Making Sushi - Photo Of The Day, Nov 22, 2013

Making Sushi

This was a quick candid shot I took at a sushi restaurant. I like the way the leading lines lead to the face of the sushi chef.

Photo Of The Day, Sept 4 2013 - Open

Open

This photograph was taken at a street food stall near Portland's Pioneer Square.

I liked the positioning of the knife in the middle of the frame; although you can't see the cook, the knife lends a playful element once you figure out what it is in relation to the food cart around it!

Photo Of The Day, Aug 27 2013 - Clouds Rolling In

Clouds Rolling In, Nisqually Vista, Mt. Rainier

On this trip to Mt. Rainier it wasn't exactly a picture perfect sunny day - but the clouds made for a dramatic black and white image.

This was a single RAW image HDR processed with Nik HDR Efex Pro 2 and converted to black and white using Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Another image from the same hike:

Nisqually Vista, Mt. Rainier

This was a 3 exposure RAW HDR, bracketed +- 2, HDR processing with Nik HDR Efex Pro 2.

Big Wheel Keep On Turning - Photo Of The Day - August 11, 2013

Big Wheel Keep On Turning

Seattle's Great Wheel. I included the sun for a bit of flare, and post processed in black and white for dramatic effect.

Locomotive Breath - Photo Of The Day, August 4, 2013

Locomotive Breath

This is a photograph I took of the locomotive at the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, which runs between Elbe, WA and Mineral, WA.

It's a beautiful 40 minute ride from Elbe to Mineral, with the train turning around at Mineral for the ride back to Elbe. I took this when the engine was turning around to join the back of the train.

 I used a manual focus Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AI at f/2.5, which gave me sharp focus for the engine and an out of focus background, which helped add to the vintage look. Black and white conversion was using Nik Silver Efex, and included using a blue filter to darken the green foliage for some additional contrast against the engine. I like the vintage look I was able to achieve.

Here's another shot I took which shows the gorgeous landscape in the background a little better:

Engine, Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad

Old Meets New - Photo Of The Day, July 29, 2013

Old Meets New - Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong

I thought the contrast of the old boat against Hong Kong's modern skyline made an interesting image. I liked how the "new" skyline which is almost monochrome against the colorful sails of the boat further adds to the contrast!

Photo Of The Day, July 5, 2013 - Little Dreamer

Little Dreamer

I love the dreamy effect here created by the shallow depth of field.

Though this was taken with a small sensor compact, the Fuji X10, the close focus and large aperture gave this shot very shallow depth of field.

Photo Of The Day, July 3 2013 - Blinds and Floor

Blinds And Floor

The lines and play of light and shade here caught my eye as I drank my coffee this morning.

I used my Fuji X10, which has great dynamic range, at f/8 to make sure that the texture on the lower part of the blinds was in focus. Black and white conversion was in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Sleeping Chairs

Sleeping Chairs

One of the little perks of today's smartphones is that we have a pretty capable point-and-shoot camera on us at all times. I like to use 645 Pro Mk II on my iPhone 5 to give me a little extra control of the stock iPhone camera.

I liked the stark lines and shadows of these restaurant chairs this morning, and thought this would make an interesting shot in black and white.

I chose the H5 film preset on 645 Pro - a replica of the classic Ilford HP5 black and white emulsion -  for crisp contrast and hard grain. I further processed in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 to create the final image.

Photo Of The Day, July 2, 2013 - The Toys

The Toys

I like the spooky atmosphere I was able to create in this image. The room looks dark and dingy and a little ominous, and it's almost as if the toys are about to come to life.

This is a black and white HDR image. I shot 3 exposures in RAW, then combined them to create the HDR image using Nik HDR Efex Pro 2, which is currently my favorite software for creating HDR images.

The slight eeriness of the HDR image, black and white and the grain and vignetting all contribute to the slightly surreal and spooky nature of this image.

Photo Of The Day, June 26, 2013 - Big Brother's Watching You

Big Brother's Watching You

My take on the recent NSA leak scandal. Just a little reminder that Big Brother's watching you...

I lit this shot with a single bare Nikon SB-600 speedlight off-camera to the left, placed low to create the ominous long shadow.

Photo Of The Day, June 24 2013 - NE 6th Street

NE 6th Street

I made the most of some dramatic clouds in the sky in this downtown Bellevue street shot.

This was literally shot from the middle of the road - while the pedestrian crossing sign was on, of course! This probably explains the expression on the man's face - he probably thought I was crazy for taking a picture.

I'm pleased with the composition of this - the man, building and traffic light form an inverted triangle, the eyes go from the man crossing the street right to the dramatic clouds.

The black and white post-processing in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 added to the drama of this shot. Post processing also included straightening out some leaning verticals in Photoshop CS5.

Photo Of The Day, June 23, 2013 - Storm's Coming

Storm's Coming

Dramatic skies as I looked up at the window washers at this high-rise building.

Photo Of The Day, June 22, 2013 - Salt

Salt

I shot this as part of a photo challenge to illustrate texture. I lit this from the side to accentuate the texture, and converted to black and white during post-processing.

Photo Of The Day, June 21, 2013 - Bellevue Square Walkway

Bellevue Square Walkway

I found the converging lines here interesting.

Photo Of The Day - June 16, 2013 - Barn Convergence

Barn Convergence

I like the converging lines and textures in this image I made at Nisqually Wildlife Preserve.

Photo Of the Day - June 7, 2013 - Wet

Wet

Part of a fountain in downtown Bellevue.

