The Magic of Light

Sometimes it's difficult to believe how much difference a little light makes.  When I was photographing these geese, there was just a fraction of a second when they were in the magic glow of the sun.  As you

can see, the two geese on top had not reached that point yet.  A fraction of a second later the other geese were black too.   Just in case you're wondering, this picture was not altered using PhotoShop or any other photo software.  It's just the way it was.  Mother Nature did it all by herself.   :-)

Swans in the Fog

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You can do all kinds of things with the help of PhotoShop or other editting software programs.   This picture was taken on a very foggy morning.  There was so much fog, in fact, that you could barely see the trees.  I love foggy pictures, so I just started shooting, knowing that I could make the necessary adjustments when I got home.

Picture #1 is a copy of the original file, with some minor adjustments done in Camera Raw, such as bringing up the brightness, fill light, clarity and adjusting the blacks just a little. 

Picture #2 was altered in PhotoShop using curves & levels to brighten the overall scene and to bring out the whiteness of the swans.

Picture #3  is Picture #2 with the NIK graduated fog filter applied to it.  I softened the effect to the point where I liked it and then saved the photo.

My oldest grandson likes picture #3 best, because he likes the soft, graduated effect of the fog.  I think I agree with him.  Which do you like best?

Swans in the Fog

I did some different processing on this swans in the fog photo to make it look like it was taken at night and illuminated with a spotlight.  I have fun trying different things. Hope you enjoy it.

Yellowstone Traffic Jam

Yes, they even have traffic jams in Yellowstone.  They're usually caused by bison who think they have a right to walk down the middle of the street.  Since we're invading their space, I think they're probably right & that we just have to wait until they decide to move.  It does slow things down, though, because you really don't want to pass them.  They can be onery and are apt to ram your vehicle if you get too close. 

If you want to see Yellowstone up close and personal, join one of my workshops this year.  We'll have a great time.  Send me a message if you're interested.  :-)

Live, Love, Laugh

I saw these quotes on Facebook today and thought they were worth sharing.

 "I see the world is changing, that life is flying by- I see that I can change who I am, who I will be".
  Author Unknown

"No matter how far you fall, it's never to late to pick yourself up." Author Unknown

No matter what has happened in the past, each day brings a new opportunity to do better, to improve your circumstances, to be a better person.  Often we dwell on things we should have done, the way we should have treated a friend or loved one, how we should have been a better person.  We can't change what has happened in the past.  We can't predict the future.  All we really have is this day, this moment, this period in time.  So, let's not dwell on the past, but enjoy each day to the fullest.  So, go out there, take some chances and live, love and laugh.

Only This Moment

"Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late."

                                                         Marie Beynon Ray

Break Through The Fog

One of my Facebook friends posted this today and he said I could share it with you.  Thanks Mohamad!
"For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."
 

I think this is a great quote to start the New Year.  Often, we just stumble along, like we're walking through a dense fog, and do things the same old way without even thinking about it.  We don't set new goals, or we set them, and then after the newness of the resolution wears off, discontinue working on them.  That may be working ok for you and, if it is, that's great.  But, if it's not getting you the results you want, I hope you'll follow the advice in this quote and "have the strength to start all over again".   That's the great thing about life - as long as we're breathing, it's not too late to try to change and to start all over agin.  So, in the early days of this brand new year, I wish you the courage to break through the fog and change your life if you need to, embrace it if you don't and, most of all, to enjoy each day.