Old Liberty Bridge

Here is another shot of the old Highway 146 bridge taken on my trip to Liberty, Texas a couple of weeks ago.

Title: "Old Liberty Bridge 2"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Duplicate Background Layer > Topaz Adjust plugin "Dramatic" preset + custom DeNoise to reduce noise > NIK Viveza plugin to locally increase brightness of the bridge > Duplicate Layer > Topaz Adjust plugin "Color Blast" with mask to block the effect to all but the warmer tones > Merge Visible to New Layer > Distort Lens Correction Vignette

Maas Greenhouse

Even though our winters in Houston are mild (OK, very mild!) some plants still require a little tender loving care to survive through the season. For plants at Maas Nursery in Seabrook that TLC is found in the temperature controlled greenhouse.

Title: "Maas Greenhouse"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix HDR from three handheld exposures (-2, 0, +2) > Photoshop CS3 > Curves Adjustment Layer for overall contrast enhancement > Merge Visible to New Layer > Topaz Adjust plugin "Spicify" preset > Duplicate Layer > High Pass Sharpening > Curves Adjustment Layer #2 for overall contrast enhancement > Black and White Adjustment Level to convert to B&W at 41% opacity with a mask to limit the effect to the left and top of image > Merge Visible to New Layer > Distort Lens Correction Vignette

A Quiet Place to Rest

Another photo from my trip to Maas Nursery last weekend. This one is of a quiet resting place located on the Nursery grounds.

Title: "Maas Resting Place"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Duplicate Background Layer > Cloning to remove some foreground clutter > Duplicate Layer > Topaz Adjust plugin "Clarity" preset to some light sharpening > Curves Adjustment Layer to improve overall contrast > Merge Visible to New Layer > Transform - stretch the top to eliminate a small strip of sky > Merge Visible to New Layer > Virtual Photographer plugin "Sepia" preset > Curves Adjustment Layer to improve overall contrast > Cloning to remove additional foreground elements to further simplify the foreground > Duplicate Layer > NIK Viveza plugin to adjust brightness on the left hand side of the photo just a tad to balance it better with the right hand side > Duplicate Layer > Distort Lens Correction Vignette