Happy 4th of July!

Today is America's birthday!  She is 236 years young by my calculations.  I wanted to write something to commemorate the day but feel a little overwhelmed with picking a topic.  I am going to fall back into my safety net and write about a ceremony at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World that feels right for today, the flag retreat ceremony.

Every day at 5pm, since the park opened in 1971, the Magic Kingdom has done a flag retreat ceremony at the flag pole on the end of Main Street near the train station.  I had learned about this event a few years ago but had never managed to attend.  This past May, during my solo visit, I made it a point to experience the ceremony.  I was a little shocked by the small size of the crowd that assembled but happy to be able to get a great vantage point to take pictures.  You can not help but get emotional experiencing this ceremony and it is one event at the Magic Kingdom I am going to tell everyone they should not miss.

I wish I could provide more details about the veteran who participated on May 17th, 2012 but I got so caught up in the moment I was barely able to get the pictures I wanted.  I also felt I should not be snapping away during the Pledge of Allegiance or the playing of the Star Spangled Banner while the flag was lowered.  Maybe the next time I'll pick a different vantage point so I won't feel weird taking pictures while these portions of the event are occurring.

The Dapper Dans before the ceremony

Playing America the Beautiful

Just as the flag was to be lowered

The presentation of the flag

I was very happy I finally attended the flag retreat ceremony.  I can see myself making this a must see event every visit to the Magic Kingdom.  Here are a few other resources/blogs on the flag retreat, they provide much better coverage and detail than I was able to get.

• Bob Elsie post on AllEars.Net
• Jack Spence post on AllEars.Net
• WDW Parkhoppers

Books and Their Creation

It sure has been a long time since I last put words to post on this blog.  I mentioned yesterday on my photography blog that I wished it was due to something cool or important but actually I just haven't been feeling the need to speak out.  Anyone who knows me understands that is a rare event when you get me talking about a favorite subject.  I'm hoping this will be the start of something more regular...

Yesterday I explored the new book creation module in Lightroom 4.  I have been getting requests from family to put something together to show off my pictures (family is always a nice ego boost).  I suppose I should have done a little more research but with the tool already available in a software I am familiar with I decided to jump in with both feet.  The service associated with the book module is blurb, so I created an account and starting working on putting a book together.

Front and back cover for first book.

I decided to start with an easy subject for me, Disney, specifically our last vacation to Walt Disney World.  I already had pictures processed and ready to use which was probably harder than the actual creation of the book.  The Lightroom module was easy and very intuitive.  Of course, it doesn't help with picture layout, order or the story I was trying to tell (which ended up being just a wandering of the parks).  I threw something together in a few hours and sent it off to blurb to be created.  The book should be here in a few weeks.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

Working from Home

I am working from home today.  I have to take my daughter to the doctor's office for a shot and it is just easier to stay at home then drive back and forth to work multiple times. I am lucky that I have a job where this is possible and a boss who practically encourages me to do so.  I think he has an ulterior motive because he knows I generally sign in way before my normal start time and have less distractions.  Although, that Uncharted 3 game in my PS3 is calling my name...

Why does working from home have a different feel than working at the office?  I am still sitting in front of a computer programming, administrating, developing, etc.  Is it the fact that I didn't have to get dressed?  I can sit in my pajamas and nobody would know?  If we could capture this work at home feeling in the office would our employees be more productive?  What has to change so work doesn't feel like work?  I am not sure why these thoughts are running through my head now...  oh, look, the data transfer script is finally done.

OK, I know, my break is over.  Back to the grind...

Civilization Revolution

I've been a big fan of Sid Meier's Civilization franchise ever since I bought Civ II on a whim for my PC.  I'll confess now I am no great master at the game.  I have even been known to get frustrated with it and leave its many incarnations sitting idle around my house.  Eventually I work my way back and start playing again.  I hope I don't ever get so good at the game that it becomes boring.

I have really enjoyed the 'console' version called Civilization Revolution, owning a version for my DS, PS3 and iPod.  As I was syncing my iPod yesterday I noticed there was a new version of Civ Rev being uploaded.  The previous updated failed to transfer due to it only being available for iOS 5, so I wasn't too interested in whether this version will transfer.  To my surprise it made it to my iPod.

Last night while walking the treadmill at the gym I was bored with listening to music and decided to see what was new with the game.  I like the changes!  There is a definite improvement in the graphics.  I see some changes to the game options and even the menu system.  I'm sure there has been some game play tweaks as well.  Heading back to the gym tonight and I might pull it out to continue the game I started.  So easy for me to get addicted to this game...

