My dad took this shot (top) with his iPhone 4S from the dock at the end of Intrepid Lane in North Kingstown, RI. Anyhow, I think he really nailed this one, so I wanted to spend a few minutes doing some edits (bottom) using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.
Too dark. Too contrasty. I should have just left it alone.
Everything I touch just gets ruined – Charlie Brown.
Who needs the animals at Busch Gardens when you have this sort of thing going on just down the street? Did I mention front row seats AND free admission?
Busch Gardens…
This has to be one of the luckiest shots I have ever taken. I was standing behind a crowd, couldn’t see a thing, and so I had to raise the camera over my head and quickly pan right to left, tracking what looked like a spotted blur. Can’t believe I got this bad boy in focus.
Sparks fly as the kids run around with – what else – sparklers. A slow shutter speed completes the kids’ disappearing act.
I climbed up this cliff, so I could push this kitty closer to the waterfall (my left arm should grow back in a few more weeks). With my remaining hand I held the camera steady on the wall, so I could use a slow shutter speed to get a softer look to the falling water.
A Pelican lowers its landing gear at Clearwater Beach, FL. Pati made us stay here for hours – and now you can see why. Just beautiful.
Answer: Great friends!
And so it was that we agreed to visit Florida which, by the way, tends to be warm this time of year. Why make such a trip? Because Glenn and Pati remembered me (under the influence) agreeing to visit Florida if they joined us at Edaville RR last December. And so a deal was struck, and damned if they didn’t take it seriously. And so we packed our bags for the sunburn sunshine state in July (not a typo). To be honest, I knew we’d have a great time, and of course we did. Glenn and Pati are two of our bestest friends, which is why I’m going to kill them – for moving so far away. We were given the star treatment in their home, and we were taken to some of the most amazing places: Crystal River, Tarpon Springs, Busch Gardens, and my personal favorite – Ozona Blue. Can you say, Mud Slides?
I’m going to post a few more vacation photos over the next several days, but figured I’d start with the one below. That’s Glenn at Busch Gardens in Tampa; he’s always looking down on me, this time courtesy of the Scorpion. His lunch, probably a $7 churro, made an encore appearance just about then. Just kidding – I’m the only one who gets sick on these self-inflicted torture machines. That’s Glenn up front, third car I think. Kendra, just visible, and Christy, not so visible, went along to supervise him. We were having a blast, that is, until a torrential downpour had us running for cover. But even that was exciting. More to posts to follow.
An old heat lamp and some willing kids gave me a chance to try some home-grown studio lighting. I learned some of this stuff from the aptly named Cheap Shots photography podcast and website.
…is STILL better than a good day at work.
Long Days and Nights 