The Rocky Shore 3.18.12

My goal for March has been to find a better balance in my life. One of the things that has been helping is getting back to spending one day on the weekend using my camera. Not only does this allow me to take photos to share with you, but it also helps me recharge. Taking photographs is a time to focus on something I am passionate about and something that brings me joy. This past weekend, my mom and I headed to Kitsap Memorial Park after a fun ride on the ferry from Seattle to Bremerton. The weather was not the best, but the rain had stopped and the sun was peeking out a bit. With the weather being what it was, I was drawn to the shells and rocks covering the beach. I thought it was the perfect place to capture some natural texture. I really like the end result after a bit of a clean edit in Lightroom. I also attempted a self-portrait. I framed the shot, set the settings and then had my mom take the photo. While there are elements I like, I am still not a fan of my self-portraits. I am determined to continue to try though. What do you think of the photos below? Thank you for sharing!

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/4000, f/2.0 (cloudy wb)
Intent: The texture of the shell and the color of the rocks

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/2500, f/2.5 (cloudy wb)
Intent: The texture and detail of the barnacles

Settings: ISO 200, 41mm, ss1/320, f/5.0 (cloudy wb)
Intent: The leading line to the canal and to use the available light

"A ship in harbor is safe - but that is not what ships are for." - John A. Shedd

  

Wordless Wednesday: Sailing Under a Changing Sky 3.18.12

One of the many perks to living in the Pacific Northwest is the ability to head out across the water on a ferry ride. Ferries are a part of the culture here and make travel across the sound convenient and fun! After driving on and securing the car, I like to head to the very top of the ferry where the views are unobstructed. And although the windy is stronger and the temperatures colder, the sky and water seem to stretch out before you endlessly and make it all worth it!

These were all taken on the Bremerton to Seattle ferry. A route map can be seen here with the ferry sailing from B to A.

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/650, f/7.1

Intent: The cloud formation and color of the sky

Processing: Clean edit in Lightroom

Settings: ISO 200, 21mm, ss1/250, f/7.1

Intent: Cloud formation and the range of colors in the sky

Processing: Clean edit in Lightroom

"If you have enthusiasm, you have a very dynamic, effective companion to travel with you on the road to Somewhere." - Loretta Young

    

Tones on Tuesday #27 3.20.12

Welcome to Tones on Tuesday! I am enjoying all the new faces and photos linked up, and of course I love that many of you are regulars here. I feel like I get to know you a little more each week through your photos :o). I can't wait to see what you have to share this time around. Before we get to that, though, let's take a look back at the amazing shots you shared last time. I think I am ready for Spring to come based on the photos I am showcasing...are you?

Ruth at RHWest: Photography, Art and Inspiration

The softness of the photo draws me in and the bright purple gives such a create depth. And then there is the light! This just screams Spring. Thank you for sharing with us Ruth!

Seeing Each Day

Where to begin with this photo? The vibrant colors, the light making the flower glow or the beautiful boken in the background...it all makes for an exquisite image. Stunning, simply stunning! Thank you for sharing this inspiring photograph!

Evelyn from Within My Focus

Soft, delicate with a touch of vintage flair combined makes for one gorgeous photo! I love how the tones are subtle and compliment the composition so well. Thank you for sharing and linking up here Evelyn!

Ruth, Seeing Each Day and Evelyn please go HERE to grab your showcase button.

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here are the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

• The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
• Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
• One photo per photographer please. If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one if for Tones on Tuesday.
• Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
• Attach the Tones on Tuesday button or a link back here to your post
• Leave comments for at least 3 other participants, share the love :o)!
• Have fun!

<center> <a href="http://scatteredhorizons.blogspot.com" target="_self"><img border="0" alt="Scattered Horizons" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_U2oqLh1UmXZMxfX_WPVaPVWJYh_HuiqvmOJi2frJOmTvsFe8rQPCPuzZfqD9Rm5Lz1E9ijR7i5_09GjPNDZeIcGNOwpU1VlkboGqGPGHxc0q-s28fzb99utdKzU6TvONWyodJtseQ/s1600/tonesontuesday2.jpg"></a> </center>

Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

This week I am sharing a photo I took on Sunday while on a ferry headed to Bremerton. Living in Washington State for most of my life I have been on many ferry rides and each time I have the same feeling. I feel like I am setting out on some grand adventure for places unknown and I am filled with a childlike wonder. The photo below was taken through the window of the ferry of the ship cranes at the Port of Seattle. Having taken countless field trips to Seattle as a teacher, I often refer to these as the "dinosaurs," a term I picked up from my students. I love the lines and the colors and the mechanical feel of them. For my edits I used a few different presets in Lightroom (after I had done a clean edit). With the first photo I used the HDR Effect - Medium preset that I still cannot find the source of (I hate when that happens as I like to give credit and a link to download it - if you know where it came from please let me know, thank you!). I like how it emphasized the colors and made everything pop. For the second I used the B&W Creative - Sepia Tone and the B&W Filter - Red High Contrast presets that are standard in Lightroom. I wanted a vintage feel, as if it were taken years ago of the same port. 

