Good to Wow Edit: Seattle Skyline at Night 09.10.11

As I mentioned on Monday, this is my first week linking up with Shoot and Edit: Good to Wow Challenge. It was Open House today at my school and so it was a long, exhausting day! Despite that I had to edit these photos as I had been thinking about what I was going to do all week. Below is the SOOC of the Seattle Skyline and then the edited version. I wasn't going to edit this photo as I really liked it as it was. However, after checking out Ashley's tutorial on noise reduction with Lightroom I wanted to give that a try. This led to me editing the photo before reducing the noise. I warmed up the white balance and then played with all of the basic settings. This was followed by reducing the color and luminance noise. I really like how the edit took a bit of the brightness out of the Space Needle and one of the skyscrapers.

Before 

Taken with Canon EOS Rebel Ti1 

Settings: ISO 400, 74mm, ss3.2, f/6.3 (full manual on tripod)

After

Edited with Adobe Lightroom

I also edited my moon photo. I cropped it to make the moon fill up the frame a bit more. Then I added a cloud texture in GIMP after being inspired by Jaymi's extreme editing. I then opened it back up in Lightroom and converted it to black and white and played with the basic settings. Finally, I did a bit of noise reduction. For my first try with textures I think it turned out ok, but I am not sure if the clouds compete too much with the moon and I don't like how much definition the moon lost. 

Before 

Taken with Canon EOS Rebel Ti1 

Settings: ISO 100, 250mm, ss1/100, f/10 (full manual on tripod)

After

Edited with Adobe Lightroom

“In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.” – Alfred Stieglitz


Linking up with Good to Wow: Edit and Pixel Perfect Before and After Blog Hop. Check out the amazing before and afters!

 

I Learned: Sunbursts at Fort Ward 09.10.11

Another photography first for me this weekend was capturing sunbursts. During an exploration of Fort Ward Park on Baingbridge Island, I saw the sunburst through the trees and I attempted to capture it. It did not work out and I was discouraged. Before giving up completely though, I decided to do a quick search on my phone and found a blog, that I can't remember the name of, where the suggestion was a high aperture and patience. With these both in place I was able to transfer the beauty of the sunburst from in person to my memory card :o). I went a little crazy taking them after that, but I was very excited that I had added a new skill to my photography arsenal.

My goal was to capture the sunburst and the sun on the water. In post processing, I adjusted most of the basic settings and used a graduated filter on the sky. This was only my third or fourth time with the graduated filter and I am not sure how it worked out. I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 100, 41mm, ss1/100, f/22 (full manual)

"The earth has received the embrace of the sun and we shall see the results of that love." - Sitting Bull

Linking up with I Learned at Click it Up a Notch. Be sure to see what everyone else has learned this week! 

Seattle Skyline from the Ferry 09.10.11

As I mentioned yesterday I shot in RAW for the first time this weekend. I had been wanting to try it after reading a post by Melissa on Click it Up a Notch regarding RAW vs. JPEG. Melissa and I went to high school together and after reading her blog and beginning to connect with other photography blogs she links up with, I decided to begin my blog journey. She is an amazing photographer who inspires me on a regular basis :o)! So thank you Melissa! Back to RAW, I had been hesitant because I take A LOT of pictures and I was worried about running out of room on my memory cards in the middle of a shoot. After stocking up on bigger memory cards and a portable hard drive at Costco I gave it a try. So far so good on the size issue, I am now wondering what I should know about what RAW can do in shooting and in editing. I would love to hear what you know about RAW.

As for today's photo, I decided to do a shot I took from the ferry on the way to Bainbridge Island looking back at the Seattle skyline. I thought it went nicely with the night photo I shared yesterday. I wanted to capture the entire skyline and the sunlight. I like how it turned out, but I think I should have went with a bigger aperture as I think it loses some definition. In post processing, I cropped the photo, played with the basic settings and the tone curve.

Thoughts and suggestions are always welcome!

Settings: ISO 100, 18mm, ss1/200, f/11 (full manual)

“A building must be both background and foreground. As foreground, it must have some exceptional qualities. But it also must try very hard to knit into the fabric of the city.” - Cesar Pelli

Linking up with Sweet Shot Tuesday. Be sure to check out the other sweet shots!

