Okay...I think I'm getting closer to HDR

Here are two images that were put together with a different system then the others I posted. They look more like what an HDR photo should. =D

Oh- and the watermark is just from the program I used to mix the photos-- sorry. :)

Stained Glass

I wanted to see how a stained glass picture would work with HDR so I went to the Orem Library. I was a little worried they wouldn't let me because it's in the children's section- but they were really nice about it. :0)
Thanks nice librarian!

These are the full two windows that I got everything from:



I had to use a wide angle attachment to get the entire window so they are a little distorted...sorry. :)

A Wizard:


Juliet:


Pocahontas:


Little Red:


The Princess and the Frog:



Umm...some hunter dude... Honestly I don't really know what fairytale he fits into...

ha ha ha...Denise just informed me that it's Mowgli from the Jungle Book! :)

HDR (High Dynamic Range)

Assignment #9:
Take a series of at least 3 pictures (one underexposed, one normal, and one over exposed) ... AKA Bracketting... and then merge them together in a little program to make them an HDR image.

Have you ever seen something beautiful- a sky maybe, or a great shade of red on a car..whatever- and taken a picture of it only to be disapointed when you looked at what you had taken? It's too flat. The colors are not vivid enough. There are places that are so dark in shadow that you cannot tell what it is- or so bright that it looks washed out?

Welcome to the wonderful world of HDR my friends!!

That's right...step right in...watch the step up....

Okay, so here are a couple of my first attemts and I already really enjoy this. They tend to look a little more saturated (an artistic choice that will very from picture to picture and photographer to photographer), and some even look more like paintings than actual photos- but they are just that kids. :)

I hope you enjoy this technique! :)

These three images were combined...


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To make this:


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And these three images were combined...









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To make this:



This last picture is better if you double click on it to enlarge it. There is water and inscription detail on the fountain in back that I didn't even see until I pulled it up on my full screen. :)
Let me know what you think- I love to learn, and NICE, CONSTRUCTIVE criticism (as well as praises and accolades) can help me do better next time! =D

It's a St. Patrick's Day Miracle!

I know that nobody believes in the Luck O' the Irish... but after what I witnessed first hand today at JC Penney's...count me a believer!

I walked in through the west door (by the shoes) and had a little time to kill before meeting Denise. What do you think I did? I headed to the purses, sunglasses, jewelry section of course. After finding more then a few bags I would like to give a very good home to, I made my way over to the sunglasses. Glancing, really. Not really needing sunglasses on this particularly snow/rain storm filled day. I found a funny orange pair and put them on- then turned to look at my mug. And then it happened.... Through the carousel directly in front of me, the space between, and to the next carousel over I saw them. Glittering in the glow of the warm halogens above were THE perfect pair of sunglasses in all their pink and rhinestone glory!
How do I know they are the perfect pair you ask? Well because I have had them before! Remember them? The ones that are not only the perfect fit, shape, and color- but also double as a tiara when placed on the top of my head for safe keeping.
Sadly, my first pair met with a tragic end at the beginning of last summer. I mourned in my own way (weeping unabashedly at any given moment, listening to some Dashboard Confessional, chocolate to get me through the really tough moments)- but eventually let go. I even went back to the JC Penney's and searched for a replacement pair... only to leave the store empty handed. If you knew me when this happened... you probably remember what a dark time it was for me.
Thank you for your words of comfort.

That was then- but now.. Now life is GOOD baby! I'm back and ready for summer to begin! Bring on the flowers, bring on the warm nights, the bar-b-ques, the chlorine scented air, the flip-flops, the...wait. Flip-flops- forgot about all the naked foot action goin on in the summer...
Oh well. I have my glasses back and can take on anything! :0)

Scanning Images and Textures

Assignment #7- Using a Scanner:

For this project, we had to scan:
One ad from a magazine or newspaper: OPI
One actual printed in a lab photo: Cooper
One real object: A Pen
The connection: Three things that I love. :)



Assignment #8-Textures
This project required us to take three shots of things with textures and then use photoshop to copy each 3 times, and then modify them each with a different texture.
My three object were:
My "watermelon" bag
A purple fuzzy hat
A piece of wicker



Both projects were a little frustrating due to my lack of photoshop knowledge- but I made it though.
Though not the most interesting of projects, I learned from them- and that is the point. Right? Right.

