Wednesday, March 31, 2010

#525. Bonsai Oak

Taken two weekends ago in the parking lot for Fulton Mansion in Fulton, Texas. We were arriving to take a tour of the mansion when a storm front rolled in and I grabbed a few shots before the rain started. To me this oak tree was amazing, not so much for its size, but for the intricate patterns formed by its limbs. It reminds me, except for its size of course, of an ancient Bonsai tree.

Title: "Bonsai Oak"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to convert three handheld exposures (-2, 0, 2) into one HDR image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

#524. Texas State Aquarium

Taken two weekends ago at the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Title: "Texas State Aquarium"


Shot data: 1/60s f/4.0 at 58.0mm iso1250
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

Monday, March 29, 2010

#523. Private Pier

Two weekends ago while in a Fulton, Texas souvenir shop I saw a T-shirt describing Fulton as "A small drinking town with a fishing problem!". If you drive down Fulton Beach Road you can see what the T-Shirt is talking about: Mile after mile Aransas Bay is pierced by fishing piers twenty or thirty yards apart. I couldn't help but think that the total capacity of the cities fishing piers had to far exceed the cities population. :-)

Title: "Private Pier"


Shot data: 1/125s f/8.0 at 24.0mm iso400
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

Friday, March 26, 2010

#522. Brio Railroad

I set up my new Alien Bee lights last night to thy them out with some still life photos. I set up some of my son's old toy train pieces knowing I wanted something aged appropriately for an antique photo type finish. I'm not sure that I ended up with exactly what I was looking for but I did like the final product enough to consider it blogworthy. I hope you like it! :-)

Title: "Brio Railroad"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5d Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Textures from flypapertextures.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 25, 2010

#521. Predator

Taken two weekends ago at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas on a specially arranged tour of the facility for Homes for Our Troops VIPs (and one photographer :-). This is one of the two Predators kept at Ellington Field (used for training of maintenance crews).

Title: "Predator"


Shot data: 1/100s f/6.3 at 40.0mm iso800
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

#520. Cheryl's

We spotted this brightly colored establishment while driving around Fulton Harbor in Fulton, Texas (near Rockport) this past weekend.

Title: "Cheryl's"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three bracketed exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

#519. Beas Bait

Another of the Rockport, Texas bait shops taken this past weekend.

Title: "Beas Bait"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to convert three tripod mounted exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza plugin

Monday, March 22, 2010

#518. Pelican Bait

Another of the Rockport, Texas bait shops taken this past weekend.

Title: "Pelican Bait"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to convert three tripod mounted exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza plugin

Sunday, March 21, 2010

#517. Flemings Bait Stand

About this time last year I made a trip to Rockport, Texas. One of my favorite images from that outing was of Mom's Bait Shop. When I was back in Rockport this past weekend I set out to try and get a few companion shots to go compliment "Mom's". It's OK to use one's own past work as inspiration for new work isn't it? :-)

Title: "Flemings Bait Stand"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to convert three tripod mounted exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza plugin

Thursday, March 18, 2010

#516. Shelton Hank Williams #2

Here's another shot of Shelton Hank Williams taken at the Homes for Our Troops VIP tour of Ellington Field last Saturday.In

Title: "Shelton Hank Williams #2"


Shot data: 1/200s f/22.0 at 96.0mm iso1000
Camera / lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

#515. Happy St. Patty's Day

This is a photo I took and posted last year that is now my official St. Patty's Day photo! :-)

Here's my favorite Irish toast for the occasion:

May those that love us, love us; and those that don't love us, may God turn their hearts; if he can't turn there hearts, then may he turn their ankles, so we'll know them by their limp." ...Shamus Phibber McGee

Title: "Lucky Me"

#514. Shelton Hank Williams III

This past Saturday I was invited along to take photographs at a private tour of Ellington Field with a group of VIPs from the charity group "Homes for our Troops". One of the VIPs was Shelton Hank Williams III who was giving a concert Saturday night benefiting the cause. I didn't have an opportunity to speak to Mr. Williams but my impression was that he was a fairly intense individual and I think this photo best captures that intensity.

Title: "Shelton Hank Williams III"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Flash: On-camera Canon 430EX (ceiling bounced)
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > NIK Viveza plugin

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

#513. Most of the Rest

Here are most of the rest of the poets from this past Friday night's poetry reading at the Baytown Art Legue.

Title: "Anabel"


Title: "Terry"


Title: "Soundman"


Title: "Most of the Rest"

Monday, March 15, 2010

#512. Fighter Reflection

I have more photos of Baytown poets that I will post tomorrow. Today's post is from an event held at Ellington Field in Houston this past Saturday. The event included, among other things, a private tour of the Field and an overview of Predator operations conducted from there. Attendees were a group of VIPs from the Homes For Our Troops organization including, among others, the head of the Homes for Our Troops organization and Hank Williams III.

Title: "Fighter Reflection"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105 L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

Sunday, March 14, 2010

#511. More Bards

Here are a couple more of the poets from Friday night's poetry reading at the Baytown Art League.

Title: "Poet No. 2: Shelby"


Shot Data: 1/125s f/4.0 at 105.0mm iso800
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Tapaz Adjust plugin


Title: "Poet #3: San Diego"


Shot Data: 1/50s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso800
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Tapaz Adjust plugin

Saturday, March 13, 2010

#510. Emcee and Poet

I attended a poetry reading in Baytown last night at the Baytown Art League building on Texas Avenue. This gentleman was the Emcee and one of the poets.

