Friday, January 27, 2012

Lucky Day!

Last spring we spent some time poking around the southwestern Washington State peninsula.  On a brilliantly sunny day at Fort Columbia, we watched six bald eagles soaring over the old military barracks and turrets.   This week I made a photomontage "watercolor" from one of the shots of that day.  If you click the photo you can see a second eagle in the distance!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Ragged Leaf

My best photomontage from the leaf exercise in class.  The leaf was a battered one I found a week ago on the side of the street.  The background is from Lost and Taken, a site that offers free downloadable backgrounds.  I also added a second background from a texture I painted years ago which added that grungy texture on the leaf.  Regarding the tear in the leaf, I've gone back and forth over whether to clone it out.  For now, I like it.  What do you think?

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

KOIN Tower and Marriott Hotel

Here's something I made today after experimenting with different subjects and textures for my photomontage class.  I'm not sure it's a long term keeper.  Just trying to see what comes up when you look for specific characteristics--here, a stark subject against a plain background--to combine with a certain type of texture--a pinkish finger paint background I made years ago.

What I like is how the texture kind of focuses a highlight on the side of the pinkish KOIN Tower which is one of my favorite buildings to look at and shoot in different types of light.  I think this could be made better by masking down the stark white of the hotel building.  Perhaps I'll come back to this one when the masking lesson is front and center.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Water Avenue

You may have heard.  It's pouring rain here.  Worst storm in 100 years, some are sayin'.  And we're not out of it yet.  We've water in our basement as do most of our neighbors.  At least we're on the bluff overlooking the Willamette River rather than living right next to it should it get to flood stage anytime soon.  It's a mighty big river!

We've no need to go commuting on flooding streets or to thread our way around any downed trees nearby.  We still have heat, lights and internet access.  So, we're indeed fortunate!

In the spirit of the storm, here's a photomontage I created this afternoon combining one of Portland's stamped curbside sidewalk signs, a photo from the Ross Island Bridge looking north over the Willamette, and a cloud photo.  Took me a fair bunch of hours trying this and that to get to here.  I had not intended to have the overall blue color; that was a synchronous surprise and seems to fit the Water Theme.  So, it's dark even though in post I made adjustments in levels.  But that adjustment just made it look pasty.  So, dark it is!

Best advice, if you want to really see it, click to enlarge.  I kinda like it!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Song Lyric and Music Photomontage

Updated one of my photomontages based on feedback from my teacher, Carol Leigh.  I used a combination of cloning and enlarging the texture/background image which is a glass of ice water with candle glow behind it.  I shoot such things at restaurants all the time but had never considered such photos would be of any use to me until now.  I just love the glowy look they have and making photos of ice water glasses gives me something to do while waiting for my food.  The ice water photo gives a moody backdrop for the antique sheet music detail.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Three Images--Numbers Assignment



Three images for my photomontage first assignment which is blending two photos and running them through the PS blending modes until an interesting, changed image (may or may not) appear.  Sometimes I wonder why there are other blending modes than "Difference."  Since, try as I might, none of the other blending modes made a speck of interest this time around.  However, here they are and now, I'm on to the next assignment. 

My weekly learning project is to read and breathe through an article I found in the latest Photoshop Users mag on how to move a photo from Lightroom to Photoshop for editing and back again--successfully.  It's something I've wondered about how to do efficiently since I installed LR several months ago.  Last week I made it through the first section of the Lightroom 3D Garage Crash Course.  After I study the PU article, my learning assignment further includes studying part two of that online course.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Airport Canopy

Okay, I'm avoiding my assignment for the photomontage class I'm taking.  I have components to try to combine.  I've taken the class before.  I know the process.  Yet, I'm avoiding.

So, I shot this photo Thursday morning when I dropped Hugh off at the airport at o'dark thirty.  Cropped it until I got the juice of it, I think.  Added a filter.  Still avoiding wading into actual art work.  Hmmm.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Project Car

Wanting to provide their boy with the absolute best dad/son bonding experience, my daughter and son-in-law, scrounged a non-working 1965 Dodge Dart for his Christmas gift this year.  His inscrutable grin could be from either pride or overwhelm.  He has two years to get it ready to use before his driver's license becomes reality.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Theater Marquee

While browsing my photo files and keywording for numbers, letters, textures, and backgrounds, I came across this great theater marquee I shot while in Sonoma, CA, in November.  This is the Sebastiani Theater in the Sonoma Town Square, a great old movie house in need of support for restoration.  I added a posterizing filter to accent the faded and rain streaked wear of the old sign.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Mt Hood With Cloud

Our main mountain as the next storm front begins moving in.  Shot from the West Hills of Portland, OR.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

A Very Little Bird

A very little bird showing me his (or her) crown.  Saw him during the Audubon bird count at my feeder window.  I would not have guessed this bird was anything more than a goldfinch until I caught a glimpse of that fleck of red.  Turns out it's a Ruby Crowned Kinglet.  Pretty fancy for plain old Portland.

Shot through the screen on a low light day.  Post involved levels and unsharp mask.  Not a very good pic and won't make my list of keepers.  Still, it's what's up for my daily pic.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Letter Of The Day

Today is brought to you by the Letter O.  Go Ducks!!!