Just had to try the big rock in black and white!
Indecisive
I sometimes get bored editing landscapes- a little clarity and contrast, maybe a little vibrance, some dodging and burning, some sharpening- and done. Since joining the photo group, I’ve tended to use Nik Color Efex Pro or sometimes Silver Efex (both photoshop plug-ins) to edit my landscapes – because that’s what they all use in class. Now I am trying to use Luminar, because Google, who bought the program, is no longer supporting or updating the older programs. And we all use the TK Actions panel as well.
I decided to try doing a black and white in Luminar- but I ended up having to do a lot more more afterward in Photoshop, because I couldn’t figure out how to get the look I wanted. And when I was done getting the look, I decided I really wanted a color image after all.
Here is the black and white, edited in Lightroom, Luminar, and Photoshop. This was taken in the Matanuska Valley in Alaska.
And here is another view from a slightly different angle (and with a different focal length) of the same scene, edited mostly in Lightroom, with just a little work in Photoshop.
Sometimes you CAN have it both ways!
And now that I see them together, I think I like the black and white better after all. Maybe.
Winding River
Here’s one of the many beautiful vistas we saw in Alaska- a view of the Matanuska River.
Alaskan Thumb
There is the Thumb Butte here in Prescott, and it turns out there is a thumb in Alaska as well- near the Matanuska glacier.
Where the eagles cry, on a mountain high. . .
One of the highlights of our recent trip to Alaska was taking the tram up the mountain at the Alyeska Ski Resort, where our daughter’s family skis. They are all accomplished skiers, but the thought of those little guys up on the steep ski runs at the top strikes terror into this grandmother’s heart! BTW, those are glaciers on the nearby peaks!
Everywhere you look. . .
Yes- it really is this pretty- everywhere you go, everywhere you look! Mountains, glaciers, water, flowers- Alaska is beautiful!
This was taken at the Eagle River Nature Center.
Windmill Whirrrr
Different windmill- same day.
Rudy suggested I slow down my shutter to capture the motion of the blades- I like the effect! This is something Tom (my photo teacher) says to do with helicopters and propellers. Why have I never made that connection?
I’m a little bit country. . .
There’s nothing I like better than a windmill, a silo, or a grain elevator as a photo subject!
Our longtime friends, Joan and Rudy have been here for a visit and to celebrate Joan and my birthdays. On Friday, we took a drive over to Skull Valley and Yarnell so that Rudy and I could do a little photography. You will see a few of my photos in the coming week.
We Were Here
As Arizona newbies, we tried to get to the Red Rocks Crossing view of Cathedral Rock in Sedona several times over the last few years- always without a map, unfortunately. Once we even got to the trailhead, but it was almost sunset- too late to start out. So a couple years after our last attempt,we set out this weekend without any expectations (or map. . .) and drove to the trailhead in the middle of the afternoon. It was a fairly easy and short walk to the view above, and I got to sit with my feet in the water and look at nature (my happy place)! What this does NOT show is the huge, NOISY crowd of families- complete with boom boxes. The iconic shots of this spot never show that scene. I hope to return at a better time of day for photography and explore a little more of the area now that we know where it is.
Rim Shot
The views go on forever!
Rolling Rim Impressions
We were absolutely entranced by the view from the Mogollon Rim on our recent trip to Payson. The views of rolling hills and mountains seem to go on forever. This image started as an in-camera multiple exposure, which was then layered with another multiple exposure and edited in Photoshop and other programs.
Into the Mystic
Another digital art/alternative landscape/multiple exposure piece from Alaska.
I’m kind of at the point where I don’t know what to call my work anymore. Is it digital art- but it’s all photography? Is it multiple exposure- but it’s done in photoshop? Whatever it is, I enjoy doing it!
Alternative Landscapes
Editing photos for creative expression, relaxation, and just plain fun is an essential part of my photography life. I don’t paint or do crafts- so I create with the camera and the computer. I respect and enjoy traditional photography, but I sometimes like to tiptoe a bit onto the photography wild side.
Yesterday I revisited some of last summer’s photos from Alaska. At the time, I was fascinated with the stark shapes of the rocks and peaks jutting out of the sea, but I was disappointed in many of the resulting shots when edited traditionally. But I had so much fun creating the “alternative landscapes” below.
Morning Blue Hour
I’ve always loved blue and have recently become a big fan of the hour before the sun comes up, when the sky and clouds are streaked with shades of blue.
Here are some driveway and across the street shots from yesterday.
If you look closely, you’ll see a layer of fog between the far and near hills- I’m guessing over Watson Lake.
Fiery
While reviewing some of my Alaska photos, I found so many shots that never made the blog- like this sunset view.
