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Posts from the ‘Arizona’ Category

Mar 3

Blog Collage

Here’s another composite using the software SHAPE COLLAGE. There is a free version but for $25, you can get the pro version which allows you to save the resulting collage in psd format retaining all the layers. Well worth it, in my opinion. In this creation, I used all the images in my 2010 blog folder which means the collage has over 375 layers! With auto select layer turned on, all I need to do was click on a few images and drag them out. CLICK HERE for an in-depth review and demonstration of this incredibly fun software.

Mar 2

Wildflower Watch

The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is about to start its annual Wildflower Watch. I was asked to come up with a logo for their Facebook page and here is the result. To get to the Wildflower Watch page, CLICK HERE to the Activities Calendar. Then click on the last tab on the right above the calendar (Special Event-Wildflower Event). Look to the left and click on Wildflower Watch for lots of information including photos of flowers. Poppies captured last year on the Tom’s Thumb trail. (oops…title not centered!)

Mar 1

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Work It!

Today marks the beginning of an “at home” photo challenge called Work It! being conducted through our digital club’s new Meetup Group. If you’ve never heard of Meetup, let me tell you it is truly an amazing organizational tool! Our club has started doing instructional sessions outside of our regular meeting times and Meetup handles all the details. All we have to do is type in where and when and Meetup creates and keeps track of everything including sending reminders to members of upcoming sessions they’ve signed up for. At the moment, we have Meetup sessions in Lightroom, Elements 9, Self Publishing, Basic Composition, a photo outing and an at home project. Meetup provides instant communication between members and we’re able to share photographs. All for a nominal fee per month! Have I mentioned “Best thing since sliced bread” yet? 🙂

My WORK IT submission is a Sunflower purchased yesterday at Trader Joes.

Feb 28

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Snow in the Preserve

More photos from Sunday’s snow appearance. We went out very early knowing it would melt quickly once the sun came up. Because we were trying to see all our favorite areas covered in snow, we moved quickly which meant shooting mostly handheld at a high ISO. Noise was easy to get rid of but the color balance still needs work. I’ll blame it on my monitor since it’s past time to calibrate 🙂

Feb 27

Snow!

Totally unexpected but thoroughly enjoyed! Not much light but software helped. More images tomorrow.

Feb 27

Peekaboo

Yet another rainstorm last night gave us dramatic light late yesterday. I was enjoying the navy blue skies when this Cardinal flew into my scene. He played peekaboo for about 5 minutes and then left. Out of about a dozen images, this was the only one where his head wasn’t totally obscured. Not very sharp focus but there’s a catch light in his eye so I decided it was a keeper. Besides…I needed a photo for today 🙂

Feb 26

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Field Institute

The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy now has a Field Institute and today was the first day for many members, including me, to collect flora specimens. The goal of the Institute is to document the flora in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve during the next 3 years. Besides being fun, this Flora Survey will be a great opportunity to gain some botanical knowledge. Front and center (holding White RatanBursage) is our fearless leader; botanist Steve Jones.

Feb 25

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Shape Collage

I’m teaching a class in basic compositing next week. These days there are multiple softwares that make the process completely automatic but knowing how to create one from scratch can help you tweak the automatic ones and make them your own.

Pages from my Flora Guide gathered in a ball.

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