One of the Good Guys

In an effort to gear up for the upcoming book launch- Brandon Mull (who wrote the Fablehaven books) had a signing @ the Deseret Book in Sandy on Monday.

I feel I should tell you that although she was there, and I did, in fact, use my mad camera skills to take cute pictures of her, B did NOT want any of them posted.
Why has she suddenly gotten so camera shy? I don't know.
I blame it on being 13.
Oh well... as someone who doesn't love her pic either, I try never to post anything that the subject of my pics doesn't want...

Bottom line:
B was here, but there are no pictures to document it on this blog. (Though I'm sure when she is older she will love that I have them)



............except this one- this is B holding a book:
(girlfriend needs to trim those nails!;) )




As a public service I would like to take this opportunity to leave a note to future authors who are planning on holding signings:
1)Make sure that the book store's time (6:00) and the time you put on your website (6:30) match.
2)Don't, then proceed to forget about said book signing until the very last second- and only then remember because your wife reminds you.
3)If you DO happen to forget until the last second- make sure your entrance is kinda funny. :)


I don't know who this kid is- he was just ALWAYS in my picture- maybe he though I was paparazzi or somethin? (I hope he's okay with his pic on the blog)



Last year I asked Peanut what he wanted most. To which he responded, "I want to get that Fablehaven guys signature."
Now, I ask you, what kind of aunt would I be if I didn't take him to a signing?

A horrible one- that's what kind!

One that deserved only the most awful happenings in her life!

Someone who should be shot, and left for dead!

Someone who does not deserve another new purse!

...okay, maybe THAT would be a little drastic, but I sure would of felt a bit of guilt.




But look at me-
I make dreams come true people!



Parker had a good time too- although he seemed more interested in a little golfing book and playing with a tennis ball in the isle then getting a signature.




...until we got to the table where he could get his new Candyshop Wars book signed.

That's right, buddy, you just TRY to contain your excitement.


Now I know that he looks like he's not having fun...but trust me- he is! :)



Because B likes his books so much, and loves going to writer's conferences (she's very talented you know), I have been able to see Brandon Mull more then once. I have to say that I am very impressed with his ability to work with kids. He is usually asked the very same question three or four times in a single session, and he answers each one like it's the first time he's been asked. He is also very good about making them feel like he has all the time in the world for a little personal Q and A when they are getting their books signed. Good on ya guy!:)

Bottom line:
If your kids like to read or write try to catch a Brandon Mull signing. He's very encouraging.
You can link to the page about the 5th book launch party here. It should be pretty good. Shanon Hale will be there also. (She wrong Goose Girl and Princess Academy among others).

Unexpected Time

What's a girl to do when all of the patients decide it's time to get better and go home? Well, if she has her trusty sidekick camera with her... she goes up Provo canyon or to the Shops at Riverwood- that's what!






Now- I have something to admit.
But first I need you to raise your right hand to the square (or you can choose to go with the ever popular boy scout salute- your choice- either works for me)... and I need you to promise that you will not, in any way, attempt to make contact with my photography teacher to tell on me...ready? YOU! I see you not promising...good. We can move on...

I have a bad bad habit of shooting underexposed. It's true I do.
While this is better then shooting overexposed because you can still recover detail my way, it creates problems.
Enter: my next shot.
This was shot underexposed. We'll call it artistic choice- (ya, I know I'm not foolin anyone with that). When I tried to recover the light it just came out grainy. Sorry.

The Farm

I wanted to go down to the Farm to take some B&W pics of a classic blue and white truck my dad has... and has had for years. However, the pictures I wanted, wouldn't work today. So, I decided to take some other pics while I was down there. Overcast days are NOT to be wasted!! :)

Character

I love old buildings. Love them.

The texture, the design, the attention to detail.
In fact, when I went to New York, there were more then a few snickers at my choice of shots- lots of buildings.
They were just so old, and so beautiful.
I want to go back so that I can take more with this new technique in mind... yep that's the only reason I want to go back. Okay, maybe not. But it WOULD be on the short list of things for me to do while I was in the Big Apple. :)












*sigh*
At the risk of sounding like an old woman... They just don't make things like they used to..



I decided to try out my new mad panoramic skills on some old buildings in Provo:











This one just made me laugh- very curved. :0)



Like I said... I really love panorama.