traffic signals are still not functional. The problem is worse the closer you get to the Gulf of Mexico but it is bad all over the Houston area. The problem is not just the lack of electricity...many of the traffic signals were literally blown apart by the winds associated with Ike. It adds adventure to driving around town :-) 2) It's dark at night! No big news flash there but in the city with major power outages you are sometimes reminded of driving in remote rural areas. It is a little surreal to see only the ghosts of usually brightly lit buildings. 3) Convoys - I see at least one everyday! On the way out of Houston, as Ike was approaching, we saw a convoy of perhaps 30 Texas Highway Patrol cars with their lights on heading toward Houston. It struck me because I don't think I have ever seen more than two together before. I assume there are a lot of Texas Highway Patrol cars out there but Texas is a big state and I think they are usually spread pretty thin. My first day back the convoy was electric company type vehicles (no idea how many but maybe 100 or more) and yesterday it was tree service type vehicles (maybe a dozen of the type trucks with lift buckets on top and other regular trucks with workers). All the convoys I have seen were heading in the direction of Galveston.

Hurricane Update and Wimberley Cypress

This is another shot I took (another Photomatix HDR) while I was in Wimberley, TX as a Hurricane Ike evacuee.



Click the image for a larger version!

Update: I came back to Houston (Clear Lake) yesterday and found my house undamaged and with full electrical, water, sewer and gas services! Even the TV Dish on the roof was intact! I had a lot of small tree limbs down in the yard but nothing over about 3" diameter and none that seemed to have hit the house. I also had a fence that was already past its prime that blew over. All in all I consider myself very lucky and I am thankful to God that things were not much worse!

Wimberley Colors

If you ever have to evacuate from a hurricane at least go someplace pretty, preferably with lots of photo opportunities! This is my last day posting as a refugee. I'm leaving Wimberley today to head back to Houston (Clear Lake) because I'm expected back at work tomorrow. I'm leaving my family behind because as far as I know our house still has no electricity. I'm hoping the cold front that came through today will keep things bearable for me until the power is restored! In the meantime enjoy this HDR image I took at a park near the Wimberley square in Wimberley, Texas!



Click the small image above for a larger version of it!

Piano Man (Men)

Day 4 of refugee posting. These are the last of the photos from Jazz Night at TAACCL Thursday before last.



Click the photo for a larger more enjoyable version!



Click the photo for a larger more enjoyable version!

Kim Chavez

Day 3 of hurricane Ike evacuee posting.

More images from Jazz Night at TAACCL Thursday before last. The first image is of trumpeter Kim Chavez.



Click photo for a larger image!

The horns of Kim Chavez and Sparky Koerner!



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Sparky Koerner

Second day of posting from Wimberley as a Hurricane Ike refugee.

Here are a couple of shots of Sparky Koerner who performed Thursday before last at the TAACCL Jazz Night.



Click the image for a larger version!



Click the image for a larger version!

Jazz Guitar Man

I'm posting from Wimberley, Texas tonight. We evacuated Houston today because my home is in one of the zip codes under mandatory evacuation. As I type this post Hurricane Ike is bearing down directly toward my home! I'm glad I purchased flood insurance this year but hopefully I will not need to use it. I only brought a few things with me: clothes, my photography gear, and my desktop computer (no time to back up my photos so I had to bring the works :-).

Here is another photo from Jazz Night at The Arts Alliance Center of Clear Lake last Thursday night!



Please click the photo above for a larger, more enjoyable version!

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Red Paw Bleech Bypass Plugin > Vignette using Distort Lens Correction > Virtual Photographer Plugin Brownie filter

Dragonized Sax

Taken during Jazz Night at The Arts Alliance Center of Clear Lake (TAACCL) last Thursday night. TAACCL is the venue where the Bay Area Photo Club holds it meetings and Jazz Night is one of the many other events hosted there.



Click the image for a larger version! Seriously! Do it!

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Canon 17-55 f/2.8 zoom
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Dragonizer Action (Note: This is a terrific action with a lot of interactive elements to allow for a great amount of creativity on the photographer's part and if I could remember where I found it on the internet I would tell you. I'll continue to look for it and will post it at a later date if I find it again.)

