Digital Rejuvenation

So now that I have access to Photoshop it is driving me nuts that all these pictures from last year are so flat and colorless because my point and shoot is just not good. I went back and color corrected a few more of my old shots. I'll include the originals so you can see the difference.

I've also changed my blog layout to accomodate larger pictures. This is a photoblog after all... big pictures are important.

Check out the photos after the break

Happy Santa

The ISO was probably at 1000 and I most likely had the aperture wide open, but I don't know what the shutter speed was. I should get better at remembering or writing things down. It was Christmas Eve, though, so I was having fun. This Santa has a great face, I couldn't resist a close up. I think I should have isolated him, ie. not have all the clutter around him. Oh well. Now that I'm comfortable with photoshop again I'll have to take more time to practice/work on composition.

Christmas

ISO was 1000, F stop was 5.6, and shutter speed was probably 60. I color corrected this, but didn't have to do much. I just upped the exposure a hint. We put lights inside the branches and then around the outside, too. It made for a great lighting effect (affect?) on the tree.

The Snowman

I took this on my Canon EOS D60. ISO was 1000, F Stop was probably 4.6, and shutter speed must have been around 45 or 60 since it's not too blurry. I did bump up the exposure by +1 in photshop and added more green and took out some of the red to blance the colors.  This was taken Christmas Eve eve when we decorated the tree.  It's my ornament from 23 years ago.

Adventures in Photoshop

So now that I have access to Photoshop and feel more comfortable with my color correction skills and eye, I have gone back and updated some old photos. I love photoshop. All these pictures were taken on my point and shoot, which has terrible color balance and doesn't do well adjusting shadows and highlights, and photoshop has made them so much better. Anyway, below I've put the color corrected versions and links to the originals. You can also see them in my photostream on my flickr page.

Click on "read more" to read more :)

Lagoon

I haven't posted anything in just over 10 months, but I was photoshopping pictures to give as Christmas gifts and decided I'd upload some to the website. A lot has happened over the last 10 months - my arm is fully healed, my thumb gets tired and I have a few limitations here and there, but it's at about 98% of what it was which is good enough for me. I also got moved on to a new project team at work which is the other reason I haven't really posted - my life is infinitely busier. Anyway, I think my winter despression has set in, so I thought I'd take the negative energies and focus them elsewhere.

I took this with an old Canon EOS that my brother so graciously gave me. This was one of the first few pictures I took with a DSLR and it was the first time I had used an SLR of any type in a while. I don't remember the f-stop or shutter speed, but it was about sunset at my step-family's beach house in September. I love the view. I love the light. I took the photo into photoshop to boost brightness and contrast a bit and to straighten it out. I am pleased with the final product. I put a few copies in frames and gave it out a Christmas present because the house may be sold soon. We may not always have the house and the view, but we will always have the memories.

ruminations

"A photo is inherently a moment one never sees. It is stagnant. I have explored these moments at times when no one is looking. Let's open our eyes to the world we see everyday, but look at in a different view or light." - Harry Callahan

A few weeks ago, when I was out of work, I went to the MFA. I saw a photo show by Harry Callahan and above is one of the quotes I wrote down while I was there. It makes me want to find a specific path and/or project for my photos, but when I think about it the quote is exactly what I am doing. I'm documenting my everyday life... the things I see and the things I notice, but with a photo it's seen in a different view. I can capture a moment of a day, something I saw that inspired me for just a moment and share that view with all of you. Since it's my everyday life it's somewhat personal, but for me it's like that old saying "write what you know" ... so I photograph what I know: my life.

I just wish I was a little more focused. Or had a better camera. Or a better technique.

Anyway, where are few more pictures:

02.17.10

02.16.10

02.15.10

02.14.10

What a sweet Valentine to myself: tying my shoes for the first time in 6 weeks.

Happy Valentine's Day

I spent Valentine's Day on the couch with ice cream and girly movies. I went to a wedding yesterday so between that and the chic flicks I've definitely gotten in the Valentine's Spirit. And today I got a lot of phone calls and texts from my friends and family, so it's been a pretty good day.

This past week's photos (after the break)

Out of Order

I forgot that I had taken a few pictures with my cell phone that I wanted to post on here. Sometimes, when my camera battery is dead or I don't have it with me, I take pictures with this blog in mind on my cell phone. Anyway, check them out:

02.07.10

I made these from scratch for superbowl sunday. It was really easy and cheap and fun! I got a german cookbook for christmas so I got the recipe from there. It was just flour, sugar, yeast, water, vegetable oil, and salt. Served with mustard, they ended up being really tasty!

02.05.10

I went to the MFA Friday and had lunch with one my friends who works there. Then I walked around and saw a few temporary exhibitions as well as some of the permanent ones. I especially liked this when I walked in and saw the scene.

Another Week in Recovery

So most of these pictures were taken around the house. I have been staying in mostly. Being out of work is really taking its financial toll, so I am trying my best to keep my costs down until I go back to work. I'm actually starting back next Tuesday. I am getting a little nervous about my return. Monday, when I decided that I'd definitely go back next week, I had made leaps and bounds in physical therapy. Today I woke up in a lot of pain, my wrist swelled up again, and my wrist movement went back to being awful. I guess I pushed it a little too hard the last few days and so I have taken a few steps backwards in recovery. It's beyond frustrating. I try to stay positive, but days like today make it hard.

Anyway, enjoy some photos of another week on the 'road to recovery' with me: