Week Four - "Last Stop II"

Glad you appreciated Tony's castle - it does look like Disney's Cinderella Castle, doesn't it?

I mentioned last week that I think I shot this bus from every possible angle - no you will not be subjected to ALL of them. But here is not only a different angle but a unique way of looking at it -

With the help of NIK's Silver Efex Pro 2, I was able to select and bring back the color of the yellow bus and its reflection in the water. Without this PhotoShop plug-in I would have had to spend hours to get this result - it I got lucky.

Guest Photographer - Peyton Roberts

"Yellowstone Bear"

This image was taken on Sept. 14, 2013. My wife, Dottie, and I were leaving a lookout area near a picnic area and saw this bear trying to cross the road. The bear was pretty annoyed off with all the cars and a big truck that had just crashed the scene. Since Dottie was driving, I was able to get out of our car with my 18 to 270mm lens to capture the bear.  I managed to keep a safe distance while finding a good stopping place without getting in the bear’s space.

I did very little post processing.

Close enough for me, Peyton!

Thanks for sharing this with us.

Don't forget to send me some of your favorites from 2013.

Weekly Photo Suggestion:

You will discover a lot about yourself through your photography!





  A Pearl of Wisdom. . .

Law of Bio-Mechanics 
The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

Week Three - "Last Stop"

Lots of likes for Liz's "Old Ironsides." Was that a life preserver on the back? No, that's Liz's watermark to protect her image!

Around the middle of January, Hockomock Digital held an Image Study Night with one of the shots of an abandoned school bus to be reviewed. After we commented on the actual image, our attention (okay my personal interest) was the location of this bus. Phil N. was kind enough to share that with us.

The following Friday found me staring down the "Last Stop!" 

I don't think I need to go into what prompted me to set up my tripod and camera -  the bus, its angle, the clouds, the trees, etc.! I must have shot this vehicle from every angle possible. This one was done in HDR which really dramatized those clouds.

I processed it as I do most of my images with special attention to the NIK software of Viveza and Silver Efex Pro II. I pulled out more of the details in the sky with these plug-ins.

Guest Photographer - Tony Mistretta

"The Neuschwanstein Castle"

The “Neuschwanstein Castle” was in Bavaria, near the Austrian Alps, about 5 hours from where we stayed.  It’s a big tourist attraction and although it was never completely finished by King Ludwig at the time, it later served as a model for Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom castle.  We signed up for a scheduled tour of the castle and I brought a full backpack of camera equipment, only to learn once inside the castle that photography was not allowed.  I decided to play the dumb tourist and sneak a few shots when I thought no one was looking. It wasn't too long before a Gestapo-type individual got in my face and very loudly told me to put my camera away!  Needless to say, I was not very pleased.  The photograph of the castle was taken from a footbridge outside that overlooks the castle.  There were lots of tourists taking pictures there.  I think it is a beautiful setting with the lakes and landscape in the background.  I processed the photo quite a bit to bring out the details, colors and mid-range contrast.  

I think I will always share my story of getting yelled at when I show this photo because that is what I am reminded of when I see it.

Thanks, Tony!

Don't forget to send me some of your favorites from 2013.

Weekly Photo Suggestion:

Travel and photography are the perfect pair!





  A Pearl of Wisdom. . .

Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy 

As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop

making it.

Week Two - Bapst Library

Finishing off my first shoot with a creative approach to an image, "Bapst Library Compilation."

I sat back and waited for my turn to try to capture the back wall through the back of the library. I watched several co-photographers step up, set their tripods and click away. Watching the expressions on their faces, I knew they didn't get the shot they were experiencing when they looked through the opening. When my turn came, I didn't move the chair but took several shots of the back of the chair and one of the view through it.

When I got home I was able to process the opening in the back of the chair and then add in another processed shot of the back of the library. A little positioning of the wall and some cleaning up around the chair opening and I had what I saw - finally!



I have my first "Guest Photographer" and have received three other images for the immediate future. How about joining Liz and the others?

