Texture Saves the Day!

I shot this late autumn scene just over a year ago. The tree was beautiful enough and the detail in the field helped add some interest to the shot but the sky was just too plain and the overall picture just didn't work. The solution I came up with was to overlay a texture in Photoshop. This added some grit and additional texture to the scene and helped accent some of the blue hues already present throughout the scene. I was pleased with the result and have made several successful prints which have proven to be quite popular. Overlaying textures can be easy to overdo and doesn't always work but sometimes it's just the ticket to help save the day!

Playing with Macro

I'm always amazed when I have a conversation with a fellow photographer and they make a comment along the lines of "I can't seem to find anything to shoot." This seems to happen more often during the winter months. Whenever I feel I need to take a break from my usual local photo haunts or when the weather outside is unbearable, I turn to close-up or macro photography. Lately, I've made it a point to get busy with my macro lens at least a couple of times a week. The possibilities are truly endless. Macro subjects are all around you. This nautilus shell is combined in post with a textured overlay for an interesting effect. Flowers are always a good choice for close-up photography. Flowers are not only cooperative models but beautiful and fun to shoot. And this is as good a reason as any to get to know your local florist! I've had the good fortune of meeting macro photographer +Mike Moats and attended a seminar and workshop he conducted. If you're interested in learning more about macro photography I highly recommend you peruse his website and consider attending a weekend workshop!

My Fellow Traveler

I was walking around Wildwing Lake in Kensington Metropark (suburban Detroit) and I was enthralled with the fall color (as usual) and spotted this freshly fallen leaf on the ground. Since I had my macro lens with me, I decided to pick up the little fella and take him with me as I continued on my hike. Along the way I kept my eyes open for something to use as an interesting background. This is one of the macro techniques +Mike Moats espouses so brilliantly. Finally I spotted an old log with some interesting textures and posed my little friend in several compositions. In the end I settled on the square composition above. I ended up printing this on canvas and have it hanging in my home...and it always gets lots of compliments.

Down the Road and Off the Tracks

Exploring the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan this autumn with a friend (fellow Michigan Photo Adventures member Mark Patterson), we discovered this interesting site. We were several miles down an old mining road and stopped to explore the scene with our cameras. According to local hunters we met nearby, this rail car was intentionally pushed off the tracks a few years ago by the adjacent property owner so as to dissuade train traffic through his land. Seems to have worked. The sky in the pic was pretty boring so I added a texture overlay in Photoshop to add some visual interest. Just goes to show you never know what you'll find down the back roads of Michigan.

Early December in the D

December in Detroit is usually cold...But not this cold! Cold temps are affecting most of the US this week. Just means I have to dress in layers to go exploring the local environs with my camera. It also means I choose to travel lighter than usual...Here's a look at the abandoned Packard Plant in Detroit. This was shot just about a year ago. There's a strange beauty to this place. Despite the abundance of "ruin porn" being published these days and my aversion to shooting what everyone else is shooting, I do try to visit some iconic Detroit locations throughout the year in the various seasons. Sunday mornings are my favorite time to explore the city in search of such shots. I'm planning on getting up early tomorrow and exploring some spots downtown. However, I can't wait until these sites are redeveloped and the ruins are but memories! Detroit will rise from the ashes!