Honor's Night

Tonight was Honor's Night at the Bay Area Photo Club. On Honor's Night club members present photo's to a panel of three judges for critiques. Each photo is given a rating of Gold, Silver, Bronze or the dreaded No Award. There is an assignment category (tonight the assignment was Walls) and an Open category. Following are my two entries.



Click the image for a larger version!

This photo was given a Silver award by our judges. I posted the following version of this photo on the blog on July 23, 2008.



Click the image for a larger version!

You can see from comparison of the two photos that I did a lot of Photoshop work on the version presented tonight. In Photoshop I cloned out the three people and all of the ropes from the original shot and then rescaled the wall to make it look much higher. I also used Photoshop to render the blue lights on the bottom of the wall in the version presented tonight to add drama to the photo.

Following is the second photo that I entered in the Walls category tonight.



Click the image for a larger version!

This was my favorite of the two images and I thought it was a sure Gold. As often is the case I was wrong and received a No Award from our panel of judges. This photo is a pano stitched together from seven portrait shots taken of the wall. The Photoshop stitch was excellent but I wasn't able to remove all the lens distortion created by the wide angle lens I was using and by my close proximity to the center of the wall. So given lemons I made lemonade and used Photoshop to exaggerate the distortion which was an effect I really liked (resembling a shot taken with a fisheye lens).

Actor's Headshot

On Saturday, fellow Bay Area Photo Club member Robert Dempsey and I met to take an actor's headshot for my daughter Emma. We relied heavily on Bob's lighting gear and know-how to get the job done. Bob is an excellent photographer who excels in portraiture (see his work at www.dempseyphotos.com).

Following are the top to candidates for the official headshot. I would really appreciate any and all feedback I can get as to which shot you like better. Bob took one of the shots and I took the other!



Click on the image for a larger version!



Click on the image for a larger version!

Taken with three Photogenic StudioMax II strobes. Stobes located 6' to the model's right (camera left) at f/11, fill light located camera right at f/5.6, and background light located between the model and background facing the background.

Raccoon

I met my brother Larry in a park just outside of Baytown yesterday (roughly halfway between his house in Baytown and mine in Houston) because he wanted to drop some photos off with me to submit to the next Bay Area Photo Club Honor's Program this coming Tuesday night. Anyway...while we were talking I spotted this raccoon near a trash can in the park. I was just watching him and Larry suggested I grab my camera and try to get a few shots (he didn't have his telephoto with him so he was out of luck this time). I took a few shots and the following was my favorite:



Click the image to view a larger version!

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: 100-400mm Canon zoom
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3> Red Paw Media Bleach Bypass > Nik Vivesa to brighten the racoon which was mostly silhouette > Filter Distort Lens Correction Vignette


Following is my second favorite image of this critter:



Click the image to view a larger version!

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: 100-400mm Canon zoom
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3> Red Paw Media Bleach Bypass > Nik Vivesa to brighten the racoon which a tad too dark > Red Paw Media Beautifier at 44% opacity to add a little glamour > Filter Distort Lens Correction Vignette

Zoo Pics (4 Birds and an Ape!)

Emma and I went to Hermann Park Zoo for about an hour last Saturday and I grabbed these shots while we were there! Please click the thumbnails for a view of a larger image!











Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Canon 100-400mm zoom
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > Curves Adjustment Layer for increased contrast > Filter - Distort - Lens Correction - Vignette

More from Chinatown (Houston)

From the BAPC (Bay Area Photo Club) outing to Chinatown last Saturday. What does the fish we had for supper have in common with the ducks from yesterday's post? (You'll have to use your HEAD to solve the riddle!)



Press your left mouse button on the picture above if you would like to be presented with a larger version of it!

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Canon 17-55mm f/2.8
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Basic adjustments using Camera Raw (Sharpening, Contrast, White Balance and Exposure)


After we left the Ocean Palace restaurant we headed to an area late night hangout for a beignet.



Click the pic to big it up!

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Canon 17-55mm f/2.8
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > High Pass Sharpening > Curves Adjustment Layer > Levels Adjustment Layer > Nik Viveza to improve local brightness on the powdered sugar