It has begun...

Even though I picked up a copy of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception on Sunday.  It wasn't until Tuesday night that I kicked my daughter out of the video game room so I could play.  Naughty Dog has up'd the graphics again!  The game experience is approaching a cinematic quality.  I'm not saying you are going to think you are watching a movie but I sure get the feeling I'm not in a game at times.

I've only managed to make it through the first few hours of the game and that has been attributed to getting back into the controls.  I've never been a great FPS gamer and learning how to run & gun is going to take some time.  I'm also not so sure I am a fan of the brawling mechanism but it appears it is going to be a big part of this game so I'll have to adjust.

So far I like the game.  There have been a few moments where I yelled at it for making me run around the roof tops looking for the one correct path while avoiding the enemies, but I eventually got through it and when it was over it was good for the story.  I think it is more me than the game.  As much as I like this series, I'm an RPG player at heart and more accustomed to being able to pause the action while I figure out my next move.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this game is going to get me hooked again and then I’ll be buying a PS Vita so I can play the Uncharted: Golden Abyss game when it is released.  Not such a bad thing I guess…  I have been keeping an eye on that system’s development with much anticipation.  For now, I’ll be making time at night to continue this story…

Sealed Fate

I think I just sealed my free time fate for the next few weeks, if not for the next month.  I purchased a few games today in anticipation of winter actually settling in soon.  The weather has been fairly mild up until now but I have a feeling February is going to get even with us.  If I'm going to be stuck inside I might as well have a few things to play.

I have read good things about Heavy Rain and I have wanted Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception since it was released in November.  I couldn't decide so I ended up bringing both home.  Which to play first?

Uncharted has been one of those series that I was thrilled I liked and surprised I could actually play.  I've been an RPGamer since I got hooked on video games.  I have quite intentionally avoided most FPS games because I just could never play them.  These games have pushed me beyond my usual capabilities and because of them I have branched out into new genres.  I'm leaning toward starting with this one...

This game is suppose to be a totally immersive experience, almost like playing your way through a movie.  It is suppose to be a cinematic, mystery thriller so maybe I should tackle this one after getting my Uncharted fix out of the way.

I suppose in the long run it doesn't matter which game I start with.  Either will probably provide the entertainment I'm looking for...

Back in Time

Just before the holiday break, in late December, I decided to dust off my old Xbox and bring it to work.  I'm able to make this work since my office is down in the basement and I rarely get visitors.  I had an old 20" TV that I had been storing in my office so naturally I hooked up the Xbox and have been playing video games during lunch.  I've found it really helps me escape for an hour and not feel burned out during the afternoon.

I started with Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic from Bioware.  Getting back into my Jedi mind set was not difficult and playing through for the third or fourth time has been a blast.  The game holds up well for me and considering how bad my memory is the story still works and keeps me interested.  This was the first Bioware game I played and have been a big fan of the company ever since.

The Resolution List

The start of the new year is suppose to be a time for change.  People make resolutions to break bad habits, develop new ones or accomplish goals.  I'm OK with my bad habits so I guess that leaves me two of the three to use to make any resolutions.  Oh, alright, I suppose there is a bad habit or two I could try to break.  I plan on keeping this list short and achievable so it will eventually become one of those good habits I follow through the years.

Resolutions

1. Live healthier - this is really about better choices.  I believe a healthy diet is well rounded and not about exclusions.  I need to definitely break my bad habit of eating when stressed, bored, or as a social component.  I also need to get to the gym on a regular schedule before I am totally out of shape.
2. Learn photography - I've started this journey and it has taken over a portion of my day.  Now it is time to learn about this new interest and improve my skills.  I need to understand the technical side - equipment, composition, lighting, color, digital post processing, etc...  and practice, practice, practice.
3. Blogging - I have been playing with this blog for a few years.  This is the year to really commit to improving both my Ramblin' On and Picture Day blogs.  I know I'm full of words, now I just have to get them out of my head and on to the page.
4. Databases - this one is work related.  I have been fulfilling the database administrators role at work now for over a year.  I'm a coder at heart but it is time to dig into the database aspect of my job now and learn more about what I'm doing.  I need to have a better understanding of database configuration, performance tuning and troubleshooting.

This is my list for 2012.  I believe each of these is achievable and I'll do my best toward each one.  There are a few random thoughts which don't necessarily have to be on this list but for me are good to keep in the back of my head.  

