Pretzel's Snack-A-Day (365 for 2014)

[Pretzel]

Day 138 - PARTY!

Took my boy to an end of school get-together tonight, and caught one of those rare smiling moments before he saw me with the camera. Threatened him with putting this one on Facebook. HA!

Then, since we were back there, it seemed like a good time to catch one of the hibiscus blooms against the background of the freshly cleaned patio. Did my own version of focus stacking (as a learning experience) with 2 handheld shots. One shot was focused more on the leaves, one on the "internals". Both were at f2.8, so there's not a TON of depth to the focus stacking, but it definitely made a difference!

 

[sonicbuffalo_RIP]

Nice flower shot....and the boy too. He looked genuinely happy.....(probably until you threatened him with a FB picture)

 

[SteveL54]

Congrats to your son.

 

[Pretzel]

Day 139 - Yup, that's the kind of day it's been...

 

[Pretzel]

Day 140 - Nobody gnomes the trouble I've seen.

Yeah, I know. It kinda hurt me to type it...

HORRID day at work, day 2 of headaches too, but have been meaning to shoot the newest family member before introducing him to his new home in the front flowerbed. (I need someone to guard my Darling Daisies)

Messed with off camera flash placement while using the on-camera flash in TTL mode too. Headache made me quit sooner than I wanted too, but here's 3 different placements... Personally, I like the second one the best. Slightly behind to the left, and placed a bit higher, firing off the ceiling. w00t.

Good Lord, I need to find an ache free day and get outta this rut.

 

[SteveH]

I hope you feel better soon fella... Cool Gnome shots though!

 

[Vixen]

I agree...2nd shot lighting is nice. Get well soon. Seems so many of my internet photog friends are unwell at the moment

 

[Marilynne]

Hope your headache goes away real soon.

 

[Pretzel]

I hope you feel better soon fella...

Get well soon. Seems so many of my internet photog friends are unwell at the moment

Hope your headache goes away real soon.

Thanks all. Woke up with it gone, but it's starting to come back at "dull roar with a promise for more" phase. Used to take daily medication for migraines, but kicked 'em for a few years. Now it seems like they're coming back more often, so scheduling an adjustment with the chiropractor first, then will go from there...

 

[Bill16]

I feel for ya buddy! I have chronic headaches myself, but mine never really goes away. Pain meds have been a daily part of life for me for a very very long time.

 

[Pretzel]

Day 141 - High ISO testing

Decided I'd see what the D7100 would do CRANKED UP. The first is at max ISO, the 2nd was at something more manageable in a low light setting.

QUITE impressed with this shot of the TV at 25,600 ISO. Very little editing (slight crop, NR/Luminance at a mere 30 in LR5)

Then, this shot was at a much more manageable ISO 3200. Loving this new body!

 

[Pretzel]

Day 142 - Focusing on PP skills

So, before... to create this type of image... well, let's just say my process was TEDIOUS! No YouTube, no books, just dabbling and using my noggin tonight to find a better way. This is MUCH cleaner, MUCH easier. Layers are my FRIEND!

What you guys think?

 

[Pretzel]

142 continued - Messed around with Wendy's trick, too, of adding a color-matched border. Starting to get the hang of this! What ya think, @wthorson?

 

[Blacktop]

I love that shot of the color version. You're getting some awesome picks lately. I can see the inspiration from the Primal Beast.
Also love the "selective focus watermark. Very tastefully done.

 

[Pretzel]

142 - Part 3 - Ok, last shots after messing around tonight.

In the same pot with the Biden (pictured earlier in B&W and it's full glory yellow) are also these flowers. This one is a Scarlet Red Callie.

Then there's this flower. I present the "Back to Black" Trailing Petunia.

Then, I took one of the blooms off of my straw flower and brought it in for a pic in the middle of one of our colorful ceramic dip saucers. (these saucers made an appearance in my run of abstracts too) Had a little fun editing the saucer onto a black background and messing around with edits until I found the look I liked the best.

Have a good day, y'all!

 

[Pretzel]

OK, I lied... I had another idea...

Hello, my name is Pretzel, and I'm an addict. I've been edit free for 3 minutes, now.

 

[randyspann]

"edit free" - all are awesome.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[BackdoorArts]

I remember this one guy who once accused me of pulling edits out of my a$$. Hmmm, who was that guy?!

 

[Pretzel]

I remember this one guy who once accused me of pulling edits out of my a$$. Hmmm, who was that guy?!

Whoever he was, I'm sure he's still envious of the workflow and quality of aforementioned edits... :eagerness:

 

[wthorson]

142 continued - Messed around with Wendy's trick, too, of adding a color-matched border. Starting to get the hang of this! What ya think, @wthorson?

View attachment 90741

Pretzel, I like it very much. You are right the colored border makes the whole shot pop!!! it is such a beautiful flower and I like the black background. Way to go!!!!