Work in Process...

So here is the original and the edited version. I really like the sky and cannons on the edited, but i can't seem to get a good green for the grass. I settled with some greener highlights and some along with the original brown base, but still not what I was hoping for.

What do you think? Like it? Believable grass coloration?

Battlefield Re-processed

Here is one that I took last week. I played around with it a bit this morning. I am thinking of changing my title image to one similar to this one. What do you guys think? I would probably wait till later in the spring to get a better range of color and contrast. Also change a couple of  nit-pick things about the composition, but anyway since I can feel the yawns and boredom growing in my target audience, I will go ahead and shut up now... :-)



The Guitar Man

Some of you may remember this picture from last year. It is one of my favorites. I spent about 4 hours with this guy last 4th of July. He had an amazing radio voice. I could just close my eyes and imagine riding down the road in the middle of the night listening to him talk. The tone and timber were incredibly soothing and relaxing.

I find that I have been thinking about him from time to time. I am kind of curious to see if he will be back in Chattanooga. I wonder how the winter weather treated him. I wonder if he decided that he had enough of being on the street. I doubt it though. He was a retired Marine Sergeant, so I can't imagine him being anywhere he didn't already want to be.

We had a good time together that afternoon. He sat on the bridge entertaining passers-by. He would sing a standard country tune, but always managed to work in details about someone who happened to be ignoring him. One lady had her whole wardrobe critiqued before she realized everyone was staring at her.

Last year, he asked if I would take a picture and send it to his mom. I naively said yes and then gave him a business card to get in touch with me. I am still kicking myself for that. Why didn't I just take the picture then and there? Maybe it is still some of my naivete, but I would like to be able to rectify that some day. Until then, I guess I just need to be more conscious of the moment.

Some call it Carpe Diem. Some call it living in the moment. I don't know if those are quite right or not. To me, it was an opportunity missed.



Chickamauga Battlefield

Took a ride down to the Chickamauga Battlefield yesterday. Hoping to get some good black and white shots, but didn't really find what I was looking for. However, it did turn into some pre-spring scouting. I saw several places that I will be revisting once everything is done being brown...

This is a shot of the Wilder Tower. It is one of the more well-known areas of the park. During most of the year, it is open to go up into and look out across the fields. Here is another look at it under more "normal" lighting and such...

These are just a couple other random shots that I took. One of these days I might figure out what I want to do with them...





And last but not least, here is one for my Dad. It is a poor tribute... I couldn't find a single antler anywhere, but I guess I need to make do with what I have. Hope you like it...



Life and Death

With the grip of Winter fading and Spring forcing it's way into existence, I have been struck by the contrast of life and death. It seems like even though they are very close together, one always takes the attention over the other. One of the things that has caught my eye is the trees with new growth along side the remnants of last year's glory.

I visited a local history site. It is a cemetary dedicated to 155 unknown Confederate soldiers who died in Chattanooga in 1862. Today, there is no sign of them except for the placard on the gate. It looks very much like any other park. Nothing there except trees, a couple of benches, and the birds.

Another contrast that I have seen is the contrast in people. One of my neighbors really stands out in my mind. He is friendly, easy going, and looks harmless. He is always in the common area grilling food and telling stories. He seems like any other older gentleman. Except for the fact that he is a Vietnam era special forces soldier. The stories that he tells chill you to the bone. He lives with the ghosts of his past on a daily basis.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

 ¹ For everything there is a season,
      a time for every activity under heaven.
 ² A time to be born and a time to die.
      A time to plant and a time to harvest.
 ³ A time to kill and a time to heal.
      A time to tear down and a time to build up.
 ⁴ A time to cry and a time to laugh.
      A time to grieve and a time to dance.
 ⁵ A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
      A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
 ⁶ A time to search and a time to quit searching.
      A time to keep and a time to throw away.
 ⁷ A time to tear and a time to mend.
      A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
 ⁸ A time to love and a time to hate.
      A time for war and a time for peace.

I love Photoshop!

Pretty straight forward post. I love being able to take a shot that was lacking due to poor lighting, motion blur, and any number of things and turn it to something useful.



It's a dog's life...

My friend got a new dog... I got new photo opportunities...



For the birds... (aka "Must..Take..Pictures)

So not liking the winter season. Apart from the GLORIOUS opportunities to see snow, winter really doesn't work for me. I like spring for the pastel colors, summer for the action shots, and fall for the deep rich tones. Winter in the south just lacks the only inspiring part of the season. So sometimes I must force myself to go practice my chosen craft.

Some might recognize the background from last week's "Clean up after yourself" post. It was the same day just posting these today. Please by all means comment, pass the link along, critique, or anything else that tickles your fancy. Who knows. It may even spark some inspiration for me or someone else...

                                                        And the coup de grâce...

I guess the duck figured since I wasn't using it...