Photo Of The Day, June 2, 2013 - Admiralty Inlet View

Admiralty Inlet View, Whidbey Island

A view of Admiralty Inlet from Fort Casey on Whidbey Island. I post-processed this to convert to black and white and maximize the dramatic effect.

Northwest Folklife Festival 2013

Street Performers at Folklife 2013

Northwest Folklife kicks of the summer festival season in the Puget Sound area. Music, crafts, food, protestors, health nuts, face painters, tattoo artists, wierdos - Folklife has it all, along with the sometimes not-so-faint but unmistakeable odor of people smoking a newly-legalized, formerly controlled substance.

Fisher Green Stage

On The Greens

The lawns in front of the Fisher Green stage were a popular place to hang out.

Anti-GMO Protestors at Folklife

The anti-GMO protestors were out in full force this year. This one was hard to miss, given he towered above everyone, had horns, was painted red and was playing the bagpipes. 

Young Street Performer

Street Performer

The street performers are definitely one of my favorite parts of the festival.

Crafts On Sale

There were arts and crafts as well as activities for kids at the Fisher Pavilion area.

Are You Ready?

And finally, nothing like a little reminder of our sins to top it all off.

Photo Of The Day, April 21, 2013 - Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Tulips at the Tulip Festival

April is when people in the Puget Sound area go bonkers about tulips. It's practically a law that you have to go to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in April, so I don't fight it. I just go and take more tulip photos every year. It's allowed - you get a waiver for the month of April from the Photography Police as long as you don't speak of tulips the rest of the year.

Fields of Tulips at Roozengarden

A trip to the tulip fields is fun, mainly because you get to see people making fools of themselves. Photographs of people jumping into the air were popular this year.

Raindrops on Tulips

It rained for a short while when we were there. Once the rain stopped it was lovely, as our friends in England like to say.

Yes, it rained. This is the Pacific Northwest, right?

Photo Of The Day, April 18, 2013 - High-Rise Windows, Bellevue WA

High-Rise Windows, Bellevue WA

I liked the lines in this shot of high-rise windows on a building in Bellevue today.

Photo Of The Day, April 18, 2013 - Hello Sunshine

Hello, Sunshine

It was a beautiful spring day here in the Pacific Northwest, and I liked the converging lines and the bright colors in this shot.

Photo Of The Day, March 31, 2013 - Skunk Cabbage

Skunk Cabbage

Ok, with a name like Skunk Cabbage, you probably don't expect much in the looks department. Yet with the backlight and the shallow depth of field, I thought this flower I came across on Bainbridge Island looked interesting. Yes, it does smell of skunk.

Photo Of The Day, March 30 2013 - Rust

Rust

Interesting textures on a barn door.

Photo Of The Day, March 29, 2013 - Under The Clock

Under The Clock

The clock opposite Bellevue Square - from right underneath. I thought the lines and shapes made for an interesting composition.

Photo Of The Day, March 28, 2013 - Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Blossoms

Yes, spring is here all right!

Photo Of The Day, March 25, 2013 - Flowers on Playground Bench

Flowers on Playground Bench

I thought this was interesting because you could make up several different stories about it - all of which would probably be more interesting than reality.

Photo Of The Day, March 24, 2013 - Interrupted Descent

Interrupted Decsent

Yet another leaf in a tree with a blurry background.

Photo Of The Day, March 23, 2013 - Caspar Babypants at Top Pot Bellevue

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Kindie rocker Caspar Babypants (aka Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the USA) rocks the preschool set at Top Pot Donuts in Bellevue WA on March 23, 2013.

Photo Of The Day, March 18 - The Pianist

The Pianist

I liked the way this looked from above.

Photo Of The Day, March 17, 2013 - Broken Windows

Broken Windows

Broken windows at an abandoned house.

Photo Of The Day, March 14, 2013 - Easter Bunnies

Easter Bunnies

Well it is almost Easter - so here are some Easter Bunnies I spotted at Bellevue Square.

Photo Of The Day, March 13, 2013 - Microsoft Store

Microsoft Store, Bellevue Square

Windows 8 display at the Microsoft Store. I can guarantee this will have great geek amusement value in a few years when we are up to Windows 13 or so...

Photo Of The Day, March 12, 2013 - Young Monk

Young Monk, Bhutan

It's been a while since I posted an image. Today I was playing around with split toning on an old image I'd shot of a young monk at a monastery in Bhutan.

For those not familiar with Bhutan, it is a Buddhist Kingdom located between China and India where the Buddhist culture has been preserved by limited exposure to visitors and isolation from the outside world.

The original image was a quick grab shot due to its candid nature, so I cropped it a little in Aperture to remove the stairs and other distracting elements. The next step was to convert the image to Black and White.

I used Silver Efex Pro 2, my B&W plugin of choice, keeping it neutral and using a red filter. I also brightened up the monk’s face and robes a little using a couple of control points. Silver Efex has a couple of presets for split toning, and I took a look at them, but decided to do the split toning in Photoshop.

The next step was in Photoshop. I decided to tone the highlights yellow and the shadows red/brown, to preserve the warm tones in the image and the golden color of the monastery door. I added a Color Balance layer, selected the Highlights radio button and dragged the yellow/blue slider to yellow to tone the highlights yellow. Then, selecting the Shadows radio button, I dragged the red/cyan towards red and the yellow/blue towards yellow, adjusting it till it looked good to me.

I

Photo Of The Day, February 17 2013 - Knot

Knot

I found the texture in the sworls in the wood and the water drops here fascinating.