Good to Wow SOOC: Seattle Skyline at Night 09.10.11

This weekend was full of photography firsts. It was the first time I shot in RAW, it was the first time I captured sunbursts and it was the first time I used manual to take night pictures. After riding back on the ferry from Bainbridge Island, I used my phone to find a park where you could see the Seattle skyline. We went to Kerry Park and joined many other photographers and sight seers to view the beauty of Seattle at night. I took a few shots of the skyline and then a few shots of the moon, which involved using my phone again after some frustration with how to shoot the moon in manual. I left feeling accomplished.

Today is another first as I am linking up with Good to Wow, which is a challenge where you try to get your shot right straight out of the camera and then take it to the next level with editing. I have observed this challenge for a few weeks now and finally feel ready to participate. I am excited to make this a part of my photographic journey and I love the tutorial Jill posted for this week on taking amazing dusk and night shots. I can't wait to see what Ashley has in store for editing.

Here is my SOOC of the skyline and my SOOC of the moon, I would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions and critiques.

Settings: ISO 400, 74mm, ss3.2, f/6.3 (full manual on tripod)

Settings: ISO 100, 250mm, ss1/100, f/10 (full manual on tripod)

"A man is a very small thing, and the night is very large and full of wonders." - Edward Plunkett

Linking up with Good to Wow! Head over and check out the other SOOC shots.

Project 64: Blue Violet Flowers 09.11.11

Another difficult color for me to find, I wonder if it has to do with the word "blue." I kept finding colors that were very close but either had not enough blue or not enough violet. Then I saw these flowers on the side of the road and thought they were the best combination of blue and violet, not exactly blue violet, but a good mix of the two. The light was extremely direct and harsh, but I decided to take some pictures anyway. I shot in RAW for the first time this weekend, more on that later. I am not sure if it was the RAW or if I am just getting better at editing, but I was able to use the lighting to my advantage and bring out the blue, violet and green by adjusting most of the basic settings and working with the tone curve. I am very pleased with the result :o).

Thoughts, suggestions and critiques are always welcome!

On a side note, I also spent some time reflecting on the events of 10 years ago today. I remembered those who lost their lives and those who were left behind. I also thought about how resilient we are as a nation. Unexpected bad things happen and we choose how we respond. 

Settings: ISO 200, 55mm, ss1/250, f/8.0

"Continuous, unflagging effort, persistence and determination will win. Let not the man be discouraged who has these." - James Whitcomb Riley

Linking up with Project 64. Check out the other blue violet shots!

Flashback: Winter Sky 02.20.11

Today was an amazing day of photography that I look forward to sharing during the week. It seems like I am developing a routine of posting a flashback on Saturday as I am usually out shooting and then posting my shots from the weekend throughout the week. I decided to keep that up and picked a photo from February for my flashback today. This was a couple of months after I got my DSLR for Christmas and I still had no idea what I was doing, but I enjoyed doing it :o). 

Most of the time I pick a trip and find a photo I like for my flashback. In this case, I knew the exact photo I wanted. I vividly remember this sky and the journey to take this picture. I have mentioned before that I love the beach, it is my happy place where I feel most myself. I go to the beach, often with my mom, whenever I get the chance...even in the winter when it is freezing. It really doesn't matter to me as long as I get to be on the beach experiencing it. This trip my mom and I spent a few days on the Central Oregon Coast. As we were driving back up toward home I saw this sky, half storm and half blue, and had to stop. We discovered this lovely wayside, pulled in and here is the shot. I remember the cold, the noise of the ocean, the kids playing and my mom waiting patiently while I took shot after shot. I love that I have this photo and the memories!

Flashback #8
Location: Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial State Wayside
Settings: ISO 100, 25mm, ss1/125, f/8.0 (full auto on tripod)
Post Processing: All basic settings adjusted<
What I Like: The framing of the  sky, the colors, the light
What I Think Needs Work: The depth of field, the sharpness

"To look backward for a while is to refresh the eye, to restore it, and to render it the more fit for its prime function of looking forward." - Margaret Fairless Barber

Linking up with The Paper Mama Challenge - Remember. I will spend some time tomorrow remembering September 11th, I hope you will too!