Title: "Emcee and Poet"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

Thursday, March 11, 2010

#509. 3rd Hole

Taken at the putting green at Blanco Settlement in Blanco, Texas this past weekend. As you can see from the before shot, if you wait for the rollover, I didn't do an optimum job of capturing this image in camera. I think I "saved" the shot in post-processing though! What do you think?

Title: "3rd Hole" (rollover)


Shot data: 1/2500s f/4.0 at 105.0mm iso400
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#508. Sir Vendor

Taken last Saturday at Market Days in Wimberley, Texas. I spotted this vendor trying to keep warm under his table cloth and, even though the hat is wrong, it brought to mind an image of medieval royalty in a colorful cloak. :-)

Title: "Sir Vendor"


Shot data: 1/125s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso400
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

#507. Blanco Scarecrow

Taken this past weekend at Blanco Settlement in Blanco, Texas.

Title: "Blanco Scarecrow"


Shot data: 1/3200s f/4.0 at 105.0mm iso400
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > textures from flypapertextures.blogspot.com

Sunday, March 7, 2010

#506. God Proven

I took this shot yesterday after I spotted this guy walking somewhere between Blanco and Wimberley, Texas. Since I had actually seen the man walking near San Marcos one day earlier I was quite stunned to see our paths cross again! This time I stopped to take a photo!

Title: "God Proven"


Shot data: 1/640s f/9.0 at 400.0mm iso400
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Adobe Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza plugin > textures from flypapertextures.blogspot.com

Saturday, March 6, 2010

#505. Ferry Gulls

Taken last Sunday from the Galveston / Bolivar Point Ferry. Folks on the back of the ferry were feeding the seagulls and if you look closely you can see one of the birds about to snag a peanut!

Title: "Ferry Gulls"


Shot data: 1/1600s f/5.6 at 150.0mm iso160
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / 100-400mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

Friday, March 5, 2010

#504. Galveston Gulls

Taken on the beach in Galveston last Sunday. I took this shot intending to push in toward high key in post-processing. I'm don't think I actuall got there but I like the results anyway.

Title: "Galveston Gulls"


Shot data: 1/800s f/10.0 at 365.0mm iso160
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 100-400mm L zoom

Thursday, March 4, 2010

#503. Product Review: Drobo

If you are already familiar with what a Drobo is and you are looking for an endorsement you need look no further: Drobo works as advertised and may actually be the "next best thing since sliced bread!"

Drobo is a product manufactured by Data Robotics. It is an expandable self-contained storage system with automated data protection. It's the little black box in the photo I posted today. It has, depending on the model you choose, 4, 5 or 8 docking bays for hard drives. I use the 4 bay model. You can buy the Drobo with or without the hard drives at many places on the Internet. [Review continued after the photo]

Title: "Product Review: Drobo"


I purchased my Drobo without any drives installed so that I had more flexibility about how I wanted to configure my hard drives (and about how much I wanted to spend). I bought two 1.5TD hard drives and I can add drives (any size) to one or both of the other drive bays anytime. The way Drobo works is that its software keeps a complete copy of any data you store on any drive on one or more of the other drives. This way if any one drive crashes the data is easily retrievable from the other hard drives. Simply remove the malfunctioning hard drive and replace it with a new one and Drobo will automatically restore all the data that was on the failed drive.

The hard drives are plug-and-play; just unpack them and slip them into an available drive bay and Drobo does the rest (trust me when I say that if I can do it you can do it).

I use the Drobo just like an internal hard drive. I save my files directly to it from my camera card and work directly from it with Photoshop and my other applications without any noticeable performance hit.

The lights you see on the front of the Drobo tell you everything you most often need to know at a glance. The green lights on the right indicate that an available bay is being used (a hard drive is installed) and the blue lights on the bottom let you keep up with your storage capacity. In the photo you can see from the green lights that I'm using two of my four available drive bays and that I am using about 30% (3 lights out of 10) of my available capacity. I should mention that storage capacity is something less than 50% of the total capacity of your installed drives because the Drobo software itself takes up some space. The 50% starting point is because, as previously explained, Drobo saves a full copy of everything so that one file takes up twice its file size on the Drobo (one file for the original and one for the copy). With my two 1.5TB drives I believe I have about 1.3TB of actual storage capacity. The amount of actual storage capacity from any particular configuration of hard drives can be obtained from the Drobo website.

The bottom line is that my experience to date is that Drobo met or exceeded all my expectations and I would highly recommend it to anyone needing some additional secure data storage capacity.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

#502. Dude! Where's My Pants?

I saw this pair of jeans floating in the surf on Galveston Beach this past weekend and I couldn't help but picture some hungover reveler waking up on the beach and asking himself the titular question. :-)

Title: "Dude! Where's My Pants?"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > RPM Beautifier plugin > Virtual Photographer plugin > textures from flypapertextures.blogspot.com

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

#501. Bolivar Point LIghthouse

Taken this past Sunday from the Galveston / Port Bolivar Ferry. The Bolivar Point Lighthouse first became operational in 1852 and stayed in service until 1933.

Title: "Bolivar Point Lighthouse"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Shot data: 1/2000s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso160
Post-proessing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Textures from flypapertextures.blogspot.com