Guest Photographer - Liz Feitelberg

"Old Ironsides"

Liz comments, "Here is one of my favorite shots from 2013… we had a small group of Fire Service photographers at Castle Island for the June 4th Turnaround Cruise of Old Ironsides… we had a non-monetary bet between us to see who would get capture a muzzle flame from the cannons on the ship… I have been trying to capture that muzzle flame for five years… 

And I didn’t even realize I had caught it until I got home and looked at my photos on the computer ;-)

Thank you, Liz!

Don't forget to send me some of your favorites from 2013.

Weekly Photo Suggestion:

Have fun while taking photos.
 





  A Pearl of Wisdom. . .

Law of Physical Surfaces 

The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face

down on a floor are directly correlated to the newness and 

cost of the surface upon which it landed!

Week One - "Bapst Library"

My 2013 photo shoots started early in the new year with an opportunity to capture the interior of one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, the Bapst Library at Boston College. 

So, on January 8th I was off to meet up with a dozen other photographers at BC. It was bitterly cold on campus that day but the architecture of the Bapst warmed all of us quickly.

I remember moving around the back of the library trying to get the right angle with the right composition. I knew I wanted this back wall and a sampling of its textures, shapes, and designs in my image. This is one I finally chose as it had great leading lines (the chandeliers and seating) into that rear wall. My next decision was color or monochromatic. I went with the latter as I wanted you to feel what drew me into this shot - those textures, shapes, and designs.

Don't forget to send me some of your favorites from 2013.

Weekly Photo Suggestion:
Never hoard your photographic insight- share it with the world!


A Pearl of Wisdom. . .

Law of Gravity: Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible place in the universe.

On the Well-Wishes Wagon are Mrs. Beth, Joyce, Joani, Michael P., Liz, My #1 Cheerleader, and a Secret Follower (Paul C.) who actually admitted today to missing my blog.

I'm Back!!!!

"Top Shots of 2013"

I missed all of you so much (what's it been four days) that I found a reason to continue to blog  - weekly, not daily. One of my photo colleagues sent me his “Adams Twelve.” Ansel Adams suggests we should be able to whittle down our imagery of the year into just twelve images! Sorry, Ansel, no can do! 

I have looked at my past year of capturing images and was amazed at the many opportunities I had to fire up my Nikon. There were about twenty (20) shoots that ran the gamut from family to exotic locations and lots in between.

So, if you will bear with me, I will be pulling up an image each week from the past year. I will try to reflect upon the image as to why I shot it, why it made my top fifty and why I processed it the way I did. Now, here’s the interactive piece, I’m asking you to share a couple of your favorite images from the past year with the three “whys” included:

Why did you shoot it?

Why you chose to share it?

Why you processed it the way you did?

I won’t hold you to all of the above “whys” but the more you can share, the more interesting. Size your images as you would for the web and send your images and comments to me at nikonjoe@verizon.net

I will post these in the coming weeks but only if I get enough support from you!

I will publish these on Mondays so those that need that photo-fix will have it to start their week. 

I’m really excited about being able to continue spending more time with you - really. . .

# 363

Hard to let go!

I received many words of encouragement and gratitude from those out there. So many that I ALMOST felt guilty for saying good-bye (key word is almost). 

I will do my best to get postings out frequently.

Thank you to my blog crew: EMO, Mrs. Beth, Michelle, Mike Di, Doris, Joani, Joyce, Carol, Tony, Milt, Pete, Michael K., and Ed G. All of you helped me to start 2014 on a brighter note.

# 362 - Thank you!

Glozing is a group of taverners who should have been busy last night - good to hear from Phil, EMO, Peyton, Michael P., Milt, Tony, Michelle, and Mike Di.

Alas, all good things must come to an end and this is the scenario with my daily blog. I have thought about ways to continue it but nothing comes to mind. As you witnessed these past few months, it has been a difficult challenge to find a theme, the image to compliment that theme, and something for you to do as well. I have had to raid my archives on numerous occasions.

I will miss hearing from you and the opportunity to share my photography with all of you. I did enjoy your comments and surprised to hear many more of your were out there but had not emailed in.

Watch your emails as I may post something worthwhile in the immediate future.

Here is my final entry. . .

"A Compilation of 2013 and More"

NikonJoe,  
TravelinJoe,  
RetiredJoe,  
JoeCatholic, 
KennedyClan, and 
ProfJoldie all Thank you!