Category: Photography

Free Vs. Paid

Last month, in response to a suggestion from Nelson @ A few images, frozen in time , I wrote about the software I use to do my post photo-editing. Corel PaintShop Pro X6 is my main editing tool but I have been messing around with Perfect Effects 8 Free edition as well. As is my preference at this time I set my camera to the standard or natural setting in the camera’s onboard color mode. Since I usually do not limit my self to one subject when I am walking about this has several advantages. One is it allows me to shot an old building, like the following two, or brighter subjects with greens, reds or yellows without fear of the color blowing out the detail. Secondly I am freed up to enjoy the journey and live within the moment without sweating the small stuff. Since PaintShop Pro X6 has nice smart-fix menu tweaking the captures takes no time at all. I do not like spending time behind the computer so I keep it real simple. With Perfect Effects 8 Free edition tweaking my shots took a while but once I developed a sense of what I like I do not use more the four or five settings or effects as it is called with Effects 8. Below are two photos, one is I used PaintShop Pro the other Perfect Effects 8. I would be interested if anyone could see tell which was done with paid-for software or by freeware. Let me know I and I will respond to your comment.

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An Apple Blossom From A While Ago

I took this back in the Spring of 2012 with my Canon Powershot SX260HS. Though I am sure I have posted this pic before what I  really wanted to do was post a photo I was working on using Topaz Simple 4. I wanted to but it sucked  I was not pleased with it, and besides I am tired, so here is an Apple Blossom from a while ago.

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Pollinators Rock

Today after finishing a few tasks around our place I went for a walkabout in search the semi-perfect Hummingbird capture. Since that did not happen I went in search of a Monarch, Viceroy or Swallowtail butterfly capture. Strike Two! “Well now”, I said to me “just look about, breath in and something will come to you.”  It did. I took the following within a few feet of each other and it blesses my to no end to see the diversity of pollinators on our place. Pollinators Rock!

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What Artist Wear

Today I was able to spend a good chunk of the day surrounded by a few of the things that make my heart sing: Art, my great-niece, her lovely daughter and quality time with The Bride. Today my great-niece was one of the artist at a street painting festival. The Bride and I watched her daughter as a way to help support for her in this endeavor. Not that we need much of an excuse to spend time with her or her daughter mind you but art is a great reason to do so today. As she worked on her piece, The Cheshire Cat, I noticed she and others wear things that most folks do not usually wear. With said there are two things that especially stand out: Apparently proper artist footwear is important and for a street art a good pair of gloves to offset the harsh canvas one is working on is equally important. Here are a my great-niece and her examples of the two.

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An Old Stillhouse Sort Of

The Bride and I meet up with some old friends a few weeks back and headed over to Clermont, Kentucky. We toured the Jim Beam distillery and drank in some of the legend and lore of the place. This building is called the Jim Beam American Stillhouse. I call it a tourist trap with flair but without all the hokey and cheesy souvenirs that most other places have. I love the look and feel of the place and wanted to share a photo I took of the Still house. From their website is this description of the Stillhouse,  “The Jim Beam American Stillhouse has got more than a few picturesque sights. The building itself is a replica of a 1940’s stillhouse, along with the actual staircase from our original historic stillhouse.”

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