• I have a ton of books stacked up on my 'to read' pile.  Television has become my lazy minds way of passing the time.  Why watch reruns of old shows when new books are waiting to be picked up.  
• Same goes for my video games.  No reason to rehash completed, old games when there are new ones waiting to played.  
• Balance!  There is a happy medium where all my interests can co-exist.  I need to find it.

I'm two weeks into this new year, which only leaves me 50 to work on these goals.  Time to get started...

Resolutions

It is day 4 of the new year and I still haven't written down my resolutions.  I have a few in my head but I believe I am hesitant to put them into writing for fear they become real?  I need a mental health check if that is truly the case... lol!

I never have really gone for making resolutions before because I didn't want to fail.  Silly, I know!  Well, I leave for vacation in a few days and will use that time to solidify the few things I would like to work on this year.  By the time I get back I should have them posted for all to see.

One Week!

We leave for vacation in one week!  Flying down to my home away from home...  Walt Disney World!  This will be the first official stay utilizing our vacation club points at The Beach Club Villas.  This will also be the first vacation at Disney in January.  I have heard good things about the low crowd levels during this time of the year although the first few days of our stay are during a marathon weekend.

Who can argue with a view like this?  The first time we stayed at this resort in 2008 it totally changed how we like to vacation.  You can be more relaxed and take the time to enjoy little things.  Being able to walk to two of the parks is a huge plus for me.  Having Epcot in my back yard has brought a heightened appreciation for the park.  There are more 'little' things to enjoy and not having to spend time riding a bus to get there lets you slow down to appreciate them.

I think the simplest perk I am looking forward to is the ability to get up and go for a walk around Crescent Lake.  An early morning stroll is always so relaxing and a stop at the Boardwalk Bakery for coffee is the best way to start a day.  I will have to convince my wife that all the stopping to take pictures is a good thing.

Now to start working on getting everything ready...

The Year Concludes

The year is almost over and I am realizing that this blog has been silent for almost 6 weeks.  I have let my interest in photography consume me to an almost exclusion of everything else.  I need to learn some balance.  There are books I need to be finishing, games that have to be completed (or started considering the next game's arrival soon - looking at you FF XIII!) and a gym membership that needs to become my friend after all the holiday eating!

Over the holiday break I dove back into some gaming, giving my portable systems some love (DSi and PSP).  I think I was just getting them prepped for my vacation in 7 days.  I always travel with them to help distract me on long flights and I didn't want them to feel used.  I'm close to finally finishing Tactics Ogre on the PSP and there are a few of the free downloads I haven't even touched yet.  On the DSi I am always consumed with Civ Revolutions even though I have a few games on stand-by.  Is it a cliche to say 'time to make time'?

There is also a few things that need to be attended to on the consoles.  Bastion on the Xbox isn't going to finish itself and Plants vs Zombies on the PS3 is almost over.  This might be a tough time considering the kids have new games they are playing and sharing is always an interesting proposition.  I can't always kick them off even though dad should be allowed to.

As I mentioned above I need to get to work on Final Fantasy XIII now that XIII-2 is almost upon us.  I'm sure it will be released before I can manage to complete the original.  I think I avoided this game because of all the negative comments and I should let it stand on it's own  I haven't always agreed with reviews or comments in the past so why I let them cloud my thinking I'll never know.  Sticking with the PS3, I loved the original Dragon's Age game.  I've played through that one numerous times and the DLC and expansion pack where great too.  I just didn't fall in love with the demo for Dragon's Age 2, so this is another of those games that I need to consider.  I'll need to plan my backlog because I still need to pick up Uncharted 3!  OMG...  good thing it is winter, I get the most of my gaming done when it is cold!

A New Adventure

Today I started my new adventure - a 365 day photography project.  I'm using this project to motivate me to get out everyday and take pictures.  I then will post one of the pictures to Google+ for the project group to see.  Hopefully in the process I will learn some more about photography and I'll probably learn quite a bit more about myself.

I have been doing a lot more with my camera, exploring different styles and learning what its capabilities are.  I've been on the fence about this project for a few weeks but decided it was time to quit making excuses about why I should start one and just do it!  I have to admit I was encouraged by the amount of people on Google+ who I am following that are on a similar journey.  Those pictures and the user interaction they receive helped me jump off the fence.

To add another dimension to this project and give me a place to explore a little about photography I created another blog to record my adventure.  It can be found at Picture Day Blog.  Stop by and see how I'm doing (today is the first day so it will be a little sparse!).

