Around about the house

Skies ablaze

Driving home from North Little Rock last night we were treated to miles and miles 

of this glorious spectacle courtesy of our Creator.  

Genesis 1:1

Westbound I-30, Arkansas

Chasing the sunset

or,

Why I need a zoom lens

While out camping this week Bobby pointed to the west and gestured for me to grab my camera.

The sun was a blazing red ball of fire falling through the trees.

As I headed toward the bank of the lake for a clear shot, the sun raced me.

 The closer I got to the clearing, the faster it sank.

The buttery ball was disappearing before my eyes.

I never got the 'money shot'.

I breathlessly stopped my pursuit as it slipped from view. 

I will be after you again, Mr Sun.  Me and my zoom lens!

Summer bounty, Summer beauty

Back to our regularly scheduled program....

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and well-wishes for our grandsons. I am happy to report that both boys are home and doing well--I'm just sorry to be so slow in getting the updates posted.

Logan was diagnosed with a heart condition called PDA, somewhat common in preemies, but rare in full term babies.  The doctors at Arkansas Children's expect it to resolve on its own, which is certainly our prayer, and they will be following up with Logan.

This little cowboy is also doing well and will also be having follow-ups with his team at Children's in Dallas.  His mama posted a nice update here, if you want to pop over there for the details.

And now, a little peep at some photos I took while in Arkansas.  

Both of these pictures are views from the Children's Hospital.

Arkansas State Capitol

Little Rock skyline at sunset

Wildflowers, poetically speaking

Or more accurately, 

just some pretty weeds.

I have found myself out and about much more than usual lately, both in the early mornings and late afternoons.  Since my camera comes along to capture the action, (and more action) I have also grabbed a few shots close to the ground.

They make for fun editing while I watch the Rangers.

Just a little tweaking to enhance the beauty in the eye of the beholder.

A companion post

The other evening as I was closing the curtains on the day, this beauty was looking in the window at me.  I completely forgot that I took this picture until I read Linda's post this morning.

Miles apart, yet photographing the same moon.  Isn't that a neat thought?

More practice in still life

SOOC

Sharpened. Adjusted white balance. A bit harsh?

Ran Soulful Evanescent  action.

Added Kim Klassen texture Colorstained Frame

Just some 'afters'

After I had taken it all down, I wished I had taken a picture of the mixed up, stacked up, propped up 'studio' I created for these shots. It was a pretty funny mess behind the scenes.  But the finished product is what matters, right?

Capturing the still life

After lunch today, I forbade my fanny to sit down in my recliner. 

 Instead, I gathered up an assortment

of   items   stuff   junk and built a little 

make-shift studio near a window.

I love taking photographs. 

 I'm taking more and more of people, and even quite a few of landscapes and scenery,

 but my still lifes need some work.

I think I do pretty well composing  portrait shots and landscapes. 

 I really like that part of the process, about as much as the editing post-process.

With no people or spectacular scenery to practice on today, I played around with a still life shoot

SOOC

Basic editing: sharpen, levels, white balance, repair background

Texture: "and then some" by Kim Klassen

Don't you just love seeing the progression from
 straight-out-of-the-camera to finished product? 

I have a few more examples hanging out in my photoshop project
 bin to share later.

Full circle and around again

First there was black and white, then there was color.

We all loved the color. 

 Then it became fashionable and artistic to go back to black and white.

I ran across this artist that starts back at the original black and white photos

and colorizes them in a very natural and believable way.

Ironic, isn't it?  We have color, but glamorize b&w.

Back then, they would have loved to have color.

I guess what we have now that they didn't then is variety.

I like that.

Visit the links below to see more iconic photos 

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All in a row

Have you seen this site:

Things Organized Neatly

For the obsessive-compulsive among you, it will be

quite pleasing.

Some of you may find it disturbing.

The photographer in me found it very appealing.

I had to give it a try.

How do you feel about it?

In the swing

I am a pendulum.

The last post contained photos practically SOOC.

Swinging back the other way, the following shots

are processed a bit over the top.

As a rule, I'm not a fan of over-processing.

But these are just for fun, to see how far I would go.

I think I can take it up a notch.

What do you think?