January 13, 2009

Up or Down

"The path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn't matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark."
Barbara Hall, Northern Exposure, Rosebud, 1993

January 12, 2009

And Puppy Makes Three

I've been out of commission so haven't posted in the last week. Today I'm processing a recent engagement session. I hope they'll like this one. I know I do.

"All I can say about life is, 'Oh God, enjoy it." -- Bob Newhart

January 6, 2000

Brooklyn Sunset

I liked the Christmas decorations and the city in the BG -- even the red stoplight . . .

Now that I've been there, I think I'll have to go back and re-read one of my favorite books from childhood, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." I read it again a few years ago and found it just as delightful as I did in fourth grade. It's a lovely story about a little girl growing up with her family in a Brooklyn Tenement around the turn of the century and was a number one best seller among our troops during WWII.

The city has changed, but its history is still intact.

And finally . . . here is my New York gallery -- Just a chronological memory of a fantastic trip.http://spccreative.smugmug.com/gallery/6979887_CZGD5#446719136_5SRCY

January 5, 2009

Art? Really?

Thank goodness the signage crew was working to ensure that we would recognize the works of New York's more obscure artists. I'm afraid I would have missed this masterpiece altogether.

January 3, 2008

New York's Favorite Color Must Be Yellow

A photographer can always count on the yellow taxicabs in NYC to add a punch of color to an otherwise gray cloudy scene.

Since this was our first trip to the city, we took advantage of the double-decker sightseeing buses. It was a hop-on -- hop-off tour, so we would take it into a new area, learn a little trivia along the way, and then get off to explore.

More often than not, the bus seat was very limiting from a photography perspective, but then there were a few jewels we'd have never spotted from the ground.

January 2, 2009
Foggy New York Night Sky

Two versions today of the same photo. This one is color corrected using curves. In the original version, the lights gave the image a golden tone and a warmer feel.

I can't decide which one I like best. Perhaps it will just depend upon my intended application. What's your thought? What feelings do the different tones convey to you?

Here's the link to the original.


http://spccreative.smugmug.com/gallery/6974854_W6tQH#447151943_C3qia

January 2, 2009
Foggy New York Night Sky

Two versions today of the same photo. This one is SOOC (straight out of camera. The tungsten lights gave the image a golden tone and a warmer feel. In the second version, http://spccreative.smugmug.com/gallery/6974854_W6tQH#447151902_mrChH -- just color-corrected with curves, we have a steely cold blue effect. Totally different feel.

I can't decide which one I like best. What's your thought? What feelings do the different tones convey to you?

January 1, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We just got back from a FABULOUS trip to New York City. I have blisters on my toes and stars in my eyes from all the walking and sights to see!

That's Mike on the right, checking a map to get our bearings on our first night. He is so good with maps and directions that I just hung on and followed because I knew we'd never get lost.

An absolute highlight of the trip was our all too brief meet up with Hillary and Steve. Unfortunately, I was too excited about cramming as much visiting and talking into the time we had, that I didn't get away with a single decent image of us together. (Boo Hoo) SO . . . that's a great excuse for us to get together again. The Shemins are every bit as warm, friendly and engaging as you can imagine. No wonder they make friends everywhere they go.

I'll start the year out with a few images from the trip and then get back on schedule with new dailies. Once I process my New York shots, I'll also add a NYC album and provide a link.