Playing around on the field

So I've been finding the last few days tough when it comes to keeping up with this blog. Some days are like that and others I feel like writing several posts at once. The exercise regime is going really well at the moment and even though my muscles feel tired and fatigued, I also feel really good. Seeing the weight dropping off day by day is definitely very rewarding. So to start off tonight's post I am going to show you a picture I took of +Linda Dean a bit earlier when we had just finished our kick around on the football pitch. She just realized that she could touch the ground again with her finger tips.

With the help of Snapseed I really liked how it turned out, I like the way the light was shining on her. Every time I play around with these images it amazes me how easy it has gotten. It is not all that long ago where you'd have to slog along for hours playing with software to get the image the way you wanted it to look.

I also absolutely love HDR, it truly is amazing to me what HDR can do to the right image. It's not just about capturing a moment in time with the camera but also almost turning it into a beautiful painting with the help of HDR.

We encountered this little fellow on our way to the park, he was just happily grazing away, waiting for us to move on so he could finish his lunch in peace. Nutria are not native to Oregon or even the USA, they originate in Brazil as far as I know. I'd love to know how they got up here in the first place, people bringing them up as pets I presume. I could be wrong with the Brazil part but I think it's definitely South America somewhere. I will have to get stuck in over the coming days with image editing, just been feeling tired the last few with all the exercise. 

Life's great passions

I have two...no...three great passions in life right now, Ubuntu, photography and beer. Yes, beer, not your everyday run of the mill churned out by the keg load beer but the finely brewed craft beers that are popping up all over the place right now. I could easily name one hundred that I have tried in the last two years. My favourite of course being the darker varieties, red ales, brown ales and of course stouts and porters. I to take picture of them, to try and show people how good they really are through images. And if possible to make you thirsty, thirsty enough to pry you away from your comfort zone and get you to try one of these wonderful brews for the first time.

Nothing worse than an empty bottle but in this case it makes for a good picture.

I took these when we were home brewing, we managed a few very good brews. They didn't last long around here though.

There is very little better than an afternoon lunch time brew. Maybe good food but I like to have both, savouring each.

Stouts and porters are definitely a must with me with reds and browns not to far behind. The image above is of a 6 AM stout, one of the very best I've tried. It goes down well with a good burger, mushrooms, onions and so on.

I could snap away pictures of beer all day, trying to get the right angle and get in focus before the head goes.

On an odd occasion I'll have a lighter variety, maybe even an IPA if the hops are not completely overpowering. I do like hops in beer but sometimes they'll take your breath away they're so strong. Coming from the Isles I tend to prefer malty ales over hoppy ales if that makes sense. I prefer the real hoppy beers around Xmas, for some reason they just feel right at this time of year.

Playing with HDR and shedding lbs

In our never ending quest to shed a few pounds (double figure numbers) we've been heading out to some really great spots. We have basically spent our spare time the last week walking, cycling and hiking if only a short hike. Since I've been addicted to my Nexus 5 lately I decided to play around with the HDR, not the HDR+ on the camera but the HDR in Snapseed.

I love the effect, it's like an instant painting, if you can get the right light it works really well.

It works great with landscape shots, I haven't really played around with HDR+ yet. I have taken a few with the Nexus but haven't looked closely at them yet. I've just really been enjoying playing around with Snapseed. It would be nice however if it could handle larger images than it does.

The auto-panorama is also pretty incredible, this next one was pieced together on G+ from several images I took while we were out at Bald Hill.

And it's pretty seamless as far as I'm concerned. The software is getting really good, can't wait to see what the next few years brings us. I think though at the moment it's still better to take the photos with a DSLR and then play with them in an app like Snapseed. That's where I've gotten the best results, however, the convenience of having a pretty decent camera in your pocket does count for a lot. 

And here we go with the obligatory black n white photo, I just can't get enough black n white. I love the way they look, there is something timeless about black n white photography. I love the light, the shadows and the fact that +Linda Dean is on her Nexus in this one bitching on G+ about me taking yet another black n white picture, how cool is that?

Nexus at the park

I have to say that I have really been enjoying my Nexus 5 over the past few months. It was a good upgrade from my HTC Sensation which was a great phone in its day with a great camera. And even though it was a phone that was a couple of years old, the camera really held up well and was tough to leave behind. But everything changes and comes to an end and when the touch screen started selecting apps on its own I knew it was time to say good buy to my beloved HTC Sensation. I chose the Nexus 5 because of price and more importantly I wanted to have the stock Google experience. The fact that the Nexus series also receives fast regular updates, also helped as I have been burned in the past (damn Moto...where's my Xoom 2 JB upgrade???) helped in the decision. Well I haven't been disappointed, the Nexus 5 is a truely beautiful piece of technology that is well worth owning. Today though I won't bore you with a review but instead show off what the camera on the Nexus 5 can do.

