#553. Inside Gruene Hall

Taken last week inside historic Gruene Hall in Gruene, Texas.

Title: "Inside Gruene Hall"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24/105mm f/2.8 L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw to convert RAW images to JPG files > Photomatix Pro to convert three JPG files at three different exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) file > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#552. Brazos Bend Gator

Taken a couple of weekends ago at Brazos Bend State Park.

Title: "Brazos Bend Gator"


Shot data: 1/160s f/8.0 at 200.0mm iso400
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Texture from flypapertextures.blogspot.com

#551. Brazos Bend Clouds

Taken a couple of weekends ago at Brazos Bend State Park.

Title: "Brazos Bend Clouds"


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

#550. Blogger.com Technical Problems

Not sure if the problem is with Blogger.com or if I'm suddenly doing something wrong but I'm not able to upload (using the link option) photos to my blog at this time. I get the upload screen and use the link option but once I push the UPLOAD button I go to the next screen but never get the preview or the required DONE button. Any ideas?

Anyway I'll continue to try and figure out the problem so I can get back to the business of posting images. :-)

#549 Whiteboard

And BLA loves Emma very much as well!

#548. Boardwalk Palms (Rollover)

Taken at Kemah Boardwalk yesterday as a small storm started to roll in. The image underlying the rollover is straight out of Photomatix Pro.

Title: "Boardwalk Palms" (rollover)


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Red Paw Media Beautifier plugin > textures from flypapertextures.blogspot.com

#547. Comal River

A shot of the Comal River taken last weekend in Landa Park, New Braunfels, Texas.



Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw to convert three RAW exposres (-2, 0, +2) into JPG files > Photomatix Pro to convert the JPG files into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#546. Magic Pool House Photo

The pool house at the RV park we spent last weekend at in New Braunfels. The first shot is the full image which I really like a lot but what makes this image magic is that I found that that I like almost any cropped version of the original equally as well! I posted two of detail crops below the original but I could have made and posted many more.

Title: "Magic Pool House Photo"


Title: "Magic Pool House Photo - Crop #1"


Title: "Magic Pool House Photo - Crop #2"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Bridge Image Processor to convert three RAW image files at exposures of -2, 0, +2 into JPG image files > Photomatix Pro to combine the JPG files into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo > Adobe Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#545. American Beauty

I've had the idea to create an "American Beauty" style image for a while and I finally got around to doing it last night. The basic components for this type of glamour shot are a white background, some high key lighting, some rose petals, and, oh yes, a sexy model! Enjoy! :-)

Title: "American Beauty"


Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24/105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Red Paw Media Beautifier
Lights: Alien Bee 800 with large softbox to camera left as key, Alien Bee 800 with 20% Grid to camera right for fill, Alien Bee 400 with 7" reflector as a background light

#544. Comal Springs

I took this shot of Comal Springs yesterday while visiting Landa Park in New Braunfels, Texas. These springs are a natural release from the Edwards Aquifer. They form the Comal River and are a great place to sit and hang your feet in the water! :-)

Title: "Comal Springs"


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

#543. The Alley

And now for something completely different....

Title: "The Alley"

#542. The Violinist

I haven't had too much spare time lately but I did take some shots of my daughter Emma the other day. This is one of my favorites. I was going for a low key shot but I'm not sure I achieved that. If you think you know what "low key" is (not sure I do) I would be interested in your opinion as to why this portrait is or is not low key.



Shot data: 1/125s f/11.0 at 47.0mm iso100
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Lights: Alien Bee 800 to camera left with a large softbox > Alien Bee 800 camera right with a 20% grid
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza plugin