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It was during the post-capture processing of these pictures from the Stafford Center that I discovered the wonders of using the black eye dropper tool in Levels of Photoshop. Using that thing in the right place instantly sets the blackness of the background in a way that makes the subjects pop out, effectively increasing contrast and saturation. The sunset picture posted previously uses the same technique.
With the colors on display, along with the moment presented by the dancing children, this is one of my all-time favorites. This is a totally unbiased opinion, and has nothing to do with the fact that a certain family member is featured prominently in its composition...
Another one taken at Sea World. Shadows can sometimes be more interesting (and telling) than what is happening on the stage that is creating them.
A wire (and its shadow) ran diagonally across the bottom; both were photoshopped out.
This is a cropped-in shot that was taken from the tram at Disney's Animal Kingdom...
This was on the church retreat mentioned earlier, on the posting for May 2. It was very fortuitous that I arrived just as the fog was coming up off of the lake. Here you have a moon reflection, which 15 minutes before would have been much more powerful, but which turned out fairly well just the same. By the time I snapped this one the duck had disappeared altogether.
This is one of those pictures that turned out so much better than anticipated. The viewfinder was aimed just above the "people line" at Disney World. Without the earthly reference of people everywhere, the composition ended up having an other-worldly, "spacey" look - perfect for the theme. Additionally, the colors and background lead to an almost cartoonesque appearance... something totally unanticipated.
I don't know whether this is good or bad, but through the years have discovered that the best photos are captured totally by accident or through sheer reflex...done without thinking at all. Last night we had dinner company, and one guest was scrolling through my favorites from Taiwan. Probably the two best shots were taken in this manner - not on purpose but just swinging the camera and snapping the shutter, realizing only after the fact that something decent was in hand.
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This is my 100th posting. I've thoroughly enjoyed using this tool to share the incredible beauty - in both nature and human interaction - that God has given us to enjoy. Regardless of how many or how few visit/follow this blog, what I'm endeavoring to do is maintain consistency and quality in the photos that are chosen to post, and presenting them in a format that is pleasing to the eye.
If there is one lamentable fact, it is that I don't have more time or energy to write. I have been greatly blessed with many adventures saturating a rich life; many have encouraged me to write down the stories that I've told over the years in a teaching career, or simply sitting around a table in fellowship. One day I hope to be able to work them in.
Whether this is your first time or you are a regular visitor, any and all comments or suggestions are welcome regarding the pictures or stories published.
--Jim Mahood
This was taken in Yardley, Pennsylvania. I silhouetted the foreground by setting the black point on the house to the left. That move simultaneously increased the contrast in the clouds and deepened the reds a bit.
This was at an Astros game...must've taken several dozen pictures before capturing this one.I'm not much of a sports fan, but sporting events are fun places to take pictures, with so much going on. And whether you follow them closely or not, baseball games are a terrific family activity by anyone's standard.
Another one from the Stafford Center. The color, the slow moves during the dances, the modesty with which the girls dress, and the costume variety driven by vast history make Chinese dance recitals perfect for non-flash picture taking.
The men's group in our church does an annual retreat, and this was taken on one of those trips. Rather than spend the night, I generally drive up early on Saturday morning. The early morning fog rising above the lake made this one worth the trip.
The focus of this picture wasn't supposed to be the trees, though that's the way it turned out. If you'll notice, there is a little dot on the water's surface to the left of the right-most tree. That is a duck.
This is one of those that started with a slam of the brakes and rolling eyes that said, "Here he goes again!" It was worth it, though.
As mentioned in an earlier blog, my brother lived absolutely in the middle of nowhere, which is just the kind of place I like. And to get there from any direction was a treat, with all the winding roads and creek crossings. The area surrounding Wimberley is one of the most beautiful in the state.