I know, I know, more black n white but like I said in my last post, I am just in a black n white mood right now so you will have to bear with me until I work through it. If I don't work through it I may develop itchy eyeball syndrome and not be able to take more pictures ;-)

This one I really liked, it was just a random shot but I liked the way it turned out. It's amazing how some of your favourite shots will be random snaps.

I also really like this one of +Linda Dean and Talon chilling after we'd just finished a full 18 hole round of disc golf at Willamette Disc Golf Course here in Corvallis.

Disc golf in the sun can make you thirsty indeed and so refreshments were on hand or in my backpack as the case was. Bottles of watery goodness are an absolute must when doing the full course. And again I think this photo really shows off the quality of the camera on the Nexus 5.

I used Snapseed on Android to edit these shots and like I've been saying for some time, it is a fine little editor to have on hand and in your pocket. If you're in the market for a new phone I would definitely take a serious look at the Nexus 5, it's a serious piece of kit at an affordable price.

A few from the yard

We are lucky enough to have a yard with some massive trees to provide shelter but also a bit a fear during winter storms. Window makers are quite real and we have some massive ones right over our heads. However, these also make us feel like we are living in a forest and also provide us with some great shadows in the evening. A couple of weeks back +Linda Dean and Talon were out doing some gardening on one of these evenings. The sun crept through the leaves creating some really great shadows as it attempted to light the shaded corner of our garden. It was definitely time to grab the camera and get outside for some fun.

The effect made the house, old as it is, look really fantastic. As I mentioned in a previous post I am really into black n white photography at the moment. Black n white I think really helps to highlight garden shadows, sort of brings them alive.

You can see how they creep across the ground and up the walls of the house. Sometimes looking at them you can almost imagine someone like Tim Burton sitting in his garden watching this effect and just leaving his imagination run wild.

Shadows just bring a picture to life in my opinion and help to make your pictures almost timeless.

The effects they create add real atmosphere to your images, shadows make them feel like a story waiting to be told or a film waiting to be made. With it now being summer here in the northern hemisphere, it's time to get out your cameras, get outside and start snapping. Don't worry about capturing that perfect shot, just shoot what your instinct tells you to shoot and see what comes out. You don't even need an expensive camera, you can easily use your phone and edit with apps like Snapseed. Just have fun with it and see where your imagination takes you.

Snow, beautiful snow...

For the second time this winter we had snow in Corvallis. Last Thursday and Friday about a foot of snow was dumped from the sky on our heads. The initial reaction as usual is one of excitement because snow is very beautiful and puts an almost ethereal glow on everything. However, after a couple of days it becomes troublesome and dangerous as the ice sets in, making it difficult to move around. So the best time to head out to get some shots are those first couple of days and that's just what we did. It was also a perfect excuse to really give my Nexus 5 a run out to see just what it can do with a little help from the brilliant Snapseed. 

So far I've been really impressed by the Nexus 5, it is a great device and the camera is pretty good in daylight conditions. I love my DSLR but I have to admit, being able to easily carry my Nexus around with me and edit and share on the go is a really fantastic experience, I can't wait to see what future generations of phones bring us. And as I've covered before, Snapseed is just an incredible App that really brings your photographs to life and can give them a real fantasy almost game like feel. For example, around our house had a very Guild Wars feel to it with all the snow, it felt like the Norn areas in the game when we stood on the porch at night and looked out at the trees and Snapseed I think helped to capture this effect.

Now we wait for the inevitable thaw and the ice and slush that comes along with it. That will still never take away from the beauty of the initial snow fall for me. I'd happily take the snow over boring months of drizzle any year.

From the river to the web

Its been a week or so since my last confe...post but that time has not been wasted. I have not only been enjoying the fantastic weather we've been having but also clicking away with my trusty Canon. As the title suggests, I have been interested in the local river rocks here in Corvallis and while on our evening walks I've had great opportunities to grab some images. That is of course provided +Linda Dean isn't trying to "accidentally" push me in the river.

I like capturing the ripples and thought the above image turned out well. Not only capturing the rippling waves but also the various colours of the rocks and sand from the river bed. The water is pretty clear considering it runs through a major town, I was surprised, the river Lee back home isn't quite so lucky unfortunately.

These were really fun to play with, I've been using a mixture of Google Picasa on Ubuntu and Snapseed on Android. It takes time to get the images the way I want them and sometimes it just doesn't work and you just have to start over.

The heat here has been crazy and it doesn't take long for the rocks to dry out. I like the light grey dusty look they get when dried off. Capturing them is interesting to me because I know every time I go back the river will have changed them and there will be a whole new scene to capture.

A week is probably to long between posts and I'm going to try and improve that. With the great weather we have also been busy Barbecuing so expect food posts in the coming days. I really like shooting food at its best and what's better on a sunny day than BBQ Steak, Pork or Chicken? Ok, maybe homebrew or craft beer, but normally the two go hand in hand.  

