September 30, 2012

This squirrel is helping itself to some water on top of the grille.  It also has been eating petals from one of Linda's plants.  We moved the plant from the deck to the steps in front of the house and it not only found it, but finished of the petals.

September 29, 2012

I took the picture of this flower the other evening about the same time as the yellow flower posted earlier.

I upgraded my Photoshop Elements software to PSE11, which has some nice features and more easily navigated.

The top picture is the basic flower, while the second feature has a Sepia Tone applied, which was just a couple of clicks.  The third picture is the with a "Stack" applied.  The choices are 4, 8, and 12.  Again, just a couple of clicks.

September 28, 2012

I am not sure what to think about this photo other than it is interesting, which is a good answer when asked to comment on something that one does not know what to say.

September 27, 2012

Happy Birthday, Kristen!

This picture was taken at dusk (after 7:00 pm) with a flash.

September 26, 2012

Home made fireworks???  No, just a sparkler at night (6:00 am).  I did not have much time this morning to experiment with this, but photo encourages me to do some long exposure photos.

September 24,2012

As I was looking over pictures of Gibbs Gardens, this tree stood out.  I like the contrast that the leaves present.

September 23, 2012

No, it is not some new planet out in the galaxy.  See the second picture, which is one of Linda's Fall Creations.  A candle in a unique vase with artificial acorns. 

I lit the candle and dimmed the lights to take this picture.

September 22, 2012

This flower bed is at the junction of McFarland Parkway and Sharon Road. 

September 21. 2012

Happy Birthday, Linda Carroll!

This picture of an automated 'dummy' was taken at Hillcrest Orchards in Ellijay.  It sets on an old Ford Tractor.  I was playing with Photoshop Elements and now I have the Photo and a piece of PhotoArt.

Click once on a photo to enlarge it.

September 20, 2012

"She loves me, she loves me not..."  A memory from my childhood when we would pull a peddle from a Black Eyed Susan or a Daisy.

September 19, 2012

I think that Infrared (IR) Photography is more of an art form.  I am experimenting with some post processing and what can be done.  So far, it is mostly trial and error, maybe more error...

The first picture,which was taken around 1:00 o'clock in the afternoon, is a basic photo and, as you may have guessed, the second results from post processing.  Based on my wife's reaction, it is not for everyone.

September 18, 2012

Foul Ball!!! 

We were at one of Jack's baseball games this weekend, which is one of the reasons for moving to Georgia.  The other is being able to go to Ben's baseball games. 

September 17, 2012

These are Rome Apples at the Hillcrest Orchard, although we bought Winesap Apples at Mack Arron's.  The apple season in Ellijay starts aroung the first of August.  I had inquired about Honey Crisp Apples, but they have a very short window of opportunity; first week of September.  I was told of a new variety of apple, which is available around the first of August.  It is called September Wonder and is purported to be the best.  Need to mark the calendar for next year.

September 16, 2012

I think that this photo  would be good for adding a caption.  A few come to mind.  Care to share a caption in the comments?

Click once on the photo to enlarge.

September 15, 2012

Fall is almost here.  We went to Ellijay today, with David and Lucy Ceraso, to have lunch at Cantaberry's Restaurant and get some apples at Mack Aaron's.  We stopped by Hillcrest Orchard as well, which is more oriented for family fun.   Some of the orchards have 'Pick Your Own Apples'.

We we got home, Linda made Apple Crisp and it was so good.  We put French Vanilla ice cream on it.

Hay is another sign of Fall along with the changing colors of the leaves, which is not far away.

September 14, 2012

These were taken on the way to work yesterday.  The sunrise was taken from the front of our home and the flowering plant is in the front as well.  The hot air balloon  is familiar to this area as it launches from Ingles on Bethelview Road near exit 13.  This picture was at the Route 9 end of Fowler Road.

September 13, 2012

This is Tina, Linda's sister.  Oh!  She is the one on the left... and she is a good sport.

I took this picture at the new Babyland Hospital in Cleveland, GA two years ago.  I cloned her lips and pasted them on the doll in the bottom photo.

September 12, 2012

Happy Birthday, Jack Carnes!

September 11, 2011

Today is a day of remembrance of the tragedy of terrorism that struck our country.  Many lost their lives that day, many have given their lives since that day, and many are bearing up under it's effect.

It is to the former that are no longer with us that I thank God for you and to the latter that I pray that God will comfort and sustain you.

September 10, 2012

This picture was taken at 7:00 am yesterday front our front door and was not a good precursor for the day ahead, but it turned out to be a beautiful day.  The ominous clouds caught my attention, but the silhouette of the tree stood out when viewing the picture on the computer screen.

September 9, 2012

Childhood memories...

September 8, 2012

We took our company that was in from New Hampshire and wanted to show some local fare.  Here is Guy's Biscuit Barn on the corner of Dr. Bramblett and Spot Roads.  This is not to say that some of the other local establishments are not just good, such as, Mr. Swiss, Daisey Mae's, and the upper crust of biscuits; Fagan's.

September 8, 2012

This is what I refer to as "Photo Art," which many would dispute it as art.  It is a picture of First Redeemer Church in Cumming, GA taken with a camera that has been altered to only take Infrared photos, which required post processing.

I am experimenting with what can be done in the processing to produce different effects.

September 7, 2012

Beauty in simplicity.

September 6, 2012

Infrared Photography piques my interest and have posted IR photos previously.  It is not for everyone and possibly not for many...

There are IR filter lens that fit on a regular lens to produce this effect, but it is quite cumbersome.  There are cameras made for this and another option is to have a regular camera altered for this purpose.  The latter is what I have done to my previous camera, which was setting on a shelf.

I need to learn some of the post processing techniques, but for now, here are two basic results of a picture taken from our driveway.

September 5, 2012

Here are two more shots from Cane Creek Falls.  The first photograph was take further away from the falls, which gives it a different perspective.  The second photograph has HDR processing.

Jack Anthony has a great website from North Georgia waterfalls.  Click on:

http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/

September 4, 2012

Here are two more photos from Cane Creek Falls in Dahlonega.  It is very easy to get there.  It is located at 690 Camp Glisson Road and the camp is a ministry of the North Georgia Conference, United Methodist Church.  There is a Welcome Center where one can sign in to access the falls; NOTE: there are some time during the season that it is not open.

September 3, 2012

We went to Dahlonega today and took a side trip after doing the Dahlonega thing to Cane Creek Falls.  I used the timer on the camera for this photo.  I will post more pictures tomorrow.

September 3, 2012

This is an HDR version on a Shasta Daisy in front of our home.  The second picture is a natural shot of the flower.  I believe that photography is an art and that the results from post processing is a sub-set to which I refer as 'photo-art.'

I read recently that one should re-visit previous photo subjects and take the photos at a different time of day, with a different lens, or, as in this case, a different post process. 

It is beneficial for practice and evaluation of skills and development as a photographer.  If I had to decide, I would say that my genre is landscapes. 

September 2, 2012

I have been to Gibbs Gardens ( www.gibbsgardens.com ) four times this year and enjoy it very much.  This picture is from the walk bridge as one approaches the Welcome Center.  It has been processed with HDR software, to which I applied a painterly effect.

As a reminder, click once on a photo to enlarge it.

September 1, 2012

This started out posting at least one picture per day but has devolved into a picture per week.  When taking pictures daily other things were put on the back burner, but now the others things have put picture taking on the back burner.

We went to Gibbs Gardens again and although some pictures were of familiar object but from different perspective.  The change in the flora, as the year progresses gives a different look as well.

Here is another picture of the Monet Bridge and a picture from the 40 acre Japanese Garden.