In both cases I did spot removal before the final edits. I removed a light reflection as this was taken through a window and a smooth part of the water that did not match the rest. If you are unfamiliar with the Spot Removal tool in Lightroom it is amazing! What I have learned is to try both the clone and heal functions to find which works best for that particular spot and to keep lines lined up to make it look as natural as possible. Removing distractions is a simple thing that can do so much for an image and the Spot Removal tool makes it easy to do (as long as your spot is not too big or in a complicated place - Photoshop is better in those cases). What do you think? Which do you like better? Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 200 50mm, ss1/800, f/5.6 (cloudy wb)

HDR Edit

Sepia Edit

"It is the childlike mind that finds the kingdom." - Charles Fillmore

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!

    

A Sight to Behold 3.18.12

Many things can be said about the weather in the Pacific Northwest and many people (myself included at times) will lament about the woes of the ever present threat of rain and the overcast skies. When you see this, however, it just all makes sense. Without the bitter, this would not be near as sweet!

Taken from the ferry on the way back from Bremerton to Seattle, WA.

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/500, f/7.1 (cloudy wb)

Intent: The leading lines of the ferry rail pointing to the intersection of the sunset sky and the stormy clouds (where the bitter and the sweet meet :o)

Processing: Basic settings in Lightroom adjusted with emphasis on the upping the colors through the vibrance, saturation and tone curve

"I like this life. I like it when it's hard, and I like it better when it's not, but I know you don't get the sweet part without the bitter." - Holly Near

   

The Charm of Clark Lake Park 3.8.12

charm (noun) - 1. the power or quality of giving delight or arousing admiration; 2. an attractive or alluring characteristic

There is something so charming about a local park tucked away in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. Clark Lake Park is a peaceful place situated in between two busy main roads. As you walk into the park the sounds of road die away and you are left to explore the winding trails and meander around the lake. Last week as I took a break to enjoy and photograph the park I was drawn to setting sun moving toward the rolling hills. I took this photo and was unimpressed. It just didn't capture what I wanted it to. I wanted to show the vastness of the space and the bright sun. As I looked at the picture on my camera screen it just didn't give me that feel. 

Then I came home and opened it in Lightroom and still felt disappointed by what I saw. I decided to try editing it anyway. I started by removing the distracting flares. I did a clean edit to balance the light and color a bit more. Then for fun I applied a preset called HDR Effect - Medium (which I unfortunately cannot remember where I got at this moment). What do you think? I would love to know your thoughts. Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/50, f/22 (sunlight wb, SOOC)

Intention: Vastness of the grassy hills and bright sun

Clean Edit in Lightroom to remove flares and balance colors

Lightroom Preset applied - HDR Effect - Medium

"The hills are alive with the sound of music

With songs they have sung for a thousand years

The hills fill my heart with the sound of music

My heart wants to sing every song it hears"

- The Sound of Music

 

     

Favorite Photo of the Week: Spring Sunset at Clark Lake Park 3.8.12

This week, it was again difficult to pick a favorite photo. I had the opportunity to shoot an amazing sunset in the middle of the work week. And when it comes to sunsets, if you follow along, you know that I can't get enough of them. This means that when I have a week devoted to sunset pictures, I find it nearly impossible to pick just one. However, there was something about this one that spoke to me. For one, I really thought about the angle of this shot and the composition and framing with the purpose of using the lines of the dock to highlight the focal point of the photo, the sunset. This left me feeling accomplished as it is something I was working after being critiqued at Click it Up a Notch. I also love how it turned out and that it is SOOC, which always leave me feeling pride in my work. I also chose this photo as the theme for P52 this week is "Eyes of March." This was the perfect sight to behold as March began. I would love to know your thoughts on this photo. Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/200, f/11 (sunlight wb, SOOC)

Intention: The lines of the dock pointing to the sunset

"He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed." - Albert Einstein

         

Looking Up at Clark Lake 3.8.12

Sometimes when you look up you see the most beautiful things that may otherwise have gone unnoticed...

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/160, f/22 (sunlight wb)

Intention: The bright blue sky and the wispy clouds

Settings: ISO 200, 28mm, ss1/500, f/7.1 (sunlight wb)

Intention: The vibrant sky against the tree

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/60, f/11 (sunlight wb)

Intention: The texture and shape of the tree against the setting sun

"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls." - Joseph Campbell