Warping Chaos

Warhammer 40K is one of the greatest table top games ever created and I used to spend hours and hours preparing my figures for battle. Originally I collected Imperial Space Marines but in the late nineties I moved to Chaos Space Marines also known as Traitor Marines, though from the point of view of the Chaos Marines, it's the Imperial Marines who are the real traitors.

It takes a lot of dedication to get into Warhammer 40K because not only is it very expensive to start off but it's also a huge investment of time and effort painting your chosen army. It is however a fantastic hobby and very rewarding seeing your army all painted up and ready for battle.

I got a pack of five of these generic Chaos Marines from a friend of mine who decided he didn't want to play Chaos and had instead decided to play Orks. The paint scheme I ran with was a variation on the World Eaters Legion with a slightly less gold trim and a more oily tarnished finish to them. I wanted them to have an old, battle hardened look instead of a polished straight out of boot camp look.

The figures at the time were the newer plastic type and not the lead figures that they all used to be through the eighties and early nineties. I kind of prefer the plastic ones as they are cheaper and easier to paint and transport to a game. Having a lot less weight to transport to different games makes life that bit easier.

I used a few different layers of paint on the trim and I loved the way it turned out. It turned out looking almost like tarnished brass which was exactly the way I wanted them to look, old and battle hardened, like they had spent millennium in battle. Which of course as Chaos Marines they would have, leaving the warp to lay waste to Imperial worlds.

The above is a Chaos Terminator Marine, the figure is circa late eighties early nineties. Unfortunately I never got around to finishing off painting it but it was turning out very nice. His power fist looked like it was caked in the blood of his enemies from endless years of hand to hand combat with Imperial forces or anyone else who dared challenge the mighty World Eaters.

Playing with apps again

When I first bought my tablet around a year and a half ago, I liked it but thought it lacked creative apps at the time, it being an Android tablet. All that has changed now though as there is an abundance of decent creative apps to choose from. My personal favourite being Snapseed, and that's what I've been playing around with over the past few days. As the weather has picked up here and we have started getting out for more walks, I have begun collecting images and this year I am taking a different approach to my photography. Last year I decided not to use any post processing but this year I'm going full steam ahead and letting my imagination do its job. So to this end here's a few images I've been playing with over the past couple of days. It's pretty incredible what you can achieve with a phone or a tablet these days and it's only getting better as time moves on.

I love the lines and shadows in the above image, it sort of ebbs and flows and the centre is almost like a great mouth reaching out to lunge at passing prey.

Again along the same lines, this one struck me as fiery serpents writhing in torment as they emerge from their place of birth, the safety of the nest no longer an option, they must now go forth into the wider world and create life of their own.

I really liked the way the shadows turned out on the above image, they gave the petals of the flower an eerie feel as if a Necromancer straight from Guild Wars had just walked by, staff in hand, twitching and glaring in disgust at the sight of the flower. With a quick wave of his hand the flower starts to shrivel and the Necromancer moves on giving the dying flower one last withering glance.

First walk of the spring season

Well almost anyway as it's still cold and grey here. Anyway, we did manage to go on our first walk of the "semi" spring season a couple of nights ago and as usual it was a great excuse to start snapping and playing around with more images. I'm still not entirely sure which device I like best, my ageing desktop or my tablet for tinkering with pictures. I'm definitely leaning towards my tablet at the moment as there are some great apps available. I also like the touch experience for editing, it just feels more natural to me then using a mouse and keyboard.

This is one of our favourite paths to walk here in our local park in Corvallis. Even on colder greyer days it's a really pleasant and relaxing walk. It leads the whole way around the local playing fields and must be at least three miles around. I shot all my images for "Barking Mad" last summer in this park.

As you can see above, it may not look like it but summer is definitely on the way. There is fresh growth all around and leaves are once again showing on the trees. I'm just looking forward to warmer weather and longer evenings as the summer rolls in once more.

+Linda Dean and I took very similar photos of the above tree, Linda claims hers is much better and it can be seen on her G+ profile. I'm not convinced but then again I might be a bit bias towards my own work.

I love the moss that hangs from the branches of certain trees, it can give the tree an almost "Sleepy Hollow" or fantasy look that I love. It creates a great atmosphere for an image and allows for fantastic creative freedom when editing. You can do a lot with it to create the scene you've imagined in your head. All the above are the kinds of shots I love and I get great pleasure from walking and shooting with +Linda Dean even if it's not as warm as we'd both like it to be.

Snapseed, what an app!

I've been playing around with Snapseed, it's a photo editing app for Android and IOS and it is the best photo editor I've used so far on Android. Very intuitive and user friendly. It has some lovely effects built in and I really like the way it works, choose an effect, swipe left and right on the image to adjust the strength of the adjustment or up and down to scroll through the different effects. Really couldn't be easier to use. This could really develop into a first class photo editor for Android. It's well worth taking a look at it if you haven't already and if you have a favorite Android photo App, then let me know in the comments. I'd be delighted to try them out as I'm always on the look out for decent photo Apps.