A Little History

I would almost call it a landmark but I doubt most people are even aware of what it is.  It is something I have passed probably a dozen times or more each year since I moved to the Mohawk Valley 21 years ago.  You can see it as you drive along Mill St., from Martin St. to East Dominick St.  You might notice it among the southern skyline of Rome, NY as you drive along Route 365.  And lately I have become fascinated with photographing it.

It is the water tower from the old General Cable Corporation facilities next to the NY State Barge Canal just off of Mill St. in Rome, NY.  It is old, weathered and a little worse for wear but I have been having a great time trying to capture unique images of it.  It started a couple of weeks ago when I went down to get photographs of the spillway were the Mohawk River empties into the Barge Canal.  Before I could even get to my destination I was captured by the presence of this water tower.

This is the first picture I took that evening.  I don't think the name and logo even registered with me at the time.  I was enthralled by the tower and my plans for the evening changed immediately.  I was on a new mission.  To see what images I could get and how I could best capture this lonely sentinel.

I grabbed a few more pictures from across the street and then I headed down to the spillway.  I was able to get a few distant pictures using the trees from the park to frame the water tower.  I was trying different things and actually came home with more 'keepers' than I anticipated.

It wasn't until I was able to upload the pictures to my PC and start processing them that I noticed the name on the tower, General Cable.  A quick internet search provided me with a little more information and a few more days of digging produced some really interesting facts.

• General Cable Corporation was incorporated in 1927 in New Jersey.  It brought together facilities from various companies started in the late 1800's; Phillips Wire and Safety Cable Company, Rome Wire Company and Standard Underground Cable.
• Rome Wire Company developed the Romex ® brand of non-metallic building wire in 1922.
• Rome Wire Company was built near the New York Central and Ontario & Western railroad lines and had direct dockage on the New York State Barge Canal.

The water tower still holds a fascination for me.  Every time we have an interesting sunset or the sky has wonderful clouds I want to run down to south Rome and see what image I can find with this water tower.  Just the other night the moon was just about right in the evening sky so I drove down to the park across the street and was able to capture this:

I'm sure everyone else will be tired of me photographing the General Cable water tower but for now I'll be making a regular run by it to see what I can capture...

It's the Light

It is interesting to think about how my perception of the world is changing the more I explore photography.  The other night I shared a post on Google+ from Sandra Parlow.  She was answering a question posed by Levi Moore, 'What was life like, before photography, for you?' and her answer mirrored a lot of thoughts I have been having.  Here is Sandra's original post...  What was life before photography...


And her list...

• Not noticing which way the wind was blowing.
• Not noticing the clouds and the way the light bounced and reflected off them.
• Not noticing the birds sitting on a wire singing their song.
• Not noticing that one lone tree standing in a field all by itself.
• Not noticing the way the water runs over the rocks.
• Not noticing the mysterious and beautiful nature of fog.
• Not really looking at the colors of the leaves on the trees.
• Not looking at the scraggly flowers or even paying attention to the tiny details of the beautiful ones.
• Not knowing that spending an hour alone in a field listening to the hawks cry could restore my peace of mind.
• Not noticing the smallest details and textures of things I saw every day.
• Not using my senses the way I should have been.

I agree completely with the concept of this list.  I am aware of everything now, or at least a lot more of what is around me.  I'm always looking to see if I should stop the car and take a picture, or if what I'm seeing would be a cool image.  I'm noticing the wonderful detail in everything and I find myself always thinking how I would position the camera to capture it best.  It's amazing out there...  and I'm just starting to enjoy it.

This or that

Yesterday was a rainy, lazy, stay inside kind of day.  I hadn't planned it to be that way, but once the weather kicked in full force I didn't have much choice.  My wife and daughter had left to visit my mother-in-law and wouldn't be home until Sunday.  Even though I had to work on a database most of Sunday morning, I thought Saturday afternoon would be all mine to go exploring.  There were a few places fairly close to the house that I was sure would provide me with some great pictures.  Oh well, best laid plans...

I decided to get a few things done around the house and then I sat down to watch some of the shows queued up on the DVR.  The rain was beating against the front window and when I turned to catch a glimpse of the show outside, this is what I saw.

I liked the way the rain distorted my view of the burning bush and thought if I could find an angle that didn't have any window glare I would have a decent picture.  It took more than one click before I achieved the picture I was hoping for.  I think it turned out OK.

