Showing posts with label french kiss textures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label french kiss textures. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Planning A Trip

So now that I have the finances and time to travel.  I'm planning a big trip in the fall to Seattle, Washington.  Why Seattle, well I received my commercial photography degree there and I loved all the exploring I did while I was there and I can't wait to get back there!
 
Knowing my small fear of flying I knew I wanted plenty to keep my busy so I didn't have to think about where I was.  I had heard a lot about kindles and they were very popular at work.  I did some research and finally decided to buy one.  There would be plenty of reading materials and games that would keep me preoccupied. 
 
In my search for reading material I naturally headed for the photography books and there I found many books.  This week I will tell you about my first read.  It is "Before The Shutter, Planning Your Next Travel Photography Adventure" by Anne McKinnell.  I thought this would be appropriate reading considering I'm planning a trip.  I do remember seeing Anne McKinnell on twitter and she also has a terrific blog. 
 
I read through Anne's book and was very pleased with it.  Very helpful in preparing for my trip.  I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is planning a photography trip.
 
For some folks planning a trip it is where your going, your flight, hotel and car.  And that's what I was thinking too, but I had to consider far more.  Like equipment, what did I need or already have, lighting, time of day is important, consider the weather, what if it rains.  I'll need rain gear for me and my equipment.  I needed to really think about where I wanted to photograph in Seattle.  And it's not just Seattle, there are beautiful locations surrounding Seattle too.  I created a list of locations I wanted to photograph.  But I had to make sure I stayed within my 8 day trip.  Another thing I needed to consider is do I want carryon or check in baggage.  Frankly if I can carryon with my equipment I'd be happy, but I don't know if I can do that.  So maybe I need to visit the airport near by and ask. 
 
There is soooooo much to prep for that I had to really create a file and just start typing and putting it together.  Thanks to Anne's book I will be fully prepared for my trip and have lots of photographs to bring home.
 
The photographs below were taken at a maritime village in Connecticut. 
The 2 directly below were from a few years back.  Both were done with Topaz Adjust.  The B&W one I also use Silver Efex, both had 2 textures from 2LilOwls using haunting 19 and haunting 6.
The sewing room on the bottom was photographed last year at the same village just a different dress.  On that one I used Silver Efex and 4 textures 2 from French Kiss lestex3 gale and fauve gold and 2 from Flypaper textures fly24 and lost void.



                   Sewing Room 2                                                                          Sewing Room 3


                                                                      Sewing Room

Working with these photographs using textures and software are very time consuming, but so much fun! 

Monday, February 4, 2013

Monarch and Their Relatives

 
 
Happy Monday!
Last Monday I had mentioned that I was rearranging my work/office space and so far it is working out fine.
This Monday I have 3 new photographs that I have added to both my Etsy shop and Fine Art America.
 
 
 
The beautiful butterfly above is known as the Common Crow.  Who would name such a beautiful butterfly such a name?  Some interesting facts about the Common Crow also known as the Oleander Butterfly.  They're related to the Monarch in that they have similar body types and feed on Milkweed and the Oleander plant which both have a toxin which the caterpillar ingests to protect it from predators as a caterpillar and as an adult butterfly.  The Common Crow is found in Australia,  South Asia and India.
 
I photographed the Common Crow at the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield, Massachusetts.  For the past couple of years on my way to Connecticut I stop by and do some photographing and to just enjoy the quiet and beauty of these magnificent butterflies.  The Monarchs I photographed in my gardens.
 


I've been playing around with some new techniques and I wanted to get your opinion on which photograph you like better.  The process with the above Monarch is using French Kiss textures to soften and give the photograph a more pastel feel.  Where the Monarch below is what I like to call a traditional photograph with some minor adjustments.
I have to say that I'm kinda in between, I love the softness of the above Monarch, but I love the bright boldness of the Monarch below.


 

I guess it is a matter of preference.  The softer Monarch photograph would be great in a little girl's room or nursery.  Would even look great in a bathroom as would the bolder Monarch.  Well needless to say you can find them both in my Fine Art America and Etsy shops.
Speaking of shops....in the next few days I will be in the process of revamping my shops, mostly adding keywords and description for better SEO. 
 
In case you missed it here is last Friday's "Food Friday"post.
 
Tomorrow is Tuesday Treasuries and there are some great fines!
 
Have a great week! 

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