Fun With Filters

Whenever the weather prevents me from getting out and shooting new images or when my schedule doesn’t allow me to capture some new material, I will often just pull out some old images and give them a new look through the magic of PhotoShop Elements and a few add-on filters from Nik or On1.

As an architect in my former life, I am fascinated by the ornate brickwork done from the turn of the 20th century and continuing into the mid 1940’s. Everything from modest homes to impressive commercial high-rise buildings were draped in beautiful masonry. It seems that a mason was not only a trade, but a craft populated by artisans.

This building is found in the small community of Okmulgee, in Northeast Oklahoma. It’s about thirty-five miles south of Tulsa and about ten miles north of my birthplace in Henryetta.  I like the combination of cast stone and brick. While color images give one a true image of the structure…

There is nothing quite like black & white to bring out the soul and character of the design. Here I used a combination of two filters from On1, which is a free add-on package to PhotoShop Elements. This detail is centered over the main entrance. Meanwhile…

over on the corner of the building is this handsome minaret. Like automobiles, most new buildings are truly more energy efficient, better constructed structurally, offer better lighting, and are safer that those of bygone days, but they simply don’t have the soul that details like this give to the design.

And black & white only adds depth to that soul. Have a blessed week.

Last week I was back at the track for another local high school meet. Every venue is different and the opportunity for photos varies with the event. After checking out a few of the event locations, I decided to try to capture a couple if images of the hurdles. I like events with props. The hurdles really add to the interest of the photos in my humble opinion. My legs are too short to make it over those obstacles with any speed or grace, but these guys make it look easy.

From a strictly photographic viewpoint, the pole vault is my new favorite sport. There is speed, strength, coordination and an obstacle to overcome. It is a great event to photograph, regardless of where your viewing the competition.

For me there are three photos to capture the excitement of the event. The first photo captures the bend in the pole as the athlete begins to launch skyward and the bar is in sight. The second image is at the peak of the vault and one hopes that the competitor doesn’t touch the bar on the way over.

This is the peak of the jump when viewed from the runway side of the vault. The last image is not available and that is the release of the pole and knowing that the vault has been successful.

The most interesting place to photograph a running event is at the corners. If it is the 4×100 or 4×200 relay race, the excitement is greater because that is where the batons are passed and the opportunity for success or failure hangs in the balance.

No track meet I photograph would be complete without an image of the youngest grand daughter competing in the high jump. Again, speed, strength, skill, and overcoming an obstacle are all a part of the competition. Have a blessed day.

Fun With Filters

I was out and about the other day when I spotted a building that I have driven past hundreds of times in the past thirty years. At one time it was an antique store. Now, the property next door has been sold and the land cleared, so it’s only a matter of time before this structure falls to progress as well. Don’t get me wrong, this building is beyond repair.  I pulled my truck onto the site, grabbed my camera and captured a few images.

If you look closely at this original image you can see a bird lighting on the peak of the room. It is a Turkey Vulture, which I suppose is only an appropriate sign of things to come. Once I got home and downloaded my images, I decided to have a little fun with filters.

First I took the color image into PhotoShop Elements, added a little polarizing, then added a “crumpled paper” filter that gives it a bit of a worn look.

Next I went back to the original image and created a bit of a water color effect. You can adjust how abstract or detailed the image gets filtered. For a color image, I think this one enhances the character of the forlorn structure.

Next I converted the image to black & white, then added a little texture to it for a little drama. I really think old buildings are much more charming when presented in black & white.

I used a “smooth landscape” filter for this edit, then put a unique frame around it.

This edit has a vivid urban filter applied then a white vignette added to all four corners. It gives the image a whole different character than some of the darker filters.

Finally, the filter that creates the spots is called cool concrete. I don’t know why either. The edges are a filter called tattered paper. I like how this one really gives a barn find look to the image. I could do this for hours. Stay tuned, for more fun with filters next week.

Up & Over

Fun With Filters Featuring Lucy

Lucy and I were on the patio the other day and I decided to snap a photo. This is the original image that I took with my cell phone. It has a selective focus feature that helps blur the background. You have to be pretty quick on the trigger to get Lucy being this still. At 15 months, she is still a pup and while she will lay quietly in my lap for an extended period of time, being outside is a different story.

This is the original image that has basically been converted to B&W then the contrast was increased a little.

Now I’ve added a Nik filter preset with a soft dark vignette at all of the corners.

And now, for the big finish. I went back to the original B&W conversion then added an On1 subtle copper color filter. Next I added a soft white vignette to all four corners before placing the vintage frame around the whole composition.  Honestly, I really like the final image.

Okay, so the sky isn’t the main subject in this image, it does provide a nice background for the spider that was on the driver’s side window of my truck seven years ago. Since the window was a little dirty and I was using a relatively low resolution point and shoot camera, the image quality is not the greatest.  I created the header for this post using the free Nik filter plug-in for PhotoShop Elements.

Pure & Simple

First Round of Images

 

Recently we took our second grand daughter out for a second round photo shoot for Senior pictures. She will graduate from high school in May. One week earlier her older sister will graduate from college. There will be at least one more round of photos when the cap and gown arrive. Have an Awe…some Monday. Stay tuned, more to come at a later date.

For much of society today is Easter Sunday and in many homes the celebration is all about the Easter Bunny. The fact is that today is one of the three most important days of the year. There is Christmas, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday. God promised us a Savior and a way to have eternal life. He delivered on that promise with the greatest Christmas gift of all, His only son. In order of have eternal life, there must be a perfect sacrifice for the sin that plagues this world and on Good Friday God again delivered by offering His son and the only perfect sacrifice. Christ told us that He would be in the grave three days. His resurrection not only proved that He was the perfect sacrifice, the Son of the Living God, but showed the world that there is victory over death through faith in Him. God’s love for His creation was the reason for Christ to come to this earth and go to the cross. God’s holiness is what kept Christ on the cross and God’s glory is what lifted Christ out of the tomb to sit at the right hand of the father. I hope that Christ is present in your life this Easter. Have a blessed day.

He Is Risen!

We are gearing up for another cruise. It’s been four years since we spent a week on the high seas. In 2014 we took an Alaska cruise and enjoyed every minute of it. This year we are packing our bags, flying to Honolulu and cruising all of the islands. Like Alaska, this will be a once in a lifetime event for us. I got a new lens for the camera this year and I think it will see a lot of use. I will also take my trusty 24-70mm f2.8 along for indoor photos on board the ship.

One good thing about a summer cruise is that it is extra motivation for a fitness/weight loss program. I began in earnest today, so we will see how that goes. No, I won’t bore you with progress photos of my success or lack of achievement. You will just have to trust me on this one. Well, the gangplank goes up later this year, so stay tuned for photos from paradise.