Favorite Photo of the Week: Lily Pads of Beaver Lake 09.03.11

This week I have been thankful for the escape and fulfillment my photographic journey provides. Even though I don't get the chance to take pictures during the week I do get to edit and share my photos and that gives me such joy. Hearing from you what you think about my photos and how I can become better gives me such joy. Being acknowledged by amazing photographers for my work gives me such joy. I am filled with joy and I can definitely use it!

My favorite photo for the week is from a shoot at Beaver Lake of lily pads and flowers. I first posted it here and then again with the before and after here. It is my favorite because it was an unexpected find when visiting this new park and because the edit I did had a purpose that I achieved. I love discovering new parks, but you never know what you will find there. These lily pads and flowers were just sitting there waiting to be photographed :o). When I opened this photo in Lightroom, though, I was a little bummed because the colors were a bit washed out and some of the reflections in the water were distracting. I was able to correct both of these issues and I think the end result is beautiful. I am seriously contemplating printing this and framing it on my wall. 

I would love to know what you think of this photo. Thank you for adding so much to my journey to photograph my world!

Settings: ISO 100, 250mm, ss1/6, f/6.3 (full manual on tripod)

"The goal is not to change your subjects, but for the subject to change the photographer." - Author Unknown


Linking up with Fabulous Friday and Favorite Photo of the Week, the new Favorite Photo Friday and Better than the Best. My photo last week was chosen as top 5 by Jennifer. I am honored and humbled! Be sure to check out the inspiring and beautiful photos from this week!

 

Before and After: Lily Pads of Beaver Lake 09.03.11

There is no denying the power of editing and I have been using it this week to take my photos to a different place. I did some selective coloring yesterday and a creative color enhancing edit on Tuesday. The before and after I chose for today is from my color enhancing edit. While I love both of the edits I did this week, they are both creative edits as opposed to clean edits. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing, but I do think it shows me that I have a ways to go in developing my photography skills. I love that I can take a picture that did not turn out amazing SOOC and make it an artistic representation. But through experience and more learning I hope to capture photos SOOC that leave me feeling the same way I feel after these edits. 

With my edit my main goal was to remove the tree trunks in the reflection of the water. This ended up removing all of the lines in the water which I do miss a bit. I am not sure how to accomplish both in Lightroom. I would love any tips or suggestions and I would love to know what you think of the original versus the edit. Thanks for stopping by!

Before 

Taken with Canon EOS Rebel Ti1 

Settings: ISO 100, 250mm, ss1/6, f/6.3 (full manual on tripod)

After

Edited with Adobe Lightroom

"It is only by loving nature, and going to her for everything, that good work can be done; but then we must look to her for the materials for pictures, not for pictures themselves. It is nature filtered through the mind and fingers of the artist that produces art, and the quality of the pictures depends on the fineness of that filter." - Henry Peach Robinson

Linking up with Pixel Perfect Blog Hop. Head over and see the other before and afters!

I Learned: Lily Pads of Beaver Lake 09.03.11

My day has been filled with learning! I discovered new ways to make life easier at work and I discovered another wonderful feature of Lightroom. I decided to go with another lily pad photo from the same shoot as the photo I shared yesterday. I wanted to play around with black and white as I had so much fun with my first black and white conversion last week. When I first started the conversion though, it just seemed to be missing something as the focal point disappeared without the color on the flower. This presented the dilemma of wanting to do something I had no idea how to do. I decided to turn to Google and see if I could find out how to use Lightroom to accomplish the task of leaving the flower colored and turning everything else black and white. I found a simple tutorial on Digital Photography School on the first link I tried! Highlight Color Effect in Lightroom - 5 Easy Steps is an easy to follow tutorial that allowed me to accomplish exactly what I wanted :o). I love learning new things!

Settings: ISO 100, 250mm, ss1/8, f/5.6 (full manual on tripod)

"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence." - Abigail Adams

Linking up with I Learned at Click it Up a Notch and Black and White Wednesday at The Long Road to China. Check out the other photos!

