Category Archives: landscape

Creativity

Posted by Mike on

Topaz Labs Plugins

When I was starting my journey into photography and was devouring as much information as I could find. I was reading books, scouring the internet and exploring other photographer’s work via Google Plus. I was also posting to as many photography themes on G+ as interested me. I was still using my little Sony P&S camera while still learning how to create images like those I was viewing online.

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; DeltaLakesKnoll

Delta Lake Knoll – Original
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/125s, 24mm, f/11, ISO 200

 

On a whim I entered a photography contest where the prize was some software to use with Lightroom/Photoshop. It was the Topaz Labs plugins and fortunate for me the contest did not involve having to post an image. I was lucky enough to be one of the two winners and have maintained the software, using it when necessary, since late in 2011.

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Glow

Delta Lake Knoll – Glow
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/125s, 24mm, f/11, ISO 200

 

There were times while using the software where I might have gone a little overboard with my processing. I am sure I used it as a crutch when I did not manage to bring home the image I wanted but was able to manipulate an OK image to make a posting. I believe I have struck the right balance with my processing and have learned how to create the image that is in my head when I press the shutter.

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Simplify

Delta Lake Knoll – Simplify
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/125s, 24mm, f/11, ISO 200

 

My photography is not always about capturing a pixel perfect replica of the scene I am viewing while out exploring. Although that might have been my original thought as to what photography was suppose to be, I have learned to let my images be a release of creativity. I am going to use all the tools at my disposal to change what I have captured into what I see. Every person sees differently and I try to present images that allow you to see what I see.

  

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Impression

Delta Lake Knoll – Impression
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/125s, 24mm, f/11, ISO 200

  

So today I decided to present a few different views of the same scene that I have created using the Topaz Labs plugins. I generally use the software in a more subtle approach but I thought it would be fun to show what it is capable of creating.

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Texture Effects

Delta Lake Knoll – Texture Effects
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/125s, 24mm, f/11, ISO 200

Pier Lights – Three Ways

Posted by Mike on

Riverside Park, Indialantic, FL

I mentioned in a previous post that my daughter and I went out before sunrise on our last day in Florida. She had wanted to go to the beach and I, of course, wanted more pictures. Our first stop was at Riverside Park. I love going to this park, especially around sunrise or sunset time. The park has a great pier jutting out into the Indian River. I can see the 192 Causeway into Melbourne. And there are a lot of places for me to setup my tripod. 🙂

This particular image I was trying to use the lights along the causeway to mimic the outline of the pier. It also has quite a few of the elements I enjoy photographing. It was before sunrise so I would need a long exposure (20 seconds). There are light reflections as well as a silhouette of the pier. I can easily say this is one of my go to places whenever I am in the Melbourne/Palm Bay area.

My indecision comes in with the processing I wanted to apply to this image. I like the color image. I have the contrasting yellow lights with the blue tinted water and sky. There are a few other splashes of color from various light reflections. And there is a soft blending of the magentas with the blues and yellows in the sky and water. While processing this image there is a step where I adjust the sharpness which is done in B&W. The program automatically switches to allow me to see the detail better. I thought that image looked nice as well.

So I applied my normal B&W processing using Topaz Lab’s B&W Effects. This is the second image which I used a cool tone treatment. And I guess I was in an exploring mood I also processed the image using Nik Collections Silver Efex Pro. I was going to a bluer look for the image and this software had better options for me. This would be the third image.

I like them all. I know I am suppose to have a clear idea in my head of the image I want to make but sometimes playing with an image is fun too. Experimentation is what keeps me interested. I want to see what other types of images I can create. I want to push myself into different areas. Granted, I didn’t push to far, but I played and I learned.

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Pier Lights

Pier Lights
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 20s, 28mm, f/11, ISO 800

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Pier Lights - Cool

Pier Lights – Cool
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 20s, 28mm, f/11, ISO 800

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Pier Lights - Blue

Pier Lights – Blue
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 20s, 28mm, f/11, ISO 800

Out for the View

Posted by Mike on

Melbourne Beach, Indialantic, FL

 

On the last morning of our vacation I headed out toward the beach with my daughter in tow to grab some early morning and sunrise images. She had wanted to go to the beach but we had been so busy getting ready for Christmas and running around we never made it over previously. My first stop was at Riverside Park which is on the Indian River side of Indialantic. I love grabbing images of the pier at the park with the 192 Causeway in the background. That image is coming so I’ll warn everyone now… LOL.

With 30 minutes to go before the official sunrise we headed over to the beach to grab some of the pre-dawn colors. I was not disappointed! People were starting to gather on the beach to watch the morning show and I also found there were a lot of birds on the shore waiting as well. Before I ventured to far on to the beach I grabbed this silhouetted image of people waiting. There is something interesting about the silhouettes against the morning colors that has me shutter happy!

 

MLCreations Photography: Florida &emdash; Out for the View

Out for the View
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.6s, 35mm, f/11, ISO 200

Overwatch

Posted by Mike on

Cocoa Beach, FL

On Christmas Eve day I went back to Cocoa Beach for the sunrise. My hopes were high after my cloudy attempt last time I was in Florida. I arrived plenty early to grab some pre-dawn images around the Pier. Luckily that plan was very fruitful. As the day marched toward the sunrise the clouds covered more of the sky and dashed my hopes for the idyllic Florida beach sunrise.

The pier uses quite a few spot lights to illuminate the sand and surf. At first I thought the bright lights would ruin any image I tried to capture. There was still a lifeguard stand on the beach and I thought possibly it could be used to hide the obnoxious lights. Although I initially captured multiple exposures the slightly underexposed image turned out to be all I needed.

  

MLCreations Photography: Florida &emdash; Overwatch

Overwatch
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 13s, 23mm, f/8, ISO 800

Enjoying the Sunrise too

Posted by Mike on

Castaway Point Park, Palm Bay, FL

  

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Enjoying the Sunrise too

Enjoying the Sunrise too
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 8s, 40mm, f/16, ISO 200