STORM FLIGHT; & ASCENSION

"Storm Flight" (8-16-14 014v10) is from a shot I just took this morning (one of many, many versions already crowding the folder). I'll very probably be posting more realistic versions of this fern soon. But this just tickled me so much when it showed up I had to share it today. It's the result of many different filters, including "blur more" which I have only recently begun using more regularly. I'm beginning to prefer it to the "underpainting" filter (which blurs a great deal and does other stuff to a pic). Below is "Ascension" (v11), the same photo tilted, color inverted, and re-colored:

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below Previous Posts) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,

[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

QUATERNARY

"Quaternary" (8-14-14 003v3) was just taken two days ago, early in the evening. I was very doubtful there was enough light but wanted to give it a go anyway as these blooms barely last a full 24 hours. As a result, I did wind up having to do a lot of fussing to bring the colors close to what I recall them being. (Not to mention cleaning up a lot of distracting schmutz in the background.) But I'm content as this is one of the very few decent shots I've gotten of these particular blossoms when open, even after trying for seven seasons now. They're usually heavily wilted by the time I wander by them. Or still tightly wound up in their bud form. Both states are actually interesting and I have shots of them wilted and in their buds. I just haven't had much luck with capturing the open blooms.

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below Previous Posts) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,

[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

A MATTER OF CONTRAST

Before I go on about today's pic, I should say I'm not all that enamored of it (it has areas that bother me). I just wanted to share the results of a fun experiment. So, to continue, "A Matter of Contrast" (5-12-11 10933v4) is a brand new version of a very old photo of mine. And the title pretty much reveals what was egging me on: fooling with contrasts that create rather definite eye catching shapes. (I think that may have been triggered by the black and white conversions I've been making lately.) The original for this version has lots of contrasts so I began chasing after them, trying to really emphasize them. BTW, the color choices I made are just an exaggeration of the faint undertones in the blooms in the original pic (pale yellow/gold with very pale green). Also, this is one of those pix that actually looks better in this smaller version. Larger, the shapes of the colors just seem distracting. Even after the almost five years I've been fussing at photos, I'm still surprised at how much can effect the perception of a pic and especially its colors. Such as size, color of background, and lighting. And the most frustrating for me, which electronic device and/or program in which it is being viewed.

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below Previous Posts) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,

[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

CARNEVALE DANCER; THE HAUNT; & [untitled]

"Carnevale Dancer" (8-12-14 013v11) above is from a new photo, the same one as is "The Haunt" (8-12-14 013v12) below:

Nothing much to add, but as usual I have a slew of other versions of the original pic already. The shapes of the staghorn leaf intrigue me. Here's an as yet untitled version below (v9) that leaves the leaf recognizable:

And I posted yet another version to my dreams & poetry blog this morning. Here's a link to it in case you can stand looking at another one.

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below Previous Posts) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,

[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

FRIENDSHIP MANOR STAIRCASE (version 1 & 2)

The original for both these pix was taken yesterday, in one of several favorite places to sit and wool gather, or write. Looking the other way is also a view of which I frequently try to get decent shots. (BTW, there's a round table and chairs just behind where I stood to take this shot. Also, I used my wide angle lens camera again. Am going to continue using it and see how it goes as I do like the little extra clarity of the pix that show up on my computer screen.)

Below is a black and white version. It was quite a challenge to get just the right contrast. As I've said before, different ways of converting to b&w produce different contrasts, highlight different areas. Which then changes what grabs the viewer's eye. And of course I could not resist trying to improve upon each of those various ways by fussing further with contrast and brightness. But I finally settled on this version as it seems the most balanced visually:

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below Previous Posts) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,





[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

DROUGHT DAY AFTERNOON

Another favorite subject to photograph around the grounds of the retirement community in which I live, the outdoor staircases. And, as always, shadows. "Drought Day Afternoon" (8-10-14 034v2) is only one of the several versions I've already made from the original pic. However, it's definitely the one I like the most. Converting to black and white may sound like a simple process. But there are several types of black and white conversions to choose from. And I fooled with brightness and contrast levels within each type to see which ultimate effect I liked the most. For once, cropping was no big deal. The photo only required (at least to my eye) a tiny bit of cropping around the edges. Yeah, I know, just yesterday I was talking about how I can occasionally choose subtle effects. This photo illustrates my usual tendency toward intensity.

BTW, this pic was taken with my wide angle lens camera, which I have not used for some time. I'd taken it out thinking to use it on the super-size full moon later that night, since it has a higher pixel count. But I didn't make it out to try pix of the moon. It's almost always a disappointing process afterwards, if a lot of fun during the doing. I have neither the equipment nor the skills for good moon shots. In any case, I'd forgotten how much clearer pix taken with this camera tend to be in any light.

And another BTW, re: that overgrown grass bush under the stairs. Even in this drought, flora can pop up pretty much overnight. I'll bet it was cut back not long after I'd photographed it. I also have to be quick to try to capture dying rose blossoms and other bedraggled or unruly beauties. Not only the wind takes those away.

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below Previous Posts) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,

[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

FALL OUT; & WATERCOLOR STUDY

More from my love affair with fern patterns. "Fall Out" (8-7-14 010v9) above, and "Watercolor Study" (8-7-14 010v5) below, are from the same original pic, as are the two pix posted here the day before yesterday. I have a bunch more from that same photo, but they have very bright colors and intense contrasts as is my usual wont. So I thought I'd share today pix that illustrate I can be more subtle (on occasion :-D) in my choices. (To see a more "dramatic" version of this same photo, click here for the one I posted today to my dreams & poetry blog.)

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. There are many more photos posted here than show at any given time in this left-hand column. See the Archives listing (below Previous Posts) in the right hand column. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

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‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,

[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****