Lily Pads of Beaver Lake 09.03.11

Long, long day of teaching followed by a dentist appointment followed by work at home. I rewarded myself for finishing my work by editing one of my lily pad photos (the long awaited ones :o). This photo was taken at Beaver Lake Park near Issaquah. A corner of the lake is covered with lily pads and nestled among them are a few gorgeous magenta flowers. The whole scene is very zen and editing this photo brought me back to that feeling. My goal in capturing this photo was to communicate that zen feeling and showcase the contrast between the lily pads and the flower. In post processing I did a creative edit to make the colors pop and to minimize the reflection in the water under the lily pads as it was very distracting. I am really pleased with how it turned out. I would love to read your thoughts or suggestions. Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 100, 250mm, ss1/6, f/6.3 (full manual on tripod)

"If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in the water." - Loren Eisley

Linking up with Sweet Shot Tuesday. Head over and check out the other sweet shots!

Normandy Park Sunset 09.04.11

I had planned on posting a picture of lily pads I took on Saturday, but last night I had the privilege of witnessing a stunning sunset. I just had to share it! We raced the sunset last night and had planned on going to Des Moines Beach Park, but when we arrived we found everyone else had the same idea. We decided to drive up the hill and found a street with an amazing view. I felt a little like I was trespassing but it was a public street and the view was one I could not pass up. I have come to believe that sunsets are good for the soul and I always feel blessed to watch and photograph them. I love the quiet and serenity of the moment.

In post processing I did some minor work with the basic settings, I reduced the temperature and tint and upped the blacks, fill light, highlight, vibrance and contrast. I did all of this in Lightroom, but was feeling like I wish I had Photoshop and knew how to use the clone tool as I would like to remove the branches hanging down from the tree. Do you think they detract from the photo? I can't decide if they add an interest or distract. I would love to know your thoughts.

Settings: ISO 100, 55mm, ss1/125, f/10 (full manual)

"The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire." - Pamela Hansford Johnson

Linking up with Monday Moments and The Creative Exchange. Head over and check out the other beautiful photos!

 

Project 64: Melon Dahlia 09.04.11

The color this week at Project 64 was melon. I thought I had the perfect match with the dahlias in my backyard. When I went out to photograph them I noticed that they were nearing the end of their summer blooming. I tried to photograph them in their natural state but the lighting and the imperfections were too glaring. I decided to attempt staging for the first time. I tend to stick with natural shots and shy away from staging as nature usually does a better job than I can do :o). In this case, though, I gave it a shot. I removed the flower from the stem, pulled off the dead petals and placed it in a vase of water. I moved the vase around a bit to find light that wasn't too harsh and photographed it from above. 

In post processing I adjusted all the basic settings and played with the orange and yellow hues to bring out the melon color. I really like how the imperfections in the petals turned out in this shot and how the melon color is found in the gradation of color from dark to light. The water and vase also add to the overall effect and I think my first attempt at staging was somewhat successful. I would love to know what you think is the most important thing to keep in mind when staging still life photos and as always any other thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

 Settings: ISO 100, 55mm, ss1/30, f/5.6

"All colors are the friends of their neighbors and the lovers of their opposites." - Marc Chagall

Linking up with Project 64. Be sure to head on over and check out the other melon entries.

Flashback: Fireworks 07.04.11

Today I spent some time shopping and visiting a new park. I found some lily pads and flowers to shoot and look forward to sharing them this week. For today's post, though, I went in to my archives and decided to post a photo from my favorite holiday - 4th of July! I love the history, the food and the fireworks. This past 4th my mom and I saw two amazing firework displays, one in Illwaco on the southern Washington coast and one at Lake Wilderness near where I live. The picture below is from the latter. I love how you can see the smoke trails and that there are two fireworks in the frame. 

I remember finding it challenging to shoot the fireworks on auto, as this was shot before I switched to manual. I am wondering how I would go about shooting such a fast paced and low light situation in manual. If you have any tips, tricks or websites where I can learn more please leave them in the comments. I know I will need to prepare for the next 4th :o). 

