A new twist on matting

Saturday Feb 12, 2001

It is a very nice day in central Florida, but cool...just barely made it to the 60 mark so I could put the top down going to the bank and groceries. 

Judy still up North and expect her back on Wen.  Have not had time to do any image work, so must get back in the swing of creating things every day.  But I don't remember if I stuck this one in or not.

and this GIF I stole from someplace the other day...it is cute and feel free to download it for yourself.

Everyone say----

"It is just that easy to make professional images,,,,right?"

 Wrong! 

It takes training in composition, lighting, and a little foresight in the posing for the effectiveness of the shot.  But the light quality must speak to the image.

    That is called image continuity. 

The pose, composition, and light direction might be all correct, but if the quality of the light does not go along with the theme, or subject matter of the image, and add to the total story, then it becomes a distraction, therefore no continuity of the image. 

Sort of like photographing an infant with a stack of school books by window light.  It all works individually, but place together in the same light, and subject, it is not in harmony.

Look at this image compared to the second.  What is different, the light quality.  Here it is harsh, small light source, which equals hard shadows and gives harsh reality look to the image.

Where in the case  in the following image of tools and metal, and contemporary interpretation, the hard light works as part of the story.

And now back the other way which is a broad softer light source which provides for a slower shadow edge transfer and works to tell a complete story even though it is mostly subconscious.

You all have a great weekend..Everyone think SPRING...we need to thaw out everyone up north.

"Create, be  yourself, and grow."

bdroberts@bdroberts.com

Sunday Feb 6th I think...Super Bowl Sunday anyway

Cool and cloudy all day..Added several new images to the completed folder, and then went to friends down the street to watch the game outside on the big tv.   Hat, coat, gloves and wrapped in a big comforter, the gane was good although not the outcome, but stayed warn thoughout.

Judy is catching a cold and she leaves for home on Wen to photograph nursery schools.  Hope she gets over it, what ever it is.  She turned in early right after the game.

Me, I am still fighting the low sugar thing.  But trying to work though and past it, just try and eat every four hours and not gain the pounds back that I managed to get off last month..It is such a struggle after a life of eating like a goat.  Eating anything and everything with no after affects.  Now seem like everything eaten has some negative effect.  OK..enough of the personal stuff.

Talked to a friend in Flint, MI this morning..and things seem to be getting even tighter for him with the bad weather.  Had multiple sports cancellations and now is looking for anyway to make morgage.  It is still going to be rough going for high school senior photograpahers unless they develope a style the  "out ranks" the regular pitcher takers.  One way besides a great personality is to develope a lighting style that just says
YOU.  Use more directional light, along with some kickers and proper hairlight for separtation.  One might even go back to the double key light, ala Don Blair.  It requires the use of parabolic reflectors and barn doors however.  A lighting style that has gone away with the use of wall size softboxes.  It may be time for the return of the "painted with light" look.

Here are a couple of images from todays work.  One, a twist taken from the old poloroid painting look where you shot the picture on poloroid, then befor the emultion set, moved the emultion around with at sharp stick,.  Well, not a stick, but a styest, most used a golf tee.  I think I still have a full package in my desk.

A church front that I found most inviting, and a gargoil...yes a gargoil in front of a hardware store.

That is a different image and a shot of a four and a half foot gargoil outside a hardware store we came across yesterday at the art fair.  How the image got to this stage is impossible to tell.  I should really keep track of my steps as I create images.  But is a focused thought process of useing differend aspects and functions of Photoshop.
Anyway, in its own right, I think it is cool.\  All comments are welcomed too by the way. 
And images from others are always welcomed.

This was a fun project using a style that I have not used for a long time.. It was great to get out the ole Liquify brush and play.  A few "Overlay" layers, and such came into play also...  This place just had a storybook look to it for some reason.  It is just a house that sits back from the main street, and you could walk by it without giving it a second look, but the fact that it was misting and clowdy gave a low ratio image that allowed  for the extentive tonal manipulation.

Here is the result of the white gargoil in front of the hardware store...not really my style but was good excercise.

Now this is in keeping with my style.  Buildings and beautiful entrances seem to grab my attention.

Here is a Church we walked past on the way to the Art Fair.  It is most inviting I think.

That is about it for tonight...coming up on midnight again.

Good night and congrats to the Packers on winning the super bowl.....bout time dudes!

B

Friday Feb. 4, 2011

OH MY!  I could really get used to this weather.  It was great today, wish I had had time to go fishin.Wonderful South breeze and sunny with fluffy clouds all day long.  Friends took us to dinner and had a great supper.  The Red Lion, British of course, a place that makes one whale of a fish and chips.  No pun intended.
The sale of my mothers house closed today up in Indiana, and I was printing and scanning a few late documents that had to be back there by this afternoon.  It sure drug out a long tiime and we did not get full value from the property, but the folks that bought it are very happy and it is out of our hair.

Judy spent a few days designing a wedding album only to find that the new software was not the same as with her normal lab and could not get what she wanted.  Then, deleted the composites from the program thinking it was deleting the order.  So , Lesson learned, if you change labs, make sure you understand the software you are going to.  Even if it the same thing like ROES, or Lab Prints.  Each lab has their own version, and their own products.  Make sure you understand the new one, before you jump into something new.
Today's technology is moving so quickly that one might think they know the software, but it might be just slightly different enough to cause you grief.  Check with their customer service or accnt rep in detail before making decisions.  After consulting with studios for almost twenty years, I can tell you from other experiences that even though you THINK you know something,,it is best to go slow and go though everything first.

Ok..off the soap box..

.today's image is a nothing shot make mystical, as a friend put it.  I will show the before and the after.

There are several "new layers" in the overlay mode, as well as burning and dodging using blank layers in overlay mode.  Switching back and forth from black and white to toned and back again with layer maskes.
All I need is a bridge for the Troll to come out of..  Strange how one's work changes with the mood of the day. 

Have a great weekend all.  Judy and I off to an Art Show up North of Orlando tomorrow..  We want to see what is selling, if any thing, especially photography.

Hugs,

Bruce and Judy

Thursday Feb 4 2011

Cloudy and cooler today.  Worked most of the day on images captured over the past week or so.
Making plans for entry into the PPI print compation in March..

Spent the morning making sure utilities got paid up home.  Mail being forwarded sucks.  Takes two to three weeks to get mail.  Rediculious!

So all in all it was a good day.  Better than truding though snow or having no heat, so I hope everyone has their electricity back and the furnace is running.

A couple of images from today.

The last two are snow bird cottages here in the park that I am going to try and sell to the owners...will let you all know how that turns out.

So long for tonight, more tomorrow.

Bruce an Judy

Wen Feb 2, 2011

I hope the folks up North are holding their own and staying warm and safe.  Sounds like it was not as bad as predicted, at least in central Indiana.  Have only seen a couple of pictures and so far everyone is doing ok.  That is good.

Here the excitment was getting news that we are closing at last on Mom's house after months and months of jackin around.  It will be good to have it all settled.

It was a glorious night tonight.  Judy and I went for our walk and it was just wonderfull to walk in shorts and tank top.  I know, I know..I can almost hear the calls now....

There was time to capture a couple of images however which I give to all in hope it will warm your hearts.

Days End 1

Days End 2

So much for todays entry.  The park is almost full now with many others who have learned the way of the goose.  Happy Trails.

B