The most exciting part of the fair for both of us was the mounted shooting competition. I had never seen anything like it and instantly loved it (once I figured out the guns shot blanks. . .). The riders compete in riding around the ring shooting at balloons. They have two guns in their holster- 5 shots each. They are timed and scored on how many balloons were popped in the shortest amount of time. The riders and horses were magnificent!
The highlight of last weekend was going to the Yavapai County Fair! As usual, we headed first to the livestock.
This big guy was oblivious to all the noise and confusion and was sound asleep!
Below is an image from the old Independence Mine in Alaska. The old-timey look of these old-timey buildings was enchanced using the selective focus of a Lensbaby lens and some tones and textures in Photoshop.
Friday Photo Art from our trip to Alaska
Below is another image edited with LAB Color. This was a more complicated edit involving the same steps as before with the addition of an equalize adjustment. Then the image was taken into Topaz Studio where some painterly adjustments were added to part of the image (mostly the petals). Definitely a fun project!
A week ago at our camera club we watched a Harold Davis video on flower photography, and editing with LAB color in Photoshop was mentioned. I had watched many of his videos several years ago and had been inspired to buy a lightbox, which I use often when I shoot flowers. But I had not played with LAB color since that time. So I was inspired to try this editing technique once more with photos I had already taken. Basically, I used color channels to invert colors and blend modes to apply to the regular image. This is definitely not my usual style, but it was fun to do.
I checked off another item from my Jerome bucket list- we finally stopped on the side of the road so I could get the iconic view of Jerome on the hill!
I love echinacea!. I keep the flowers in a jar long after their petals are faded and withered- they still hold their appeal for me. Maybe because I’m a little faded and wilted myself! There is a beauty in aging. . . right?
Another view of Jerome’s Flatiron:
Below is another photo art/ multiple exposure piece taken at the hospital in California.
Usually I take shots out the car window of wind turbines as we drive to and from California- they fascinate me. This time, we actually drove over near the turbines so I could take photos to my heart’s content. This one is a bit of a fantasy- a multiple exposure edited with textures and NO RULES for sure! 🙂
Back to the 26 Glacier Cruise in Alaska- here is one of the twenty-six! I think this was just the first glimpse.
Actually, for me, the best part of the above image is the reflection- hence this crop:
They grow lavender too!
Just a little editing fun in Topaz Impression with an Alaska petunia. . .
One of the pleasures of visiting our Alaska family is seeing their amazing garden! There is a greenhouse full of seedlings, and next to it is a huge terraced vegetable garden. A deck surrounds the house, and the railings are decorated with flower boxes. In front there are more flower beds as well as rhubarb, strawberries and raspberries. And TREES of course!
This photo shows some of the petunias growing in a flower box on a front railing.
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melinda anderson photography 