The Creative Exchange, February 20th -24th, and a Giveaway!

This week, I am so very honored to have Steve, from Another Rich Collectible here with us at The Creative Exchange.  I met Steve over a year ago on Flickr.  I remember this very well, because when I happened to come upon his Photostream for the first time, I spent well over an hour there, completely taken by one magnificent image after another.  In addition to being a phenomenal photographer and editor, he is one of the kindest and most willingly helpful people I have met online.  I could go on and on about Steve and his work, but I will let he and his images speak for themselves here today.  Steve, I truly thank you for being here!

About Me:

“I am fun loving, camping, outdoorsy person, who spent 30 years behind a boat waterskiing, jet skiing and anything else you can think of on water. I am the oldest of 5 children. About three years ago, I saw my first HDR (High Dynamic Range) image online.  Since that time I have spent many hours, reading, learning and practicing HDR photography. I use Photoshop Elements, Photoshop CS5, Lightroom with Topaz Plug-ins, Nik Software and OnOne software. Gosh with all this “applicational” firepower, I kinda wonder why I am just getting into photography.  I wanted to have the best tools handy.  I had always been point and shoot with images, and NO post processing.  Why did I wait 52 years to enhance images?  I am a new Grandfather, very happily married 30+ years, with two daughters who are both married, educated, and a huge help when called on. My new grandson was born on 9/11/2009.  He is the reason I took my camera off automatic and began learning something new. I have my second grandchild on the way. Life is very good. I work full time with photography as a hobby.” 

“I have had a camera in my hand since I was young enough to remember. All through elementary school, high school and college I can never remember NOT having a camera handy to capture a moment in time. My mother and myself were the family photographers.  Not until recently, did I consider post processing using an application on the computer.  One hundred percent of my photography was “SOOC”, straight out of the camera. Almost three years ago I purchased Photoshop Elements.  This purchase led to Lightroom, Aperture 3 and finally Photoshop CS5. Which one do I use the most?  All of them.  Which one do I just love to post process with?  Photoshop Elements.  I find the application so easy to work with and so fascinating that this inexpensive application can be so powerful. I am a member of Photoshop Elements Techniques. The hard working crew at Techniques post weekly Elements videos, blog entries, tips and tricks. I cannot say enough about the team at Techniques. My technique using Elements has improved greatly since first beginning with Elements 6, three years ago.” 

“Last year I was featured on the cover of Photoshop Elements Techniques Magazine.  Most of my work is HDR (High Dynamic Range Photography).  I try to stay within the bounds of what I see, and try to stay away from surreal images.  I do not care for the overcooked or overdone HDR image.  I always try to help the fellow photographer by posting my workflow.  If you have seen my images on Flickr, you will notice something unique about most of them.  They have my workflow posted below the image.  I love to share and love to help people who ask me questions.”

Shot with a Canon EOS 7D in Camera RAW with Tripod

Camera set to Av mode (Aperture Priority)

Selected 3 Raw Images from Adobe Bridge CS4 to Photomatix , three separate exposures -2/0/+2

Combined images in Photomatix 

Saved as 16 bit Tiff

Imported Tiff image to PSE 8

Resized to 6x4 240

Topaz Adjust and Denoise used

“Around 8:30 pm, the light is very low. The mill is lit up via a huge spotlight to my left out of view."

Tripod used. Camera set to Av mode, three images taken by my Canon 7D.

Photomatix Pro 4.1

Photoshop Elements 9

Topaz Adjust 5 and Denoise. (I am beta testing the new Adjust, awesome plug-in.)

“I want to thank Lisa for asking me to guest blog here at The Creative Exchange.  This is an awesome place Lisa.  So much talent and inspiration to see and learn from.”

Happy shooting!

Steve 
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Steve has very generously provided me with 4 access codes to Trey Radcliff's HDR Spotting Website.  This is a wonderful site with a wealth of information on HDR photography.  If you are interested in HDR photography, and would like the opportunity to win one of these codes, simply let me know in the comments section.  I will randomly select 4 winners on Friday evening (about 7:00 p.m. EST), and contact the winners.

The Creative Exchange, January 16th -20th

Today is a very special day.  I am truly honored to have Anna, from Alchemy of Art, guest-posting for this weeks Creative Exchange.  I “met” Anna last year, and initially was so taken by her beautiful photography.  If many photographs were placed in front of me, I would know which ones were Anna’s.  Over time, through visiting her blog, I also came to know Anna as a wonderful writer.  Her words describe, what her images allow you to feel.  A very special quality indeed.  In addition to writing and photography, Anna is also a talented quilter, and bead artist.  So my friends, I feel very fortunate to have her here today, and Anna, I truly thank you.

Winter

I have a love/hate relationship with winter.  Anyone who lives in the far north, as I do, probably knows what I mean.  Winter can be gorgeous, glittery, clean, and pure.  Winter can also be very dark, colorless, and bitterly cold.

In the northwoods, winter comes packed with super-sized suitcases.  She is one of those guests that intends to stay a good long time!  So, I try to appreciate, and outwit her.

Often, I take my camera out during, or right after, a snowfall.  At these times, our temps aren’t too bad… invariably they drop soon afterwards.

And, I’m sure you guessed it, but I dress very warmly on photo outings.  The list of clothing layers and types is long – do they make me look fat?  Certainly!

Cold fingers on my “clicking” hand seem to be the biggest challenge.  One thing that has helped is the addition of my husband’s fingerless, wool, hunting mitten/gloves.  I wear them over regular thin gloves and flip on the mitten portion when my fingertips get too cold… or numb. 

I’ve read that condensation is a concern with winter photography.  Thus, my camera goes out of the house in a camera bag and comes back in that way, too.  Once inside, I leave my camera in its bag for 3 – 4 hours to warm up slowly.  Honestly though, it does make me a bit nervous as I only have one camera body.

Past that, I enjoy the magic of winter’s wonderland.  It’s a minimalist’s dream!  I’ve written that winter reminds me of haiku – it’s poignant, to the point, stripped to the core.  In this season, I am especially aware of pattern, values, and abstract design.  I revel in the bare bones architecture of the landscape and the cleansing shroud that snow provides.

And, sometimes… I dream of spring!

Have a beautiful start to your week!