Nature in a Jar

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Just for FUN: Background Replacement

My desk with a fake background, Coat of Arms stained glass window.

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Kalanchoe Revisited

Sometimes we need to look again ...

Original Edit: Distracting, unopened bud needs attention.

New edit: Background, added Gaussian Blur (+2) with a slight colour balance adjustment
and a little digital noise removed.

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The Old Factory

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Smoking DIY: Add Smoke to Any Image

Trick: Add a Smoke Image (ideal, dark background w/ light coloured smoke) into own Layer then set it's "Blend Mode" to "Screen".
 
Bada-bing, bada-boom! 
... There is the (simulated) Blue-smoke-of-death.
   

For this photo edit Paintshop X4 Ultimate was used.

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Kalanchoe Flowers

Great subject for photography. 
Nikon D90 w/ AF-S MICRO Nikkor 105mm 1:2.8G ED, Paintshop Pro X4 Ultimate.

My Kalanchoe (WiKi) plant and it's new flowers ...

  

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Inside a Customized ALIGN Trex 450 RC Helicopter

Helicopter's canopy see-through look edited within 'Paintshop Pro X4' photo-editor
... Larger View in browser
   

Inside this RC Helicopter, Three Cyclic Servos, ESC Speed Controller,
Drive Motor and the Tail Servo with GYRO. Not shown in this graphic
is it's LIPO battery, 35C 2200mAh 3S 11.1v

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ALIGN Trex 100 RC Helicopter

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Enjoying the Bay

American Island - Just south of French River, Georgian Bay (Google Maps) - 1980's
   

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The Old Brick Works

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Snow in the Great White

A Vertical Panorama

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The Coloured 74-Oldsmobile Omega

Timelapse Restoration and Colorization,
Jammie Rogers, Daredevil 1917
Published on Oct 13, 2014 ~ c.1917, Washington DC, USA by Harris & Ewing, 5x7 glass plate negative, colour by Jordan J. Lloyd, 2014. Courtesy of the Library of Congress

"Jug ‘Jammie’ Reynolds, also known as ‘The Human Fly’ balances precariously over the edge of the Lansburgh furniture building on 9th NW, Washington DC, 1917 as part of a wider routine including acrobatics. Reynolds toured his daredevil act across the USA, and began his routine by climbing up the building like Spider Man before his acrobatic and balancing displays. Whilst the date of this particular image is dated around 1917, a similar showcase in Carlisle, PA in October 1915 drew a crowd of 1,500 people. The local paper covered the stunt, Reynolds “starting at the awning and landing on the high tower… after reaching it successfully, he placed two tables and on them several chairs,” the article reads. “Then he balanced himself on a chair while people held their breath.”

The restoration ~ more information at Youtube

  

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The video was my inspiration ...
 

Coloured Black & White

Original Black & White image of my best friends 1974 - Oldsmobile Omega (1976)

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Creating a Panorama with Any Camera

With many new features one feature added to the new and popular iOS 8 (iPhone, iPod, iPad variants) camera application is it's new panorama function. This news has many upgrading to iOS 8  excited as it now make's it easier for them to create a panorama image. 
 
Although I am sure that is great news for iOS 8, also many cameras from the humble Point & Shoot and all the way up to the best DSLR now offer panorama but "How would I create a panorama if my camera does not have the function?" According to Luminous Landscape the answer to that question is "Easier Than You Think."

However not to be dismissive and as complete or comprehensive as Luminous Landscape's tutorial is I used a FREE Windows PC application called Hugin - Panorama photo stitcher to create the images shown below. 

Presented within the Luminous Landscapes tutorial are various methods for creating a panorama but mostly uses  Photoshop.  Of course the method you choose to make yours is entirely up to you.

To learn how ...

• Having Fun With Panoramas ~ Luminous Landscapes
• Stitching – An Advanced Approach ~ Luminous Landscapes

Sample output

16mm DX (APS-C) lens, single frame shown in RED
   

Sample output created using Hugin 
View in Browser
  

View in Browser  
   

Post-processing FUN

Update:  

Video ~ How-to make a Panorama
   

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Photo Editing Contest that Wasn't

Awhile back a contest was offered at SLR Lounge  but had long since closed with their chosen winner. However still being interested and up to a challenge on an otherwise boring Saturday I thought I would try editing their image anyway, if only for the FUN of photo-editing and Why the Hell NOT!

The Rules of Engagement, were simple enough "Edit [raw image file] to your liking"

• Contest: Show Us Your Best Edit And Win
• Original Image, Nikon RAW (.nef): © Dave Kai Piper
• Photo Edits (PNG): ©2014 w00d's Photo Muse, The Muse, w00d or pwoodyp
• Disclaimer: As stated previously I missed entering this contest therefor I decided to challenge myself by doing the suggested editing regardless.
     

 

ORIGINAL RAW (.nef) file © Dave Kai Piper, resized
and converted to PNG image file for the WEB

The Edits: 

• Going mostly for subtly or "less is more" following shows what developed.
• My favorite would be the 'Black & White' with 'Blue Hue' second.

Click image to view larger then Be FREE and Critique.

Black & White

Stars and Trees

Green Hue

Blue Hue

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Black & White Focus Stacked Image

For my macro (WiKi) photography and because of the limited depth of field (what is in focus) usually associated with macro images I need an application that will extend said field of focus. 

Therefor I am currently testing a commercial package, two applications, Helicon Focus and Helicon Remote from HeliSoft. Together this software will allow for focus stacking (WiKi) and tethered camera control. Where Helicon Remote will automate the gathering of all the images (shot at varying focus points) needed for Helicon Focus to do it's focus stacking. 

Software:

• Helicon Focus
• Helicon Remote

Test result:

• Camera: Nikon D90
• Lens Focal Length: 105mm (Full-frame or 35mm equiv: 158mm)
• Image Stack: 9 images and each with a manual exposure of 0.5 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200
• Image: Black and White, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9.png  
   

Test Result : Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9.png

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Setting Sun: Fun with the Photo-editor

I wanted to share a quick and easy tutorial I discovered. This lesson would be easy enough
for anyone to master therefor it's perfect for beginners including myself.

Tutorial: 

• A Quick and Simple Technique for Adding Textures to Images
       

The Look:

Before © 2014 w00d, pwoodyp

After © 2014 w00d, pwoodyp

"Your camera takes really nice pictures"
     "Thanks I taught it every thing it knows"
          "Be Free and Critique?"

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