Ice Cream Truck - Snapshot

This is just a snapshot, but it should bring a smile to your face. One of my neighbors is a vendor and truck was in their driveway for the winter. Yes, it would be better image if the vendor was waving at me and there were children buying/tasting their treats but that is not going to happen till the temperatures get warmer in GSO. Only did minor editing with PS Express app. for color of the images. I think the children in the NE this winter are probably making their own snow cones and snow ice cream.  Could use image for scrapbooking.  Did not want to spend time cloning out garbage cans and car. A  different angle would have shown junk to the right .

Ice Crystals with Grass Indentations

                                    

I have ice crystals on my list of things to photograph this winter. This is just a piece of ice from a bird bath that I had laid on the grass from the previous day. It had acquired texture from the grass foliage. There was also some debris. I broke off about a 2 inch piece, placed it on a fushia pink turtleneck top so you would be able to see the design better. In a way it reminds me of how some tissue looks under a microscope. I cropped off the debris and thought it looked better not being in the middle.but with the bottom along the edge. I increased the shadows and then applied 1 click of the Lomo effect in PSE 11. Certainly made for interesting texture. The image on the right I cannot remember what I did exactly.  I know I sharpened and that is why there is more texture from the background fabric. I think I increased the midtones and eliminated the Lomo effect.  

Beech Leaves - Winter; Texture Pencil Drawing

I promised a beech tree photo with leaves.  Of course, I had to play around with some apps as well.  I signed up for Bob Weil's iPhoneography Art Composition online course but will not work with it until next week. It is supposed to help me create amazing art. The leaves were not taken in the fall, but at same time my "Inspired by Nature" images were taken.  I was trying to capture some blue sky and lighting that would show the veins of the leaves.  I did some sharpening and increased the saturation.  Then I used PSE 11 to give texture effect.  I sharpened to the max and then used pencil drawing.  I experimented a lot and may have forgotten to include all the final steps.  

Beech Tree Bark #3 - Inspired by Nature

Today is Beech Tree Bark No.3. This looks somewhat like a reptile.
I edited first in the native camera app. Then did sharpening, light & darkness highlight, and added little color variation in PSE 11 to give the image more depth.. It really is amazing with what looks like fine hairs and 2 eyes. I am sure y'all will have your own interpretation of this image. Perhaps I need to find some more beech trees and see if this tree attracts these interesting disfigurations. In the winter time it is easy to find beech trees because they still have their leaves...at least in the Triad region of NC. I will post one of those pictures tomorrow.

Nandina Berries & Orton Effect PSE 11

Nandina berries are not that easy to photograph but at least this image does not have bad glare I sometimes get. I like the concrete background that separates the foliage. One of the best images I got was with some snow, but we have not had any measureable amount in GSO, NC, this winter. Also the birds love them and then berries are missing. I did not edit this image but HDR mode chosen. I did try to use an Orton effect in PSE 11.Can't remember if used a glass filter   However, I need to perfect this. Better than carrying a piece of glass around for a Monet effect.      

Fushia-Purple Flourscent Stairs Zinda Restaurant, Raleigh, NC

Somehow I lost a day on January 31st and didn't post an image. So, posting another today. When I was at the Scott Kelby conference on Friday. I went to eat with friends at the Zinda Restaurant: 301 Lafayetteville St, Raleigh, NC. They specialize in Indian and Asian cuisine. The chana marsala was excellent!  I also had a spring roll, chicken satay on a skewer with peanut dipping sauce, and some Nann bread.  I was by a window and would have taken a picture of that platter if I had more time. A staircase lit up in flourescemt fushai/purple colors caught my attention and asked permission to take a picture. It was not easy because the wait staff used the left stainless door and I did not really want them in the picture. I did a little cropping of the image but that is all. They have disco on Fri & Sat. nite. Check out the menu @  www.zindaraleigh.com.  

Blueberry-Cherry "Dump Cake" with Ice Cream

Some photos are meant to be a learning experience for future photography efforts.  I made this dump dake and decided to take a picture of it outside. Had everythihg ready on the plate except the ice cream and it was probably 40 degrees F. 

At any rate I went to a Scott Kelby seminar in Raleigh on Friday and learned more about taking pictures of food.  He did say that you could hire a food stylist (their ratres are about $150.00/hr).  I think I will keep practicing.  He also said it was 

not necessary to include the whole dish with the silverware et al. He routinely tilts his camera at a 45 degree angle. Should have used a diffusion screen or used window lighting. The depression milk glass had glare in addition to the food making shadows. There are numerous recipes available on line, just search for "dump cake". This was a combination of cherry pie filling with a pint of fresh blueberries which I baked in a Corningware Quiche dish.