Dream Tomorrow, Live Today, Cherish Yesterday

Topaz Tuesday - Dublin Graffiti

Sony NEX-7, 18-200, f/8, 1/160, iso 400

If you visit the blog often, you know I'm a fan of graffiti. I found this nice mural in Dublin, Ireland. When I viewed the original image, it was nice, but didn't have that urban, gritty feel that I think goes with this kind of scene.

So into Topaz Adjust 5. After viewing a few presets, I knew I would go for one that would tone down the colors. But the one that got closest, is called Grunge Me! Ha ha. It did a good job with the details, giving me the grit I was looking for. From there I used the saturation slider to tone down the colors. And a major dose of "Highlight Protect" to rein in the bright whites.

As always, click on the Continue link to compare the original to the Topaz version. You can even leave a comment here, kind of like this artist left his or her comment on the wall.

Model Monday

Canon 5D Mark II, 85mm F/1.2, f/2.2, 1/60, iso 250

An image from my model shooting days in Sacramento. Miss those times so much! Shooting models was one of the few kinds of photography where I was kind of decent right off the bat.

Boatin Sunday - Trouble

Canon 5D Mark III, 16mm F/2.8, f/18, 1/100, iso 200

When you are out in the ocean, and see somethink like this, you are going to be in Trouble. This was off the coast of South Carolina. We later desperately tried to talk some French sailors out of leaving the marina. They were very nearly killed.

This is Mother Nature putting on a demonstration of her powers.

Stair Study

Canon 1D Mk III, 70-200mm F/4, F/4, 1/250, iso 250

I salute this craftsmanship!

Fun Friday - The End of the World

Canon 5D Mark II, 15mm F/2.8 fisheye, f/22 1/320, iso 400

"And when we get to the ocean, gonna take a trip to the end of the world....
all the way to the end of the world..."

Dave Mathhews - You and Me

 

It's a little thing...

Searching

I had an experience this week, both sad and profound. I debated whether to blog about this or not, and then I thought of my tagline above "Bob Towery's blog about Photography, Life, and a few other things." This one is mostly about life, and a little about how photography can touch it.

I'm going to warn you that this post is a bit of a gut wrencher. Click on the Continue link if you wish to read on.

Wordless Wednesday

On Wordless Wednesday, you tell the story...

Topaz Tuesday - Ladies View B&W

Leica M9

Interesting experiment today. After last week's image, which I had done a lot of work on and quite a few back and forths between Lightroom and Topaz Adjust, I was going for simple.  An image I could just hit with a preset and be done.

When I tried this image out as a B&W, I liked it immediately. But I couldn't find a preset that was working for me. No problem the various sliders available in Topaz Black and White Effects, and their instant visual feedback, make it so easy to dial in the desired effect.

Which was dark and moody! As always, the original is available on the Continue link, and you can comment there as well if you like this one.

Oh yes - "ladies view?" That's the name given to this area of the Ring of Kerry.

Some lens

Leica M9, 35mm F/2, f/4.8, 1/180, iso 160

Indulging in my passion for lighthouse fresnel lenses. This one is from the National Museum in Edinburgh, Scotland. Just a beautiful work of art and craftsmanship.

Transportation to Dreamstate

Leica M9

Are you brave enough, to come with me, to my dreamstate? Hop in to my Dream Transporter as soon as I vanish.