Now this isn't exactly the picture I took with the camera.  I played with a few of the image settings in Adobe Photoshop's Lightroom.  Here is what came out of the camera.

There is some processing done by the camera because it saves in JPEG format but it wasn't the way I wanted it to be.  The image was a little too bright so it needed to darkened and sharpened.  I also increased the clarity and added a little to the saturation level.  The original wasn't bad but I just couldn't get it there with the camera settings.

I'm no expert and I'm sure I have 'ruined' more images than I have 'fixed' but the fun is in the trying.  Still learning so hopefully you will see an improvement as I continue.

Google Plus and Photography

I was lucky enough to get on Google Plus when it was still in beta.  I wasn't sure what it would do for me, I mean, what did I need another social network for.  Well, it is basically the only social network I have been using for the past couple of months.

I happened to join around the same time I was getting interested in photography.  I had been posting pictures of vacations and family events on FB but that wasn't much more than point & shoot.  To be honest it was the only photography I knew for years.  Don't get me wrong, I used the camera, sometimes to excess.  I could come home from a vacation, especially from Disney, with five to six hundred pictures.  But it really was quantity over quality.

Being the Disney fanatic (addict?) that I am, eventually I came across two very important Disney web sites/blogs that started me down this new path I am following.  The first was WDW Photography (which is now the Disney Photography Blog) created by Adam Hansen and Cory Disbrow.  And then through that site I found The Disney Tourist Blog created by Tom & Sarah Bricker.  Both of these sites opened my eyes to what a Disney photograph could be.  I would pour over those sites lost in each image, wishing my pictures would be as nice.  Now, my pictures hold a lot of memories for me and I would never delete them, but the pictures on these sites prompted me to learn more.

I started playing with my camera (a Sony DSC-H20).  I discovered the camera was capable of a lot more than I ever imagined.  At first I got lost in the available settings and I struggled with getting the camera to work for me.  And then, again thanks to my new favorite websites, I purchased my first photography book.  I believe it was in a post by Tom Bricker about recommended reading which pointed me to Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure.  What an eye opener!  Finally, the settings started to make sense to me. I quit trying to manipulate everything and focused on two or three key settings.  My pictures started to improve.  I was hooked.

Now this gets me back to where I started with this post, Google Plus (G+).  I'm not sure how it really started but I stumbled across some photographers (I'm fairly sure the first was a recommendation by one of the 3 photographers mentioned above).  And since G+ allows you to follow people by placing them in a circle without a requirement for reciprocity, it allowed me look through the window into a whole new world.  I must have been fairly lucky with those first few photographers I circled.  Not only were they posting amazing pictures they would recommend other photographers to follow.  My circle grew.

Eventually, I opened the window and climbed through.  I started posting more.  I was even confident enough with a few of my pictures to post them out to the public stream.  It was a little addicting.  I discovered there are many different types of photography; landscape, portrait, macro (a new favorite), etc.  I found that you could accomplish some amazing pictures by enhancing them in post processing (I went a little overboard with that at first, but I have it under control now!).  By seeing the various styles and types of images flowing through my stream it encouraged me to experiment more with what I was photographing.  I have been taking my camera with me everywhere I go, just on the off chance I would see an image I wanted to capture.

It all exploded a couple of weeks ago...  G+ allowed you to share your circles.  I few of the photographers I was following (favorites, whose pictures I really enjoyed) shared their circles.  I was a little overwhelmed!  I only added two complete circles and then sat back to watch the new images coming rolling in.  It was great. I needed to dial it back a little though.  I refused to add any more of the numerous circles that were being posted.  Instead I went back to my old method, if someone I followed recommended a photographer I would check out their profile and see if they were doing the type of work that interested me.  I still add a few new people a day but it more manageable this way.

The other great event that occurred, which has really helped me learn photography, was the creation of daily themes.  Photographer Eric Leslie maintains a list of the daily photographic themes.  Each theme is curated by one or more photographers and anyone is welcomed to post an appropriate picture with the hash tag for the theme.  It allows anyone to view the pictures by searching for the tag and is a great way to interact with others.  For me it is a great way to challenge myself to try different images.  I find myself actually thinking about what I want to photograph and planning when/were/how to get the image for a particular theme.  I think it has helped me improve my camera skills tremendously in a very short time.  I can't describe the feeling I get when other people comment on an image I've shared.  It is a little intoxicating...

Time to go see what I can find with my camera...  later.

You just have to get out there...