Flashback #7

Location: Lake Wilderness Park

Date: July 4th, 2011

Settings: Shot in Auto ISO 800, 18mm, ss1/25, f/3.5

Post Processing: Cropped, most of the basic settings were played with

What I Like: Smoke trails, double fireworks

What I Think Needs Work: The depth of field, the sharpness

"Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better." - Albert Camus

Favorite Photo of the Week: Capitol Building Shadows 08.28.11

I had a hard time picking a photo as my favorite this week. I really loved all of my Capitol Building photos, especially my black and white edit from Wednesday and Thursday, but there was just something about this photo. I love the lighting and the pattern. This edit was also a feat as the SOOC lacked the color that I saw on location and I was thrilled when I accomplished it :o). 

Settings: ISO 400, 55mm, ss 1/1250, f/5.6

"In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary." - Aaron Rose


Linking up with Fabulous Friday and Favorite Photo of the Week. My photo last week was chosen as Favorite Photo of the Week by Misty. I am so honored! Be sure to check out the other top 5 photos from last week as they are AMAZING and also check out the photos for this week!

Before and After: Capitol Building Corridor 08.28.11

First day of school went well, but I am exhausted! So, I am going to keep this short and sweet. For more information about this conversion, check out my post from yesterday. I love what the black and white did for the photo, but I am dying to know what you think about the original picture. Is it better in color? As always, thoughts and suggestions are always welcome!

Before

Taken with Canon EOS Rebel Ti1

Settings: ISO 400, 18mm, ss 1/25, f/5.6 (full manual)

After

Edited with Adobe Lightroom

"There's something strange and powerful about black-and-white imagery." - Stefan Kanfer

Linking up with Pixel Perfect Blog Hop. Head over and see the over before and afters!

Black and White Wednesday: Capitol Building Corridor 08.28.11

What an exhausting day! Tomorrow is the first day of school and I spent the day prepping and getting my classroom ready. Now the nervousness and excitement sets in as I get ready to meet my students and start the year. I hope to continue to post every day as it is such a great outlet for me and allows me to focus my energies on a creative pursuit outside of my work life. 

The photo for today is from my Washington State Capitol Building photo shoot from this weekend seen also in earlier posts this week. This one is of one of the many hallways in the building. I love the arches, marble and light fixtures. I decided to attempt a black and white conversion after watching another fabulous Lightroom video by Courtney from Click it Up a Notch. If you have not checked out her editing videos yet, they are a must! She has simple tips, tricks and techniques that do so much for your photos! My goal with the conversion was to maintain the lighting and details, but to change the mood of the photo. 

I would love to here your thoughts, suggestions and tips for black and white conversions. Thank you for visiting!

Settings: ISO 400, 18mm, ss 1/25, f/5.6

"Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness." - Frank Gehry

Linking up with Black and White Wednesday. Head over and check out the other beautiful photos!

Capitol Building Entry 08.28.11

Here is another beautiful shot from inside the Washington State Capitol Building. The architecture is stunning and I learned that the light fixtures were all done by the Tiffany Company in New York City. My goal was to capture the intricate designs on the ceiling of the entryway. In post processing I worked with temperature, tint, contrast, saturation, vibrance and added a vignette. 

Thoughts and suggestions are always welcome!

Settings: ISO 400, 18mm, ss 1/20, f/4.5

"All architecture is shelter, all great architecture is the design of space that contains, cuddles, exalts, or stimulates the persons in that space." - Philip Johnson

Linking up with Sweet Shot Tuesday. Head over and check out the other shots!

I Clicked it Up a Notch - August

I have shown this picture a multitude of times on my blog - first here and then here. It also happens to be my desktop background on my computer :o). It is my favorite this month for a few reasons. Number one because of the accomplishment I felt in shooting it on full manual mode and the beautiful straight out of camera (SOOC) shot that I was the result. Number two because of the edit I was able to take it to another level. And finally number three because I am in love with the purple sky. I hope you aren't sick of it yet!

"A good snapshot stops a moment from running away." - Eudora Welty

Linking up with I Clicked it Up a Notch Contest - August. Head over and check out the other wonderful entries!