I've realized there is no better way to improve my photography skills than just getting out there and taking pictures.  I have been spending a lot of time on Google+ because of the great interaction I find there.  Also, it has attracted a lot of photographers and I find viewing their posts spurs my interest in photography.  The one thing I notice from all those great people is that they are out using their camera everyday.  For some of them it is their job, but I don't think that is what motivates them.  For most I think it is a desire to create and express themselves.

I have noticed a change in how I see the world.  I find myself looking for that interesting image I can capture with my camera.  I am seeing them everywhere.  I don't always have the time to stop and take the picture but I try to bookmark the location in my mind so I can come back to it later.  I have started bringing my camera with me when I leave the house.  It is in the seat next to me as I drive to work.  I bring it into my office, 'just in case...'  I'm sure sooner or later someone at work will ask my to leave it in the car.

So, last Friday, rather then go out to lunch I decided to drive up the road to the town park.  It was windy and overcast but the sun was fighting its way through the clouds.  I walked around the park looking for anything that caught my eye.  Here is what I found:

I'm still learning and have a long way to go, but I'm having fun doing it and I guess that is all that really matters.

More Photography

I signed up for Google+ a few months ago while it was still in beta preview.  I was able to wrangle an invite from a cousin-in-law.  I was interesting and different with a few nice features, but what did I need another social network for, I was already on FB, Twitter, ...  Then I found the photographers!

I do have to give Google+ some credit. I think their photo sharing is top notch.  As a result of this I believe photographers and visual artists have flocked to the service in huge waves.  Anyway, I started 'circling' a few photographers and as they mentioned others I circled them too if their photos were to my liking.  My list continues to grow everyday and I find more talented people sharing their creative output on G+.

Another funny thing happened...  my interest in photography, already starting to grow, took a big leap forward. Maybe it is the result of seeing all the incredible images and maybe it is due to this themed photo day that is happening on G+.  I dipped my toe in last week when it was 'Waterfall Wednesday'.  I was hooked.  'Flower Friday' was next and then 'Sunset Saturday'.  Yesterday was 'Macro Monday', which was a form I never saw much interest in before.  I have found this type of photography to be a lot of fun.  I see opportunities everywhere and I find myself thinking up settings to try.

Take a look at some of my latest pics...

Still playing but I think getting better...

I'm trying to be a sponge by reading a lot of stuff about photography.  Trouble is I think the sponge has too many holes to hold anything.  I'll keep going though.  Sooner or later something has to stick.

I know working with non-RAW image files from my point & shoot camera will not yield the same type of pictures as I have been admiring on the web but the experience of playing with the different software is worth it.  I do not want to over do the HDR image but I think it is very cool at making the images 'pop' under the right circumstance.  Here is another exposure I played with...

Today while I was reading through the posts on Google+ I came across a picture by Tom Bricker of the Dumbo attraction at Disney.  I believe he was going for a sense of movement with the static foreground and the blur of the Dumbo vehicles in the background.  While sitting in my garage cooking dinner on the grill I had an idea to do something similar.  It was raining out and as the cars passed by the cloud of rain that followed them was interesting.  Here is my attempt...

The other aspect of photography that I a learning is very important is the post processing on your images.  I downloaded a trial copy of Adobe Lightroom to see what I can do and to determine if it is one of the tools I should have.  My first couple of attempts were not that successful, but I think these two pics turned out OK.

And yes, taking pics from around my house, the clouds are a favorite subject.  I thought the two above were interesting.  I hope I didn't ruin them but 'adjusting' them...

Post Processing

I've been reading online again...  never sure if that is a good or bad thing.

This time it was about post production on photographs.  Who knew?  I also went with the pictures that came out of the camera.  Oh, I might have done a little cropping here, or simple adjustments there, but never any serious work on my pictures.  I think it will be cheaper to go back to school so I can get the student discount for some of this software!  But for now I'm playing with the trial versions to get a feel for the process.  I definitely need some tutorials or a book to help me out.

The one big name that keeps popping up on the websites I have been visiting is Adobe Photoshop.  I'm not sure I'm ready for the big boy just yet, partly due to only having a point & shoot camera that saves JPEG files.  I have downloaded the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 program.  Seems very easy to use (once I understand all the options).  I have 30 days to see what it (or I) can do.  After that I need to find a student who can buy it for me... lol.

Here is my first post production image.  Not sure what I was going for or what I accomplished, but it was fun playing around with the software.

Here is another...